DIY Window Insert for Older Homes
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- Опубликовано: 4 окт 2024
- Since I had plans to install window inserts throughout my home (built in 1886) anyway, I thought to share the process so that others might enjoy the same 30%, or more, in savings on winter heating costs as well.
DIY Window Inserts for Older Homes works well both for saving energy on heating costs as well as air conditioning.
Look for the in-link videos at the end for Part I- The Special Clamp and Part II- The Corner Mold Making Jig.
Camera assist by Josue Paredes.
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The results are in for the 2019/20 winter so far. My last five heating bills in order starting in September are: $23, $44, $77, $77.50, and for the month of January is $81. This is for heat, hot water, and cooking. My house was built in 1886. Normally, my gas bills are double these amounts. My home is the most comfortable and warmer than any winter I have ever experienced in 43 years of living in this house and I live in the northern half of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Your brilliant! Love the UP
Respect to UP ! Beautiful place !
I just discovered this concept today. I'm curious if your windows are the original windows in your home? Our home was built around the 1860's with original windows. We are now looking into something like this but I'm curious if it really does work well on really old windows.
@@tigger6186 Yes, I do have the wavy glass and original frames. My home was built in 1886. The exterior storm windows are hopelessly inadequate. When I put up the window inserts, my bills were cut almost in half. I now turn my thermostat up higher and pay less. Every room is the same temperature. When the wind is blowing in winter, you can see the plastic on the window inserts bow in and out with the pressure. You just know that you are saving money. I plan to make three more window inserts in a slightly different way by using a special clamp designed for the purpose.
@@EarlSenchuk I would be interested in a diy video on that as well if you have time, please and thank you.
Parts List. I really appreciate your step by step clarity, with sound reasoning included. Thank you! I needed a parts list for myself, so I'm putting it up for anyone else who needs it. I'll be happy to edit for corrections.
1/2' x 3/4' parting stop
3/4" x 3/4" corner molding
#4 x 5/8" screws
Clear double sided 5/8" tape
3/8"wide x 3/16" Sponge tape
Plastic shrink film sheeting
Thank you, amr53207. That is helpful. You might note that the plastic sheeting is a shrink film and not polyethylene or vinyl. That's a pretty short list for all the savings it represents.
Thanks for making this list very helpful for others👍🏼
I wonder if you would be able to assist me I live in the UK and I cannot find this corner moulding no one seems to know what I'm talking about could it be called something else or what is it generally used that way I might be able to track it down
@@EarlSenchuk I'm having trouble tracking down the corner moulding maybe it's called something else in the UK can you tell me what is generally used for or where it's used so I can see if I can track it down desperate to make the your kind of insects
You got it amr53207. The corner molding is for outside corners.
With heating costs so high now and with people barely making making ends meet, this is going to help alot friend, thank you. Commenting for the algorithm so more people can see this brilliant solution!
Thank you, @rybfish76 for your comment. Cutting costs and the carbon footprint would be a double whammy of goodness, for sure.
One big difference I've noticed since creating these window inserts is that my regular storm windows never frost up anymore no matter how cold it gets outside because there is no moist air escaping from things like cooking or from the clothes dryer. Sometimes when the wind blows, I can see the plastic film on the window insert bulge outward or inward which is a sure sign I am saving a ton on heating cost.
Nice job !!
Simple and effective. I was absolutely trying to overengineer my windows. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Good job. Where can I buy the long bar? What's the name of it ?
@@jy210000 Not sure what you are referring to as the "long bar." The 1/2" by 3/4" Parting Stop comes in 8 foot lengths.
I have literally seen blocks of ice on the inside of ours!
Simply a fantastic idea and video. Thanks for sharing this. This video deserves 10x as many views as it currently has!
Gonna do this in my RV. Thank you so much!
I have been mulling over an idea pretty much identical to what you did here for ages but haven't put everything together to actually do it. Thank you for making this video and showing me exactly how to do it.
If you are planning to make multiple window inserts, be sure to watch DIY Window Inserts for Older Homes- Parts I & II. Way cheaper to make your own corner molding.
I've been looking at ways of insulating my windows for a very long time. So far this one is without a doubt the best I've seen. Thank you.
Great Job! Very instructive...
