How to insulate wooden Windows
A warm home is a cozy and comfortable atmosphere in the family. Since ancient times, people sought to warm your home, while inventing new tools and materials. Today in the construction of houses, consumers split into two camps: some install plastic Windows and completely assured of their safety and practicality, others are «the old rules» and assemble in their houses of wooden Windows. There is another category – those who, for whatever reason, has not changed the old Windows.
It is proved that the non-insulated Windows lead to the loss of half heat. So the insulation of old wooden Windows – is a forced measure and justified.
How to insulate wooden Windows ↑
There are several ways to solve this problem. Of course, in virtue of their mentality, we tend to use proven methods, as they say, «bins of ancestors». These methods are effective, however, modern materials used for insulation, in no way inferior to them.
The main reason for the entry of cold air in the room is the presence of gaps and cracks through which the cold seeps. All basic methods of insulating Windows based on how to eliminate the gaps in the design and clogging the cracks.
Traditional methods of warming ↑
Everyone remembers from childhood how to insulate wooden Windows with improvised means. For this purpose, strips of fabric, and plug the cracks with a rag and cotton wool, stick with duct tape. Of course, they are in some degree effective, but first we need to understand the nature of heat loss.
There are several factors affecting the heat transfer:
- the thermal conductivity of the walls, floors, ceilings and openings of doors and Windows;
- the conductivity of the sunlight through the glazing;
- the heat loss through the cracks or porous materials.
- when the insulation of Windows is necessary to consider all three factors.
Traditional methods of warming – an affordable way to keep a room warm, but not always convenient. How to insulate wooden Windows with the help of improvised means? Let’s consider some options.
Paper is used as a drive cracks. To do this, use newspaper or toilet paper. Pre-soaked and ground up, to grade the pulp. Further, this compound fills the cracks and crevices. After drying on top of the pile stick the masking tape. This option protects the building against the penetration of cold air through cracks at the joints of frames and shutters, but does not protect from the effects of other factors.
Cracks can score wool, oakum, or foam. Technology insulation is similar. Space between glass, frame and sash fill material, excluding the ingress of air, and then glued up the gaps with tape, cloth or strips of paper. But the use of this method is bad for the state of the Windows after removal. As a rule, the appearance can be restored only by staining.
One of the most popular methods is the insulation using strips of fabric. To do this the cracks be filled with any insulation, for example, paper or rags. And then glued strips of cloth soaked in yogurt or cool soapy water. This option is useful the fact that the spring strips are easy to dismantle and on the surface of the window leaves no traces. For removing the strips enough to water them and clean the window.
Another cheap option is insulation of wooden Windows with rubber or foam self-adhesive weatherstripping. This material is sold in any hardware store and is quite inexpensive. When mounting the adhesive tape should pay attention to the accuracy of its placement, eliminating the creases and crannies. Such a heater will last you one season. Besides the traces of glue is also difficult to derive, and sometimes have to resort to staining.
The cracks in the wooden Windows obscure window putty. This allows you to eliminate any cracks, not even visible to the eye and to create conditions of almost complete seal. In this case, in addition to preservation heat, we got an excellent soundproofing. This method is not recommended due to the fact that clear then the window is very difficult.
In the case where the glass appears condensate or frost, use a heat-saving film, which is set on the glass from the inside. The effect is achieved by reflection of infrared radiation and the presence of an air cushion between the glass and the design.
Installation of the film is simple, even people with no skill. The material is a double layer sheet, which before installing parts. On clean and degreased surface is glued with double sided tape, which is fixed and the canvas. The tape must be stretched, warming it with a Hairdryer, gently spread, avoiding wrinkle formation and bubbles. This method is a relative insulation with plastic film, which is nailed from the outside of the frame.
How to insulate wooden Windows with foam everyone knows. Foam is a versatile material that fits snugly to the world of repair. This is due to practicality and availability. It can help to saponite cracks and crevices, chips and defects. The holes are filled with material and left to dry. Then removed the extra ordinary building with a knife.
The foam has a porous structure, which allows to achieve high parameters of thermal conductivity, besides the liquid material fills all the space of the cracks, eliminating gaps between the insulation and the window frame.
As insulation using silicone sealant. This method is useful for elimination of cracks between the wooden frame and glass. Of course this is a laborious process, but worth it. It can be attributed to the most effective ways of warming. Technology: RAM take out the glass, clean the frame from dirt, dust and old paint, apply sealant, insert the glass and put another layer of silicone, then fix glass bead.
We recommend clear sealer. This will create the aesthetic appearance of the window. Silicone is a reliable method of insulation, which will retain their properties for more than one season. The disadvantages include the fact that the operation process transparent stripe changes color and acquires a yellowish tint that spoils the appearance.
Innovative methods ↑
In recent years, increasingly popular method is the Swedish thermal insulation of Windows. It is based on insulation with a special sealant production in Sweden (hence the name). The belt is made of special material based on rubber and silicone. The seal consists of a tubular strip which is mounted in the slot in the frame.
The material has high strength, practicality and thermal conductivity. However, there is one drawback is the high cost. Besides the fact that the material itself is not cheap, and you install your own hands is practically not possible, since the installation of the necessary skills and specialized tools. However, if you have the necessary skills, feel free to go to work.
The tubular strip is not susceptible to influence of external factors, including mechanical, for example, staining. Lifetime – up to 15 years. These factors made this method popular among consumers. Although it’s important to weigh the pros and cons: costly insulation or annual paperwork. Video editing:
The above methods are the most common methods of insulation, but to insulate wooden Windows in the winter, everyone decides, depending on the preferences and possibilities of the budget. Below is a video that will allow you to explore in more detail some of the options for warming: