Heat-saving film for windows: principle of operation, efficiency

Hi everybody!
I haven't written anything for a long time. But then I recently came across an interesting topic - thermal film for windows, which allows you to insulate a room. I noticed that the issue of window insulation is increasingly being raised among customers and fellow builders.

It seems to me that this is due to the constant increase in energy prices, and insulating windows allows you to save heating costs.

This is why energy-saving film has become very popular among customers. It allows you to install protection from the cold where other materials are powerless. Let me tell you more about this film!

Advantages and disadvantages

The principle of operation of this material is that when applied to glass, it begins to filter solar radiation, preventing infrared and ultraviolet waves from passing through. At the same time, heat-saving window film perfectly conducts visible light without disturbing the light level.

As a result of such physical properties, the material does not allow thermal radiation to escape from the room, keeping it inside, increasing heating. However, the sun's heat cannot enter the room, which can be useful in the summer heat.

It is worth noting that energy-saving films for windows also have a certain drawback. The fact is that with the onset of spring, central heating is often turned off at a time when it is still quite cool and the room cannot receive heat from the sun.

Also, the installation instructions do not recommend using such a film in the manufacture of greenhouses or greenhouses. The fact is that almost all types of plants require ultraviolet and infrared radiation, which promotes their normal growth.

More on the topic: What are colored laminated plastic windows and where are they used?

Therefore, if the material is used to protect windows in an apartment, then the flowers on the windowsill will no longer receive the necessary lighting.

The fact that heat-saving film for windows will not be as effective as possible when installed on a high-quality double-glazed window deserves special attention.

According to the conclusion of experts who carried out similar studies, it saves energy by no more than 7%. Therefore, it should be used only when restoring or repairing old structures.

Advice! When purchasing film in a store, you must ask the seller to present a quality certificate for a specific product. This is due to the fact that it is impossible to visually determine its properties, which is what dishonest sellers use.

Pros and cons of the material

Thermal insulation for windows has been used for a sufficient time; positive qualities can be highlighted based on real customer reviews:

• in winter it is possible to save heat by more than 30%;
• in summer, energy consumption is 25% less, thanks to the saving mode of the air conditioning system;
• easy to glue;
• acoustic and electromagnetic channels in the room are limited;
• some models are capable of retaining more than 90% of heat in winter;
• thanks to the delay of ultraviolet radiation, furniture upholstery does not deteriorate;
• increases the efficiency of PVC construction, retains heat, makes watching TV and working on a personal computer comfortable.

Negative sides:

• stretching after some time;
• if you violate the recommendations for gluing, it will come off;
• instability to mechanical damage. You should not work with sharp, cutting objects near the window. If the integrity is violated, the energy-saving properties are leveled.

Minor damage can be repaired with tape. But product performance will deteriorate.

Installation

Typically, heat-saving films for windows are made on a special adhesive base, although there are also types that are held on the glass due to surface tension.
Therefore, the installation method will depend on the selected material. It is worth noting that before starting installation you need to prepare the glass yourself. It is first thoroughly washed and then treated with a degreasing compound.

Next, apply the material to the glass, smoothing the surface with a soft rag to remove air bubbles. For these purposes, you can also use a special tool that is very similar to a brush for car windows.

At the final stage, cut off the remaining film with a mounting knife, straightening the edges.

It should be noted that the price of such installation is very low, and its simplicity will allow even inexperienced craftsmen to carry out the work.

Advice! It is worth noting that it is recommended to install the film on glass that is heated to room temperature. Otherwise, small defects may appear on it due to lag from the surface.

Source: obalkonah.ru/ostekleniye/teplosberegayushhaya-plenka-dlya-okon-290

Why does it blow from a plastic window?

Determining the reason for the blowing of a plastic window begins with whether it is new or old. In the first case, the problem can be safely attributed to poor quality installation of the product, which means that the installers will have to solve it.