Will be doing this. Great idea! Much less expensive than the $469/ window plexiglass ones. Of course the prices are higher now, lumber for 2 windows is $65. Thanks Earl!
You are welcome, Vic! I know you are going to love the newfound warmth and comfort, in every room! If you plan to make this style of window insert for your entire home then you may wish to watch the other two DIY Window Insert for Older Homes videos that show 1.) How to make a special clamp that makes things go way faster, and 2.) With a simple jig, learn how to DIY 8 ft long outside corner molding lengths, enough to make four complete window frames out of a single 2 by 4. I have 13 window inserts in my home. Enjoy the significantly lower bills too!
My house was built in 1880's, my heating cost are very expenaive. Thank you for making this video. I cant wait to try it out.
Lisa, I am in the process of producing two new videos that will allow persons to make their own corner molding (Part II) and clamps (Part III). My house was built in 1886 and the DIY window inserts for older homes cut my bills at least in half. Expect a dramatic drop in your winter heating bills as well. You can also expect that the temperature of each room will be the same temp. Another huge plus is that you can expect to see no more frost buildup on your storm windows, even if you run a humidifier. I expect to put these new videos out next week. Stay tuned!
Most Beautiful job ever! My goodness perfection at its finest for this project! Never seen anything like it! Your are absolutely amazing!
When I thought of all the wrong ways to put In this type of winterized installation. this video is the only possible correct solution thank you for your diligence in conquering perfection
Thank you Mike, I should let you know that I filed for a patent on a "DIY Window Insert KitTM". It has just gotten approval for testing on select local homes involving persons who are having trouble paying their energy bills. We are also pursuing an Energy Star rating for this new product. It's going to take some time, but relief from high energy bills and better creature comfort is on its way.
A fantastic and well-produced tutorial. Thank you very much
What a fantastic tutorial! I really enjoyed watching your construction process. The estimated cost is reasonable and your design is lovely. These inserts will pair beautifully with the pretty windows of my old house and my home will, finally, be draft-free. Thank you, Earl!
Thanks, Jennifer. I hope you get to enjoy the same creature comfort and lower bills I have been enjoying since installing these throughout my home (13 window inserts). They don't take up much space in the off-season and are much quicker to put up and take down. I remind you that there are two more videos that show how to make the corner molding even cheaper than the store-bought pieces I show in this video.
I had a 1896 house. Past tense. An identical radiator. It was fun to watch a man in a navy cap do a great job. Yup! Had a man in a navy cap. Sorry to say past tense. Thanks for the video.
This would have a been useful when we had our farmhouse with the original windows (pre 1900's)
Thank you for sharing these plans.
This was a brutal winter, for all it seems. I have never had 4-1/2 feet of snow in my yard for most of the winter before. In spite of it all, my heating bills were quite reasonable especially considering that we got over 100 inches of snow in just February. Going to put some statistics together going back five years to see if I can come up with a actual value for savings.
Very informative...and the instructions were intuitive without being overly complicated for us laypeople. Thanks for the masters class...Kudos.
Thats the best window treatment I seen so far.
You Sir, Are a GENIUS! What a great Idea. Thank you for making this video.
The best ideas are the simplest - thanks for sharing!
Funny how this video is a year old and all of a sudden youtube is putting it in everyone's recommended list! Most of the comments are a week old or less. Carry on Earl and Thank you for your service!
Thanks for the heads up. I was wondering why all of a sudden this video got noticed. Glad that it can help a lot of people save money on heating and cooling cost. Sure made a difference in my home. Comfy!
I made something similar. I put the plastic sheeting in aluminum screen channel. The top has foam weather strip for sealing and spring-action, and the other three sides have plastic bi-fold weather striping for covering gaps. An aluminum support member for bowing is centered and JB Welded in, for example, a 3'x5' insert. Install and shrink the window film as light as possible.
I have no quantified data, but there definitely is less cold air rolling off the window sill, by feel. (The cold air is not infiltration but air cooled by convection.) I use 0.5R per inch of (sealed) airspace.
This build is relatively inexpensive, so payback can start early as possible. All components must be used to make it effective.
