Best thing you know of to block sun and radiant heat from entering home windows?

[kehi]

HI, I am living in FL and the new apartment building I am living in installed the cheapest windows possible and they let a crapload of heat in. Anyone have any ideas that they have found effective that are easily removed when I move out in a year? Thanks

 

[thescreensavers]

Tin Foil FTW

 

[LookingGlass]

Window tint, same stuff you put in your car.

 

[CraKaJaX]

Air conditioning.

 

[LookingGlass]

I had a friend that did that, window tint does work. Helps cut down on the sun, I would check around the window itself, make sure it is sealed, there are cheap ways to make sure you have no leaks.

 

[Kelemvor]

I'd just get some extra thick, white shades from hoem depot or something. White will help them not get hot but then will block the sun which will keep it cooler. But of course then you can't see out the window so if you need to be able to do that, I'd go for some cling/stick tint stuff.

 

[IronWing]

Light colored curtains inside. Awnings outside if you've got the money.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: thescreensavers
Tin Foil FTW

Yup, by far the best cost/performance ratio.

 

[Anonemous]

aluminum foil

 

[Rufus12]

Originally posted by: Anonemous
aluminum foil

Yes.

Originally posted by: thescreensavers
Tin Foil FTW

No.

 

[Eli]

Cover them in Mylar? lol

 

[arcas]

Third-party window tint is generally a bad thing to put on home windows unless they're old-style single-pane windows. The problem is that the tints are generally applied by the homeowner (or renter) to the inside surface of the window. This can cause the gas between the window panes to heat up more than the factory intended. Eventually the seals will rupture. When this happens, you'll get water condensation between the panes and, more importantly, you'll lose the window's insulative properties.

 

[FoBoT]

mattresses
stuff mattresses into the windows

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: arcas
Third-party window tint is generally a bad thing to put on home windows unless they're old-style single-pane windows. The problem is that the tints are generally applied by the homeowner (or renter) to the inside surface of the window. This can cause the gas between the window panes to heat up more than the factory intended. Eventually the seals will rupture. When this happens, you'll get water condensation between the panes and, more importantly, you'll lose the window's insulative properties.

Something tells me the OP has single-pane windows.

 

[Quasmo]

Tripple paned glass with Argon gas inbetween panes stops heat transfer better than normal insulation

 

[fitzov]

that reflective paper with adhesive on one side should work well

 

[blurredvision]

I'm going to go with plywood on this one. Should keep the sun and the heat out altogether!

 

[Brainonska511]

Foil is good, since it not only blocks heat, it also stops those major league baseball satellites from spying on you.

 

[Baked]

Replace all windows w/ 2 sided mirrors FTW.

 

[GoingUp]

Just brick up the windows. Problem Solved!

 

[dawnbug]

I had neighbors who had a pull down shade that was tinted, and then they had blinds on top of that. They had a huge picture window in the front of their house, and were weirded out that people would be able to see inside their house through it. I don't know where you would get one of those, but I imagine that a blinds and curtains store would have one or something like it.

 

[TitanDiddly]

Hang a space blanket, then fill the gap with home insulation. Pin a wall hanging in front of it to make it look nice.

 

[BoomerD]

Tree...or trees. depending on your particluar application...