Wednesday, January 2, 2002

Winterize with insulating window film

After long, hot summer days and worries about possible energy blackouts, homeowners may forget about preparing their windows for winter. The same sun that made the summer so hot causes special winter problems that insulating window film can solve.

Why? During the shorter days from late October through early March, the sun stays lower in the sky, which means that the sun shines more directly through windows for more hours each day. Because this line-of-sight sunshine includes damaging UV rays, the result can be much greater glare, especially off snow, and greater fading damage than occurs in the summer.

The best way to reduce harsh glare is to reduce light. But reducing light does not mean darkening a room any more than necessary during the already short winter days.

Two options work well. For a quick fix, use a tinted static-cling vinyl window film that you can apply and remove as needed. Just like tinted skiing goggles that reduce harsh glare, this type of film applies to any window, including skylights.

It's perfect for the breakfast nook in the mornings, the kitchen and dining room for supper, and den or office windows to reduce harsh glare that can wash out the pictures on TV or PC screens. Static-cling films are available in convenient 36 inches by 78 inches and 48 inches by 78 inches sheets, in gray or bronze.

The second choice lasts longer and does more, but costs about the same per square foot. Long-term insulating window films apply easily with soapy water and a squeegee to standard single-, storm-, or thermal-pane windows and lasts for an average of 10 years. In addition to reducing harsh glare, these films also reduce UV damage and retain heat. Many people like these films because they improve comfort and reduce utility bills year-round.

For best results, these films should be applied to all windows of a room or living area. Insulating window films are available in several colors and in sizes such as 36 inches by 15 inches and 48 inches x 15 inches to cover more windows, including patio doors.

During the winter, direct sunlight includes damaging UV rays, which cause more damage than most people realize. Two types of UV rays cause fading and damage to wood floors and furniture, carpets, upholstery, painted surfaces and curtains.

UV-B is the type of ray most people know because it causes sunburns and fast bleaching of dyed materials. UV-A is just beginning to be taken more seriously because long-term exposure may contribute to melanoma, skin aging and permanent deterioration of household furnishings.

Most modern residential windows block about 90 percent of the UV-B rays, but virtually none of the UV-A rays. Basically, whatever the sunlight hits, the UV rays hurt. Because they do not realize the damage UV rays cause, homeowners may make the mistake of opening the window treatments curtains, shades, blinds and shutters to let in the most sunlight possible.

A great solution to this dilemma is to apply one of the lighter insulating window films, which reduce up to 99 percent of both UV-A and UV-B rays, to provide greater protection while maintaining a clear view outside. Depending upon your winter utility bills, one of the most important values of insulating window films is their ability to retain heat.

For this benefit, there are three distinct types of window films: permanent interior, seasonal exterior and seasonal heat-shrink. Growing in popularity due to their year-round benefits and long-term value, permanent heat control insulating films, such as those by GILA, apply to the inside surface of the window to reduce glare, UV rays and heat loss.

According to John Pinkerton of GILA Window Films, "The primary type of heat this film retains is your radiant body heat. The chill you feel sitting next to a window is your radiant body heat leaving your body and heading toward a cold window or wall. Due to special coatings similar to those used in expensive low-e windows, these optically clear heat control films help improve personal comfort by reflecting a high percentage of that body heat back inside the room. If you've ever found yourself in an argument about who's too hot or too cold in a room, and there's a wrestling match to control the thermostat, heat control insulating films can make a big difference."

The second type of insulating film is a clear, usually quite thick, exterior film which is attached with brads or a staple gun around the outside perimeter of a window frame to reduce drafts and create a seasonal "dual-pane" insulating barrier to help slow down heat loss during the winter. Remember, heat always transfers to cold, not the other way around.

When your mother said, "Don't let the heat out," she was right. The final type of insulating film has been used for years as a seasonal stop-gap to reduce drafts. Shrink-to-fit or heat-shrink films, such as those by Frost King, are very inexpensive and apply with a hair dryer to the inside of windows. Although not optically clear, these films are certainly cheaper than replacing old windows, and they can be removed when the weather warms up.

Applying window film to all the windows of a home is good investment of a weekend. If two people work together, the project will take less than half the time and be more than twice as easy. All you need are basic household tools: scissors, utility knife, ruler, good instructions and (of course) a little patience.

Window films are quite affordable, and payback is relatively quick. Static-cling and long-term heat control films cost less than a dollar per square foot. Exterior films are priced based on their thickness, from four to twelve mils, but costing less than two dollars a square foot. Shrink-wrap films are the cheapest, at between five and ten dollars for a box or roll.

Learn more about insulating window films at www.gilafilms.com, where you can also request free samples. For more information about these and household products that save energy and money, visit www.homedepot.com/energy.

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