They are delicate, but I have not wrecked them yet, and the clarity of view is good. Frost and ice has built on the regular window due to water vapor in the airspace, and if it is bad enough, I will dry it; this proves the air at the inside glass pane is cold than if it were normally exposed to the indoor space. I have put silica-gel packs in the air space which seemed to help, but I cannot confirm the air hadn't dried out by that time of the year (there is still minimal air leakage). Luckily, they JUST fit behind the shades and shade mounts.
I will continue to use them. I even called them the same exact name - window inserts.
Sounds like a quick and easy way to cover a screen window by using the same tracks and method used to mount the screens. Good luck on your trials. Keep us posted as to your results.
bravo! love the design! and love that everything you used was fairly inexpensive and easy to find!
EXCELLENT IDEA !
With 17 - 2'x5' / 3'x5.5' / 1'x4', ect. on a two+ story house we are to old to be fooling around with exterior weather barriers and waisting money, time and frustration every year on interior shrink wrap. We also put bubble wrap on the top half of the windows with good results.
Love Older Houses! Will need to watch more times till I 'get it'. =\ But when I do - Cool! err Warm! Thanks!
Loving my new warmth! Every room is the same temperature.
Wow. Best one I have seen in last several years. I know what some of my older windows will be getting for Christmas 🎄 👍
Thanks Pizza Warlord. If we could show photos here, I would post my actual heat bills for last winter. Unbelievable. My highest gas bill for February, the dead of winter, was only $92. That includes heat, hot water, and cooking. It comes out to about 50% savings. My home has never been so warm and comfortable. Every room now is the same temperature. Absolutely no frost on any window due to condensation. I wish I could figure out how to make this into an easy product so others can enjoy such amazing savings. I am so glad I did this. It takes about two minutes per window now to prepare for winter. No more taping, shrinking, cleanup in the spring.
@@EarlSenchuk By far this is the easiest project for my windows However I wish you had shown how to mitre the frame together can you advise what tools I would use and how to stick it together as I'm clueless 🤔🔨
@@carmel-wayfinder5401 Hi Carmel, Corner clamp styles vary. Most get in the way. No way to show a photo here, but I modified a clamp with a small block of wood to square off the point of the corner clamp. Another thing you can do is glue and clamp all four corners and then shoot the corner blocks in after the glue sets up. You can also make your own corner clamp out of wood that will allow access with the brad nailer.
@@EarlSenchuk Thank you for the info🔨
@@carmel-wayfinder5401 Thank you for your comment. When I found out that my personal corner clamps didn't work, I created some that got me by. Easy if you are an artist that works in metals. It appears that no corner clamps on the market will work in this application, at least without some modification. Last night I came up with an idea of how to fashion some corner clamps out of the same corner molding and parting stop. Thanks again for bringing this to my attention. I WILL FIX THIS!
Great video! I use that stuff and it pulls away so I'm constantly resticking plus windows cannot be opened on a nice day. Your solution is awesome. Thanks.
Great Idea! We have casement windows that get moisture every time it is cold. This might just be the fix! Bravo!!!!
No more frost on your windows. Two new videos coming out next week. Stay tuned.
Excellent demonstration! I myself don't have the tools or patience to do this but I love the idea. Good thinking.
Thanks, Janet. My interest to prove how effective this concept works, is that it might create a pathway for military veterans with PTSD to create work for themselves locally while serving the interest of all communities to conserve energy, and save money.
@@EarlSenchuk you have such a wonderful thought process 💛
not everyone has those tools and the skill. But great video, this is not for beginners IMO but experienced DIY people
I don't know if you are still active online - but I just wanted to send thanks. This is a great tutorial/demonstration and I will give it a go. Thanks again.
Great video. Thank you
Thank you for sharing this with us Earl. Much appreciated.
I will be coming up with a new video soon that shows how to make a clamping fixture that is perfect for making these window inserts. Stay tuned!
What a great idea, and thanks for the detailed instructions. Thousands saved on replacement windows.
Excellent Work!!! Thank you for taking the time to share your project!!
You are brilliant. ...and cute too! Lol🙂👍
Very nice. My sister could have used this some years ago.
There are pre-made ones now. Came across while looking for ways to stop the cold air from permeating the window panes. I don't have any leaks either. Just thin glass on the windows.
Very helpful! Thank You so much for posting this!
This is brilliant !!! Thank you !!!
