Window Film for insulation - what to get, how to pick, how to ensure I am not being mugged off

Olive_Spider

Dear forum,

Long preamble:

This is more of an energy saving question than a money saving question, but I hope this will still be within people’s scope of knowledge.

I currently live with my parents and weekly commute to university. I don’t contribute towards my parent’s gas bill (thank god) but I am an environmentalist and have been busy trying to persuade them to make their home greener.

I appreciate there is probably nothing I can do for my university accommodation. I can’t even use blutak or get an electric blanket. I would tell you how hard we students have it, but MSE rules forbid any political discussion, and there are a lot of people in this world have it worse than me.

I have, for some years, been trying to get them to install double or triple glazing, even offering to pay the costs for my room. But so far, no dice. It’s not about money, I know this because they are not hard up and it took them several years to get a solar panel installed despite the fact I pointed out that they could do it for free (for slightly complicate reasons).

The problem, as far as I have understood it, is that they like the appearance that the sash windows have – which if you ask me are nothing more than a bloomin’ pane to open, pun sort of intended.

Now, I am trying to think of ways to insulate my own bedroom. I try to leave the radiator off and work in the kitchen, but I am trying to think of good ways to capture heat from the rest of the house and to keep heat when the radiator is turned on.

I was drawn to the windows by the fact that they always have condensation on in the morning (they are growing a small forest of black mould, and given that they are wooden, I wouldn’t be entirely surprised if they rot away…) and that on a cold day I can feel the cold seeping in from them (which isn’t how thermodynamics works, but let’s run with it…)

Actual question:

I have recently come across the idea of window film, which I understand can help insulate my windows. Even if I can’t exactly get a glazers in without my parents permission, I imagine they will be fine with me just applying them to the windows (I have fantasies that they will compliment my get-up-and-go but given that they seem to view my saving for the future as a bad thing, that’ll be the day).

How good are they for keeping in heat, and what should I look for when buying some?

I have plenty of money that I have saved from a gap year job (as mentioned, I offered to pay for triple glazing my room and I understand window film is much cheaper) so I am willing to pay for quality, but I don’t want to be mugged off.

Also, any idea how to deal with the black mould? I have taken to drying my window with a towel when I am home, but most days I am at university.

Thank-you in advance for all the helpful advice, all the best,

Emmia

Your problem will be that your room is getting mouldy as it is colder than the rest of the house (because you're not heating it), but just as humid.

 Water vapour therefore condenses more easily - you need to dehumidify by getting a dehumidifier (meaco do good low energy ones) or by leaving windows open (and your bedroom door shut) to let the moisture escape. The room should/will be cold, but dry. You'll probably also need a warmer, higher tog duvet.

The black mould can be treated with white vinegar OR (and I must emphasise this) a bleach based mould killer. Don't use both in quick succession unless you wish to gas yourself. 

Fundamentally though, it is your parents house, so if they don't want to have triple glazing, heat pumps, water recycling, solar... that's their choice. When you fully move out you can run the environmentally friendly house of your dreams, but you don't have the right to impose this on them.
.
Edit: We have double glazed wooden sash windows which are a requirement due to the style of the building we live in. Well fitted and in working order they're no worse than other types. 

Bigphil1474

OP, not sure you'd notice much difference sticking some film on the glass. As above, you need to heat the room to stop the damp. The condensation is most likely from you breathing at night, so you could get rid of that by not breathing, or improve ventilation.

We used a product from HG for mould (bought off Amazon), worked really well although it stinks the room to high heaven for 24 hours. Spray on, leave for 30 minutes to an hour, then wipe off. It's chlorine based.

Would your parents consider secondary glazing inside? Again, as above, you can get double glazed sash windows, probably triple glazed these days - your parents might be persuaded if you find examples they like. Does sound like they are stuck in the past.

TELLIT01

Secondary film on the windows won't make any appreciable difference if it is only applied to a window in one room.  With the door shut and no heating either there is a high risk of mould and condensation as others have said.

The OP does come across as something like a disciple of Greta Thunberg, with a somewhat messianic tone.  If that is the way they approach their parents I'm not surprised they aren't getting far with them.  It is the parents' house and their decision as to what they do, and do not, wish to spend their money on.  The OP has made their point to them and, in my opinion, should now drop the subject.

Ectophile

Mould can be treated by wiping it with a cloth dampened with diluted bleach.

I once tried the shrink film on sash windows.  The idea was that you stick it to the window frame with double sided tape, then wave a hairdryer over it to make it shrink.  It was rubbish.  On a windy day, the film rustled like a crisp packet.  And in a storm, it would come off the tape in places and let the cold air in.

I then went over to semi-rigid plastic sheets.  That stuff comes on a big roll, and can be cut using sturdy scissors.  I stuck it on with self-adhesive magnetic strips.  So the sheets could be pulled off in the summer.  That was rather more effective.

Yorkie1

I agree with al the previous points about condensation and the cold temp in the room.

I did have some success with the film on some single glazed windows in my house - it made a noticeable difference to down draughts. But the sellotape that was used to fix it to the window frames didn't come off cleanly, and made it difficult to attach fresh film the following year, even with some sanding of the frames.

twopenny

When I had single glazing I used standard cling film over the windows. If the wood is gloss and well finished all you need is to very lightly dampen along the frame and the cling film will stick. You need to cut to size before you do this.

It's a bit of a nightmare getting it on as it sticks to itself but once in place it will stay there, make a difference to the temperature and I didn't get condensation behind.

I also used strips of cling film scrunched up into any gaps around the frame. Using a blunt kitchen knife to put right in so it wasn't visible.

Of course with any clear film you run into the problem of plastics and disposal.

Indeed double glazing frames are a huge amout of plastic and when you look around the number of houses using it and think of the disposal it's going to be a crisis in itself.

So your parents by having wooden frames that last longer and are bio degradable and heating with solar energy are actually being very eco friendly. Though of course there will be disposal of the solar panels and battery that will cause future problems.

Olive_Spider

Thank-you all for your responses, I will give them all some thoughts when I am less busy with my dissertation.

Best wishes,