I got some single pane windows that I'd like to add more insulation to instead of spending on new windows.

I bought these Frost King window insulation film kits.

This has to be a silly question but I've been searching and can't figure out if the end result is the film forming onto the glass/sticking onto the glass or is the end result where the sheet of film is separated from the glass (air between the glass and the film)?

I initially thought the point of the hair dryer is to heat the film so it sticks to the glass. After watching some videos is seems that the point of the hair dryer is to heat the film so it sticks to the double sided tape.

Any clarifications would be helpful. Thank you

 

Sticking to the glass would be of no benefit. It is adhered to the edges of the frame or sash with removable double stick tape and then heated, thus shrinking and becoming taut and forming a dead air space. The larger the dead air space, the better they work.

 

Makes sense - I guess I was hoping for a more refined look - thanks

 

If you work the hair dryer right, at least the similar 3M product becomes darn near invisible.

 

Are these the kits where you have a plastic track with adhesive back that is installed on the wall, then a small plastic bead goes in to hold the film, then the hair dryer shrinks the film?

Had these many many years ago, found you didn't want to shrink the film too much as it would eventually pull the plastic track off the wall.

 

As I mentioned, we always used the 3M product when I was a kid. It was double sided tape around the edge of the trim, wrap the plastic and then shrink it with the hair dryer. It worked pretty well.

 

Ok so I think I get the concept now. It's basically double sided tape used to mount a thick saran wrap to create an air gap so you no longer have a single pane of glass.

For the glass that "flat", like on doors, it works fine. For windows that are offset (sunken in) and you can't mount the tape on a surface facing you (in my case these are windows with the old school twisty handle that you crank to open them so the handle prevents me from using the tape on the outer perimeter), the tape doesn't stick and it's next to impossible to get the sheeting within the edges of the window all around.

No way I''m paying $1000/window to replace 10 windows. I'm just going to remove the handles.

 

Removing the handles will work as long as there isn't an egress requirement.
Another thought which I have seen and read about involves building a frame for the windows that is covered with the shrink wrap. I've seen screens used to install the plastic wrap on the outside. Or just the double sided tape on the outside.

Are storm windows an option?

Bud

 

Yeah, removing the handles may have to be done. Most of the ones we covered were double hung but a casement window would certainly have a handle in the way.