What an awesome idea! Great work and great video. Thanks for taking the time to show how you did it. I've already started doing my windows with sealing bubble wrap against the window with double sided tape and then 4 mil clear plastic taped on with white duct tape onto the window trim. I have an old concrete block house. Seems to work pretty good. I sure would like to try your way next year.
Thanks, Patricia. I just put up all the window inserts that I made last year as shown in the video. It is so much easier than taping, filming, shrinking, and then trying to remove it all in the spring. Never again. This year it took me just a few minutes to completely seal each and every window in my house. No more muss and fuss. Really like the savings in heating cost.
I'm so glad I found this or else I would've considered plexiglass which is really expensive. Thanks for making a great video can't wait to make it!
Fantastic! I love the idea and what a wonderful execution. You’ve definitely put some ingenuitive thoughts into this project and I appreciate you sharing with such detail. Thanks!! I can’t wait to try it.
What a great video, you're a talented man, Earl. I would like to do the same thing only with plexiglass. My local Lowe's will sell "scrap" pieces that have already been cut for $1 a piece. It might take a while to get them cut for every room in my house but I think it would be worth it.
Thanks, Awesome-X. Plexiglas would certainly be a lot clearer. Good luck!
Back when I was a child, many years ago, my dad made these using plexiglass for all the windows of the house. He made them in three sections for the large picture windows so they could be used in all seasons. With the sections you could remove the center to be able to open the slider section to get fresh air. Otherwise they helped with both the heating and cooling bills.
Thank You Kindly for your Time and Effort... Good Job 👍
Id suggest using some 20 gauge clear PVC that way you don't have to worry about the plastic tearing, gives you a little soundproofing, and maybe a little better insulation.
Try it and let us know how it works out. We are all interested to save money on heating and cooling cost.
Great idea. I use these plastics in my old Victorian house. I will definitely be making some of these but I'm thinking lexan since they will be reused every year. Thank you
I've been using the same window inserts every year and they don't look any different than when they were made in 2018. Lexan? Big bucks!
Nice solution, well executed.
Years ago I did pretty much the same thing on our 160 year old farmhouse windows (not a 90 degree angle in the building). Mine are not nearly as neat looking as yours though. Good job!
Thanks! I figured out how to deal with out-of-square windows with a patent-pending window insert kit. Go to earlsenchuk.com/inventions/home-use/ and click on the composite picture in the upper left corner. These cut my heating bills in half and cut outside noise considerably.
This is MARVELOUS. Thank you!!
Thank you, Sir, for your helpful video and for your service in the Navy. 🫡
Thank you for your kind words. Earl
Ingenious. I wish that I had the tools and the skill. I will have to order this type of window seal and that is expensive. I just want comfort in my home and right now I do not have it.
I've got some drafty windows, possibly because of deteriorating weather stripping. I'm planning on replacing that weather stripping, of course. But I think I may also start building these window inserts. In my case, I'm considering using thin plexiglass inserts assuming that doesn't become prohibitively expensive. Thanks so much for this idea and great tutorial!
Jason, I'm quite sure that plexiglass will work, but "prohibitively expensive" is likely to come into play. Good luck. Stay warm. Stay healthy.
You'd be shocked at how expensive plexiglass is, and also the lack of places that cut it to your specs
Exactly what I needed!!
Great idea and thank you for sharing.
Great DIY!
Excellent video. Thank you. I've been mulling this idea over for years. I am so glad to see it's viable. The trouble I have is our four cats. The film doesn't stand up to even the slightest clawing. I'm now going to do some research, looking for some other, super thin plastic sheeting. The kind that comes with those cheap plastic picture frames.
At least, now I have a clear vision (pardon the pun) of the finished product.
Thank you again.
I do see the concern over potential to take down a lot of work, and some cost. A tiny housefly can make a window sound like a gigantic tom tom depending on how tight it is, and no doubt that sound would attract a cat. Is that how you found out? Do cats bat at a fly, or do they actually extend their talons to catch one?
@@EarlSenchuk our sils are very wide, and they attract cats all on there own. Once on the sil, the cats just plain aren't careful. If I blocked off the sil, mounting the plastic pane as you have, they crash into it until it breaks. I've got to mount mine on the inside. It's been difficult to come up with a side seal, if you know what I mean.
