I’ll see your aluminum-foil-wrapped windows, Beth, and raise you…. bubble wrap.
I’ve been doing some internet searches for cheap-o winter ideas, and there are several folks out there who say that bubble wrap can significantly increase the R-value of old windows. (‘R’ stands for ‘Ridiculous’, in this case.)
So, I tried a test bit on the lower half of one of our bathroom windows this weekend. I’m not sure about it’s R-value, but it did keep shower steam from condensing on the cold pane and dripping down to the sill. Last year we had an embarrassing mildew problem due to the sheets curtains I hung up. Water would condense, freeze, then drip slowly and wreck the wood. (*sigh* I’d better get rid of this website if we ever decide to sell this house.) I’ve tried running a little fan so far this fall, but it can’t keep up with the moisture.
So I put bubble wrap on the rest of the bathroom windows tonight. Until we can get new windows, this is definitely worth the experiment!
I still say cement blocks are the way to go. They would certainly increase the R-value by more than just one point.
Yeah, but I don’t trust a thin film of water to keep them attached to the glass….
Well. At least bubble wrap is only really visible from the inside…
What about 2 layers of bubble wrap…?
Thanks Deanne. Thanks.
I bet that from the outside, it looks like you have those bank glass window panes that blur everything. How aesthetically pleasing!
Thanks for the great idea! I’m going to get started STAT on my all new, fabulous bubble wrap wardrobe.
I have only one question: what keeps you from popping your window treatment?? I would go crazy.