In this case: poor-quality installation seam of plastic windows

Often, plastic windows are installed by companies whose workers do not have sufficient qualifications. Mistakes are also possible when trying to install windows yourself. That is why it is not recommended to save on specialists when replacing PVC windows with new ones. But if you are faced with a problem with improper installation or an obvious manufacturing defect, warranty repairs should cover all additional costs.

In the second case, the appearance of a draft is associated with the characteristics and duration of operation of the window. Among the reasons are:

1. “Warpness” of the window frame and depressurization of joints due to shrinkage of the newly built house;
2. Wear of window components - seals, sash pressing mechanisms, etc. after a long period of use;
3. Untimely or absent maintenance of PVC windows.

Some of the problems can be fixed yourself, which will save both time and money. Others are best left to specialists. Namely:

• if replacement of fittings is necessary (“original” parts can often be ordered only through the installer);
• when performing external high-rise work (for windows located above the second floor);
• when insulating a window in winter (specialists will be able to do this quickly and without significant heat loss in the room).

With your own hands you can insulate the window from the inside or along the contour, replace the sealing material, and insulate the window sill.

Low-emission energy-saving film

When installing energy-saving film on a window, the room becomes much warmer. It prevents wave radiation from cooling the interior through the glass and thus retains up to 42% of additional heat.

In the spring-summer period, a window on which a heat-saving film is installed does not allow the room to overheat. This coating on the glass blocks the penetrating thermal rays of the sun. These qualities of the film make the window a real heat insulator throughout the year.

This effect is achieved due to the physical properties of refraction of sunlight. Thermal reflective films are produced using special technology only by manufacturers from the USA (4 are produced in the world).

Low-emission films have a main characteristic - emission coefficient, i.e. the ability to re-emit energy. The lower the value of this coefficient, the more effectively it retains heat in the room.

According to our measurements, not a single film, except Ecolux70, provides a noticeable heat-saving effect on double-glazed windows. A slight effect is visible with a thermal imager only on single glass.

Only 3 films in the world give an effect on a double-glazed window: Ecolux70 from SolarGard, Enerlogic from LLumar and Thinsulate from 3M.

Energy-saving film is an effective heat insulator in winter and summer.

Disadvantages of the product

The film also has negative sides that will help the buyer not make a mistake with his choice.

So, the disadvantages of the product:

• It is not recommended to stick the product on windows whose window sills are filled with indoor flowers. Since PET transmits little sunlight and plants begin to wither over time;
• The film does not allow heat to pass through during the warm season. This can make the house damp and cool;
• The product interferes with the normal transmission of radio waves. As a result, the operation of equipment (telephones, modems and radios) begins to malfunction.

Important! Modern high-quality windows do not allow heat to pass through from the inside. Therefore, there is no point in spending money on additional insulation of windows with film.

Elite heat-saving film Ecolux70 SolarGard

The completely new Ecolux70 from the manufacturer SolarGard is the best product on the film coating market currently.
Installation of elite heat-saving film Ecolux70 Solar Gard With an emission coefficient of 0.09 (better than low-emissivity glass), the film effectively retains heat in the room in winter and prevents overheating of the room in summer.

At the same time, the film practically does not change its appearance, being almost transparent and without a mirror effect.

How much heat does it retain?

In winter, the outside temperature is -18°C. At the same time, the thermometer in the room shows +21°C. Being in a room, 1 meter from the window, a person feels a temperature of +17°C. After installing Ecolux70, a person in a room 1 meter from the window will feel a temperature of +21°C, as in the entire room. At the same time, the inner glass itself will become several degrees cooler, and the space near the glass will become warmer.

In summer, the film works in the opposite direction, preventing overheating of the room from direct and reflected sunlight.

It reflects up to 48% of heat. Its effectiveness all year round is achieved by combining sun protection and low-emission properties. This is the best product in terms of transparency and sun protection characteristics.

Characteristics

• Visible light transmittance 68%
• Yellow tint
• Overall reduction in solar energy 53%
• UV cut-off 99%
• Shading coefficient 0.55
• U-factor 3.45
• Emissivity 0.09
• Glare reduction 27%

This is the best heat-saving film currently available.