@@johnafagerquist8235 I was thinking about getting a cat. You just changed my mind. :e)
I adopted a cat five months ago. She destroyed the film on one window twice while trying to bat a fly. I must now shield the reachable area with something stronger so that her claws can't penetrate the film or maintain a constant vigil against flies. Plexiglas is expensive. You are right. Cats can be a problem when it comes to shrink film.
This is brilliant 👏 👌 🙌
You're on to a winner! I was wondering about doing much the same thing but stepping it up and using thin polycarbonate instead of film.
Thanks, Hermano. Get ready for sticker shock if you elect to go with polycarbonate. It will work just fine though, and clearer.
I seriously need something over the windows of my old house. I am using the shrink plastic now but HATE it and it didn't shrink tight like it was suppose to. The tape was an absolute nightmare to get backing off while teetering on a step stool putting it on around my 10 foot high windows.
I'd love to have something to reuse but I don't have a workshop of tools to build it.
I wholeheartedly agree with your concern about the drawbacks of the current shrink film method. It works (most of the time) but it's such a pain to redo every year. Not to worry, GrandmaSezSo, I recently applied for a patent on a DIY Window Insert Kit. I'm meeting with a potential manufacturer next week. The solution is nigh!
I've cut my own corner molding from pine scraps. If you have access to a table saw, cut long strips 3/4 by 3/4, then set the fence for ¼ and the blade height for ½ and run the steps through twice. Be sure to use a push block and stick
Thanks for the suggestion, Tom. I know that works because I am currently in the process of producing two more videos on DIY Window Inserts for Older Homes that will make it very easy for persons with basic wood working skills to make their own frames (and hopefully for others). I expect to post the new videos next week. Part II shows how to make a DIY corner-mold-making-jig with which to make outside corner molding fast, easy, stronger, and at far less cost than store bought ($9.78 at Lowes vs 94 cents). Since I found out that no corner clamps exist on the market for the DIY window insert application, Part III shows exactly, step by step, how to make a low cost clamp system out of a single 2 by 4 that works beautifully. Stay tuned!
Two new videos are scheduled to premiere tomorrow morning starting at 10 a.m. and the next at 10:30 a.m. Part I outlines details of making a special clamp designed specifically for DIY Window Inserts for Older Homes. The same video walks through the process of making a window insert from scratch. Part II- The Corner Mold Making Jig describes how to make a jig tool that makes a stronger corner molding fast and for a lot less cost than you would pay in a hardware store. I will be answering questions in live chat if you wish to join.
Great Vid. I'd love to see the energy savings when you have the time, Earl.
Just posted the last 4 months of heat bills on my Facebook page as proof of performance. In order, the bills are-$23, $44, $77.01, and December's is $77.48. Normally they are twice this amount and my home has never been this warm in the 43 years of living here.
Thank you sir, you are brilliant!!
Great Idea!! Thanks
Tony, I recently filled for a patent for a window insert kit that will be manufactured by Lakestate Industries in Escanaba Michigan. It is much better and easier than any I posted so far. It will be available this fall at a reasonable price. Wish these comments would allow a photo. I know everyone will like it as it looks nice and way more effective at saving energy for heating, air conditioning, and sound reduction.
Stupendous! Thank you very much!
You should have used a thin acrylic / plexiglas sheet for even better protection.
Great idea dude. Thanks
Another Use- I have those silly basement windows that replace a concrete block and admit light, wind, cold, dust and spiders. They have an R-value of less than 1.
But for a couple of bucks I made them translucent privacy windows with an R-value of 5.
Bubble wrap- one layer has an R-value of 1, and it sticks with water. a layer on the glass, then a layer stuck on top of that.
Then I framed in the window and sealed that up to create a window frame perfect for Earl's frame insert. But before I put it in, on the back I added two more layers of bubble wrap stuck again with water.
Four layers of bubble wrap and Earl's sealing frame, and all winter my shop area was at least fifteen degrees warmer in the depths of winter just by dealing with those two stupid windows.
Excellent idea. 15 degrees warmer in your workshop is golden!
