Best plastic for winter proofing windows?

[SagaLore]

I need to seal up my windows, too much heat is escaping. Last year we were spending about $150 a month on oil, even with the unused bedrooms closed off and vents shut off. Earlier this year we repainted our bedroom and I decided to recaulk the window frames because the old caulk was chipping out of them. I'm glad I did, the windows have 6 to 8 individual panes and some were ready to fall out. :Q Plus none of my windows have second storm windows or screens, and they're certain not double paned.

Whenever I tag along into the crafts section at Walmart with my wife, I look at the spools of polyeurothane - huge sheets of plastic at varying thicknesses. Could I just buy a spool of that stuff, and create frames that lock over my windows and seal the edges with weatherstrips? That will help make it air tight, but how well does that stuff hold heat?

 

[RU482]

I've seen old farm houses wrapped ground to roof with plastic before. I would advise something like 4 mil thick (maybe thinner for visability) plastic on the outside. Go beyond the window frame and tak it down with trim peices all around the window. You might check at Walmart or a local home store for window seal kits for the inside.

Enjoy!!

 

[desy]

I've used those kits with the double sided tape you stick to the casing and then blow dry it to shrink it tight they worked good on my old house that had aluminum sliders , no breeze blowing though those babies any more
I had a renter in the basement who always complained it was cold down there and when I went to put on the wrap he only had one of the sliders actually closed

Any hoo he was much happier after that

 

[rh71]

I went through this during last year's winter... someone asked... and I suggested they check out Walmart... $6 per roll will get you a LONG way, trust me. My house is cold throughout the year and they helped a lot.

 

[SagaLore]

$6 a roll? That will definitely fit in my budget.

But that stuff isn't reusable, right?

 

[SagaLore]

Can somebody provide a link to that kit, I looked on Walmart's site and am having trouble finding it...

 

[Mr N8]

I get the 3M kit every winter. Makes a huge improvement on the gas / electric bill.

 

[notfred]

I have no idea. You can see we only get a few days per year where it drops below freezing.

I just wanted to post that since I finally found a place to get historical weather data online. Converting from .ps to .pdf is a pain in the ass, though.