Here are some tips for insulating your home at very little cost.
1. BUBBLE WRAP
Bubble wrap is a great form of insulation for your windows. It may not be aesthetically pleasing but windows at the back of the house or kitchen or bathroom are often not that noticeable. Cut bubble wrap to size and insert in window by using water spray with a drop of bleach in it to prevent mould.The water will make the bubble wrap cling to the window. It will be very easy to remove once the weather warms up again. Obtain bubble wrap for free, call in on local furniture stores, they use huge quantities of it and usually have some they can give away.
Bubble wrap is also great for sealing gaps in awkward places. e.g. sash window, draughts. It can be slipped under the carpet to raise the floor level to seal the gap under the door.
2. WINDOW POLYTHENE FILM KIT
Bubble wrap is a great form of insulation for your windows. It may not be aesthetically pleasing but windows at the back of the house or kitchen or bathroom are often not that noticeable. Cut bubble wrap to size and insert in window by using water spray with a drop of bleach in it to prevent mould.The water will make the bubble wrap cling to the window. It will be very easy to remove once the weather warms up again. Obtain bubble wrap for free, call in on local furniture stores, they use huge quantities of it and usually have some they can give away.
Bubble wrap is also great for sealing gaps in awkward places. e.g. sash window, draughts. It can be slipped under the carpet to raise the floor level to seal the gap under the door.
2. WINDOW POLYTHENE FILM KIT
For major front windows, 'secondary glazing' can be improvised by using a polythene film sheet which is attached to the window with double-sidied tape. After going over the film with a hot blow hairdryer, it shrinks and is no longer visible as all creases disappear.
3.PERSPEX
Alternatively you could improvise and if you have any largish perspex picture frames, these could be placed in front of the window as a secondary 'pane'. If you can do basic DIY, you could create a small wooden frame to attach to your window and paint it the same colour as the window and put the perspex frame inside it. Perspex or polycarbonate sheets (used for greenhouses) can be attached with magnetic strips so that they are very easy to remove in the summer. They are lightweight and easy to store behind a cupboard somewhere.
Alternatively you could improvise and if you have any largish perspex picture frames, these could be placed in front of the window as a secondary 'pane'. If you can do basic DIY, you could create a small wooden frame to attach to your window and paint it the same colour as the window and put the perspex frame inside it. Perspex or polycarbonate sheets (used for greenhouses) can be attached with magnetic strips so that they are very easy to remove in the summer. They are lightweight and easy to store behind a cupboard somewhere.
Perspex can be cut to size with a normal stanley knife. Put masking tape along the line you wish to cut and score with a glass cutter then snap sheet. (Put something underneath one edge to help you snap it.
4.DRAUGHT PROOFING FIREPLACES
Place hand inside chimney fireplace and if you feel any air coming through it means the chimney is open. Rather than purchasing an fairly expensive chimney balloon, it is very simple to make your own. Just use cardboard tubing instead. You can measure the width by laying a small stick across a ledge that will be just inside the top of the fireplace. Cut your tube to size and wrap the tube in bubble wrap or anything else you have to hand, even an old woollen jumper that you no longer need and just put it up the chimney. Finish off by stuffing the gap with crumpled up newspaper or more bubble wrap. Finally, check that you cannot feel any air coming down the chimney.
Place hand inside chimney fireplace and if you feel any air coming through it means the chimney is open. Rather than purchasing an fairly expensive chimney balloon, it is very simple to make your own. Just use cardboard tubing instead. You can measure the width by laying a small stick across a ledge that will be just inside the top of the fireplace. Cut your tube to size and wrap the tube in bubble wrap or anything else you have to hand, even an old woollen jumper that you no longer need and just put it up the chimney. Finish off by stuffing the gap with crumpled up newspaper or more bubble wrap. Finally, check that you cannot feel any air coming down the chimney.
6. Make your own double sided tape using a wide roll of sellotape and folding it around itself and then pressing down onto you desired object and you have double-sided tape.
More coming..........
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