I've got terribly old aluminum single pane windows, that open side to side instead of from bottom up and vice versa. I cannot even begin to describe the amount of cold air that pours in these things!!! I'm excited to try your idea, I have done the shrink film as manufacturer suggests, so it'll be cool and way more convenient to have a semi permanent solution and not have to take the time wrapping them each winter!
Hello Jasmin. Reapplying the shrink film every year is a pain, but the shrink film works to save a lot. 2 minutes to install and the same to take down is the way to go. Very effective. Stay warm this winter! Good luck on your project.
We used to call them storm windows and dad put them on all our windows...outside in September and took them off in July
Those outer "storm windows" do protect against severe winter weather, and do contribute to limited heat retention by creating a somewhat leaky dead-air space. DIY internal window inserts seal the deal by blocking incoming and outgoing air by up to 100% with a secondary, very effective, truly dead-air space. I believe the window inserts would work just as well at retaining cool air from air conditioning.
Genius! Thanks🙂
earl, thank you for this concise and thoughtful video! i live/rent an old home from 1905 in the pacific northwest. the prices to heat your home up here are absolutely staggering. $400 a month and it just escapes because of the lack of insulation etc. the windows are single paned and the frames have layers upon layers of paint that have been applied over the years by previous tenants. unfortunately the corners where the corner molding would rest on are bevelled and slightly stepped if that makes sense. wondering as its not a clean corner if this will work on a frame like this? any info would be much appreciated, here's to our quest to minimize our carbon footprint!
Without a photo to make such an assessment, it would be up to you to decide whether or not this type of window insert will work on the beveled edge. The gasket actually seals on the front face of the window frame. I posted two other videos that show how to make the special clamp for making these windows and another on how to make your own corner molding at a fraction of what you would normally pay for such in a hardware store. Cut and paste these links. ruclips.net/video/NQNhx5fojs0/видео.html and ruclips.net/video/MXCpN3yny7k/видео.html
Premieres starting tomorrow morning (2-17-2022 @ 10 a.m.) for two new videos. DIY Window Inserts for Older Homes, Part I-The Special Clamp outlines how to create the perfect clamping system for making DIY Window Inserts for Older Homes. At 10:30 will start the next video, Part II- The Corner Mold Making Jig that teaches how to create a jig fixture that will allow you to make outside corner molding at a fraction of the price you would pay in a hardware store. DIY Window inserts for Older Homes work to save energy costs on both heating and air conditioning.
It looks like you could use the same system and have some argon filled glass panels, so windows within a window. So like you said, indoor storm windows.
LOVIT Thx’s for Sharing
Try this. Use your own full size screen n stretch some thermal plastic on inside of screen ,less labor removes easy come summer, to da wize , tky
This is explained well but I throughly need a fully detailed one in written words so I know what to buy at Home Depot and what to ask for I am stuck
This is a great video. I feel with this much work put in you should have done a piece of acrylic or plexiglass. Or if something cheaper is needed, 3m plastic sheets.
Thank you for your comment. Acrylic (a.k.a. polycarbonate) and plexiglass are quite expensive. They don't come in the size needed and often result in a high % of waste. The last time I checked the local hardware chain stores for any piece (.093" thickness) that would work for a 28" x 53" double hung window, the price was $127 and would result in 40% waste. However, you are correct. They would indeed be easier. I have gotten the cost down to less than $7/ window. I could make 19 window inserts for that price, enough to seal every window in my home. 3-M makes a 1.5 mil polyolefin (heat shrink film) which is twice the thickness of Frost King brand but forfeits a level of clarity. It's like looking through fog.
Thank you for your thoughts! I’m trying to do something for soundproofing and I’ll probably steal some of your great ideas in this video!
@@liketheduck Steal away! I put this video out to help people like you. Using window inserts is as popular for sound reduction as it is for reducing energy consumption. I am coming out with a window insert "kit" product which will undergo testing this winter. I will also seek to acquire an Energy Star rating for it. If it works as well as I anticipate, I will notify every commenter in this thread when it's ready to market.
Looking forward to this as I am not very handy. Add me to the list please! Thank you Earl! @@EarlSenchuk
use a **blow dryer** to heat the shrink wrap tape as you pull it off the window!!
As a possible cost saving measure, you could get aluminum instead of wood for this project from your local Home Restore. You can get buy pop out window screens for around $1.00. take the screen out and replace it with the plastic. If you have a lot of windows, given the cost of wood these days it's a cheaper option.
