The GoVacuum Blog

While you wait to afford those new energy-efficient windows, you can still do your part to reduce energy bills and enhance your eco-friendly home. If you are renting and your landlord is not yet on the green track, installing window film is a way you can get the benefit without home remodeling.
Low E-coating (which stands for low “emissivity”) plastic film is an easy and inexpensive way to insulate your old windows against heat or cold. Covered with a thin metallic coating, these plastic sheets are designed to keep the heat out during the summer and the cold out during the winter months. Preventing drafts while deflecting or reflecting the sun is a great way to reduce your need for excess air-conditioning or heat.

Easy to install, the coated sheets are designed to place on the outside of your windowpanes during the summer to keep the sun’s heat out. When the cold weather comes, you simply flip the sheet over to the inside of your window to keep the heat inside.

Low E-coating window film generally comes in a kit that can be found in hardware and home supply stores. The kit contains a large sheet of plastic shrink-to-fit film that will cover five standard size windows, along with one or two rolls of double-sided adhesive tape. All you will need is a scissors or razor and a handheld hairdryer and you’re good to go.

How to Install Low E-coating Plastic Film
The first thing you need to do is remove shades, curtains, or blinds covering your windows. Then clean the window frames thoroughly, making sure they are bone dry before you start applying the plastic film. Then:

• Measure the dimensions of your window frames
• Cut adhesive strips to match the length of all four sides of your window frames
• Apply adhesive strips to all four sides of your window frames, making sure there is no bubbling of the material.
• Wait 20 minutes to allow the adhesive to set securely. Leave the backing on until you are ready to apply the plastic film
• Take the plastic sheeting and cut a piece that is large enough to create a one inch overlap on all sides of your window
• Now take off the plastic backing from the tape you have applied to the window frames.
• Attach the upper corners of the plastic sheet to the adhesive that borders the top of the frame.
• Secure the top area by pressing all along the top strip to adhere it to the adhesive.
• Repeat for each side of the window frame, doing the bottom area last.
• Take your hairdryer and set it to the highest setting.
• Apply the heat to one corner and move the dryer slowly across the film until all of the wrinkles are ironed out. Do not touch the dryer to the plastic.
• Take a scissors or razor blade and trim off the plastic overhang.

Once you have accomplished the above, you only need to re-hang your curtains, shades, or blinds and enjoy your self-applied weatherproofing as your home stays temperate and your energy bills go down.

A readily available do-it-yourself kit is sold by 3M on Amazon.

-Michele Kadison