window film

Has anyone tried the films used ot reduce UV and fading. Do they work well? Do they also help save on heating and cooling costs?

 

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My parents installed/used those window films this past summer. The only thing I can say is that it did indeed help cool the house/room better. BIG difference.

 

Window films can reduce UVB rays and make for a cooler room on a south or west side of the home. Avoid using window cleaners that contain ammonia or vinegar. If using window cleaner to prepare for film, avoid ammonia and vinegar cleaners. Apply film on cloudy day or when sun is not directly shining on window. Soapy water solution in spray bottle is used to wet window. Squeegie is used to smooth out wrinkles and air bubbles. Film is trimmed with utility knife. Two people working together tends to produce better results without wrinkles and bubbles.

 

The films work great. They block 99.5% of the sun's fading UV rays. You can also get them with varying degrees of tint if you'd like to reduce solar heat gain as well.

There is a disadvantage however to the use of films. Application of a film to the glass will void the glass manufacturer's warranty. The reason for this is that the glass will potentially get hotter than the glass was designed for, which could cause stress cracks or seal failure (especially if tinted). This is a non-issue if put on single glazed windows; it's only an issue for insulating glass. It's been my observation that even with insulating glass it hasn't caused problems, but the potential is there.

 

From my experience, films installed in the inside of double pane glass can cause failure of the glass seals. Install the film on the outside, if at all possible.