Have you tried this yet?
@@EarlSenchuk I did something like this that was very similar for a fishtank lid. I had to cut the aluminum with a hacksaw but once I put it all back together I would say it cost me between all the materials $2-$3.00 each.
@@Dropswitch i'd be interested to see how you connected the corners because I considered aluminum frames before but couldn't find anything on the market for this application.
should always mark WITCH window each frame fits
I’m going to do this with blackout material for our bedroom, my husband works nights.
I'm sure it will work well for that. Great idea for people who work the midnight shift.
Here I thought you navy types would have been huge flex seal fans.
This is a great idea but too much for me to accomplish. Thank you for the info though.
This is fantastic. I live in TX and have massive oversized floor to ceiling single payne windows and since a 30 foot tree came down in a storm (that provided tons of shade during hot summers), trying to keep the house cool and now warm (just had single digits this week), has been a nightmare the last couple years. The last couple days, I resorted to putting space blankets over the windows (essentially creating a pocket where cold air was staying out and heat in). They worked really well, but my house looks hideous with them on….my question is considering the cost of wood, do you think that’s still the best option for frames? Is there any plastic material that could be used that may be cheaper? The amount of windows I have is outrageous…we’re talking like 30 windows lol
@NOT_A_TOP_FAM I filed for a patent on a DIY Window Insert KitTM that uses a wood frame. I also considered waste ocean plastic and hemp graphene. Having plastic extruded proved cost prohibitive. If you go to www.earlsenchuk.com/inventions/home use and look in the upper left corner of the page, you will see something as you describe with mylar. There is a "heat shield" material available that you usually see on office buildings. It will work for your home as well. It's more like a one way mirror. When I finally launch this product I will let everyone on this comment thread know when these kits will be available.
@@EarlSenchuk I’ll take a look and definitely purchase your kit when it comes out!
I bought storm windows , they were cheaper than the inserts and you can open them , they even come with screens to keep the bugs out
Congratulations! I have doubts. Please share your discovery with a brand name or website. Thank you.
Thanks for the detailed instructions, Just curious did you try to wrap the frame so you have double panes ?? according to a study I read adding up to an inch of dead air space will add another R3 to the windows.
Thanks for bringing this up @tomwarren9611. You are indeed correct. Two layers create a dead air space. If it is gasketed all around the perimeter frame it creates another dead air space upon installation to further save heat and deaden sound. I have a patent pending for exactly this in a DIY Window Insert KitTM. Doing heat transfer studies coming up soon to establish an Energy Star rating. Stay tuned!
Great video. Will this work for reducing noise from outside too?
Yes, Lidia. Adding another layer of dead air space reduces noise.
Seeing as this video is 3 years old, I’m not sure anyone will see it BUT if they do, would this work in the summers to keep cold air IN?
Caitlyn, absolutely they will. FYI! It just so happens that I filed for a patent yesterday on a DIY Window Insert Kit. You can see what the window inserts look like in use on my website at earlsenchuk.com/inventions/home-use/. I hope to have these on the market by the fall season.
I don’t know if you would see this. I was trying to fine a way to make clear panel
For my screen porch. That doesn’t cost me the price of my mortgage 🤣😂🤣. So we could use it. Most of the year. I using 20 gaug vinal. I think with some small adjustments would work.
Sounds like it might work. Give it a try. Best if the vinyl comes off a roll. No kinks. Good luck!
Do the same idea only use plexiglass.
i really like this idea. it looks simple and cheap enough to try it myself. however, what would be the best way of fixing the parting stop to the window reveals / frames? Glue, double sided tape, wall plugs and screw? i dont want to make anything too 'permanent' as this is a rental property...
To create a full window well, so you have something to seal against, I attached the parting stop to the bottom with small nails. I attach the windows themselves with tiny #4 by 5/8' stainless steel screws. They do make a tiny hole that's hardly noticeable and can be reused each season. The tiny holes can easily be filled with colored wax which they sell in some hardware stores. The downside of using the double-sided tape is that it doesn't peel off half the time. Before you switch to an internal window insert you will have to clean up all that old tape. Otherwise, the foam tape seal will still to the old tape. Liking my warm house!
@@EarlSenchuk - this is great info - thank you! looking forward to starting this project over the weekend.
Let me know how it goes. I recently figured out a different clamping system but haven't tried it out yet. If it works, I will show everyone how to make it.
Maybe using you hair drier will assist getting it off? I say it would be more cost efficient. Good luck/job - David (from Alaska)
My heating bill is $648 last time it was over $1000 im thinking about tryint this trick out.
Wow! Hang in there. I'm in the process of developing for the market a patent-pending window insert kit that will save 30-50% on energy bills for heating and/or air conditioning. When it's ready, I will notify every commenter in this feed. You definitely need something to lower your energy costs!
How clear is the plastic to look through?Thanks
There are two thicknesses that I know of on the market. Heat shrink plastic is called polyolefin. FrostKing makes it in .75 mil thickness and is quite clear. 3-M company makes another type of window insulation kit at 1.5 mil thickness. Being twice the thickness adds strength but results in less clarity. Since windows are not a high traffic area, I personally choose the thinner .75 mil. The window inserts I made for my home using the thinner .75 mil (13 window inserts) just before this video was published look exactly the same today four years later. Another issue is how the film is packaged. Rolls of the film have only one crease and it's at the center of the window where you will never notice the crease. The ones folded up in the small boxes require excessive heat shrinking; the lines cannot be erased completely.
Great video and a clever idea! Do you remove the window insert in the nicer weather? I am wondering about storage of the insert. i also wonder about the screw holes in the fixed frame attached to sill. Do they hold teh screw well after years of taking the inserts in and out?
Thank you for your question, Andrew. I have been using the same window inserts and mounting holes every winter since Dec. 2018. I screw them in using a cordless drill at a low clutch setting so as to not strip the screws. That's why I justify the window to the lower right corner. Once the first two screws are in, all of the others line up. I remove the windows in the spring and store them until the next winter. It takes just a minute or two to put them up or take them down. No more taping! I bundle the windows with stretch film. A bundle of 12 window inserts ends up being the size of one window 9" deep. We just went through a two day storm that dropped 32" of snow and big winds. I heard none of it. It is so quiet in my home.
BTW. I just released two new DIY window inserts for older homes, Part 1-the clamp, and Part II- the corner mold making jig. These simple tools make the cost in time and money drop to as little as $6.54 to make a complete window insert frame. You will see the size of a bundle of six windows and a number of ways to deal with the holes in the off season. I have 13 of these windows in my home and also for my basement windows. The difference in comfort level compared to how it used to be is remarkable.
I love this idea! However I don't want to build a well on the existing frame as I don't like the look. I would also like to be able to pull the insert off when I want to open a window. Couldn't the sponge tape around the frame hold the insert in place?
I would think that is very possible with a press fit and with a different type of sponge that covers the perimeter edge. Go for it! Let us all know how it works. It's all about using less energy.
Read my reply a few comments above this. It works so so, I wouldn't recommend it. Use the method in this video, or my suggestion (which I haven't actually tried yet, but it should work very well).
@@EarlSenchuk Hi Earl, I forgot to come back to you for an update. I made these window inserts by constructing wood frames that fit into the interior jam and the using the Frost King window insulation film kits. After some trial and error (use real wood not MDF!) and lots of work, I made 12 inserts and they work GREAT! I have a condo in a 100 yr old uninsulated building, these have made all the difference in the world. I am now selling my condo and these inserts have been a positive selling point. Thanks for the inspiration and encouragement!
@@allisonwilliams3714 Congratulations! You did it! Your home will be a lot less drafty and way more comfortable not to mention the favorable impact on your heating bills.
It may if you could find the proper gasket material. That part is not so easy. Closed cell would be best, but not too firm.
Wouldn't it be easier to weatherproof the storm windows first, then the interior windows as necessary?
I used seasonal seam sealant around my exterior storm windows for years. In the spring, you have to remove it which is like pulling a big long booger out of the gaps. If you leave it on too long, and the sun gets to it, it turns soft and gooey making it very difficult to remove. I also tried a special clear tape, kind of like duct tape, to cover the gaps around the perimeter of the window. It pulls the paint off in spots when you remove it in the spring. Some of the tricks on the market to seal exterior windows can do the job, but often times create more work.