Efficiency

In addition to creating a more comfortable temperature in the room, energy-saving film allows you to save money on heating and air conditioning. Together with the manufacturer, we calculate the effectiveness of the film for your facility.

To calculate, we need to know the formula for double-glazed windows (preferably U-factor) and the approximate number of square meters of glass for each cardinal direction. Having received this data from you, we will make an approximate calculation of heat savings in winter and efficiency in summer.

During the installation process, at your request and for an additional fee, we can take measurements using a thermal imager and demonstrate the difference in heat retention between glass with and without film.

Source: solux-stroi.ru/energosberegayuschaya-plenka/

Conclusion

Heat-saving film is a material with a transparent texture that effectively protects rooms in a house, apartment or office from heat loss. Its use allows you to reduce heating costs by up to 30%, which is especially important in the winter season. On sale you can find products both on a self-adhesive basis, and those applied using a soap solution or creating a “third glass” effect. It is quite possible to cope with the installation yourself, especially if you have the tools and follow the instructions in detail. Some manufacturers offer film application from the factory, which is important when ordering new windows.

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Thermal film for windows “Third Glass”

The use of this film will increase the room temperature from 3 to 6 degrees without additional heating.

The film has a number of properties.

1. It's multi-layered. Due to its multilayer nature, the film has a low heat transfer coefficient.
2. The film is absolutely transparent and does not distort the images outside the window even if it is attached in several layers.
3. The film is heat-shrinkable and, under the influence of the warm air of an ordinary home hair dryer, is perfectly evenly stretched on the window frame.

The energy-saving effect is achieved due to the multi-layering of the film and due to the air gap formed between the glass and this film. film thickness 15 microns.

Removing a glass unit

not necessary to remove the glass unit to apply the film . With the glass in a vertical position, dirt, dust, bubbles and other unwanted elements are much more visible. But you need to be extremely careful to prepare the film in an area free of rubber bands, otherwise there will be gaps along the edges.

In case you decide to remove the glass unit (for stickers, replacement, or for some other reason), I’ll tell you how I did it. These instructions are for plastic windows ; the process is different for aluminum and wooden ones.

You will need:

• Chisel
• Small rubber mallet

The chisel should be as wide (preferably 40mm or more) - this is necessary in order not to deform the frame and glazing beads. Instead of a chisel, the following tools are suitable: a powerful knife, a short hard spatula, and even a hatchet. The most civil way to use a plastic tool (it’s for disassembling the interior of a car, but it’s also great for windows, in general, a note for craftsmen).

It's easiest to start with the longest bead - usually any of the side ones. The point of the chisel is inserted between the bead and the window profile, as close to the middle . It is advisable that the sharpened side of the chisel be turned towards the glazing bead .

By tapping on the end of the chisel you need to slightly widen the gap . As soon as the glazing bead begins to come out of the profile, tilt push more and more out of the profile.

You can chisel at one point until the bead comes out of its groove, or you can widen the gap in several places. See as you go how it gets easier. The main thing is not to damage the bead and prevent the chisel from slipping off the glass.

When the bead is out of its groove enough to be grasped with your fingers , set the tool aside and pull it out of the window profile by hand .

The next beads are easier to remove. You need to pry it away from the free corner and then pull it out. Leave the top one for last , it will keep the glass from falling out.

Before removing the double-glazed window, remember, photograph, or even better, mark the position of all plastic spacer pads (slats). This is especially important for detachable sash , as they “balance” the glass unit.

To remove a double-glazed window, craftsmen have special suction cups , but you can simply push it from the back side (through the sash, for example). The main thing is, don’t even think about digging out the double-glazed window with a screwdriver or the same chisel! Use something plastic if there is no other option.

Keep in mind that over the years of use, the glass unit may have become “stuck” to the outer rubber bands and may require some force to remove it.

The glass unit can be very heavy and has sharp edges, so be sure to wear gloves !

You need to push (pull) the top edge towards you to create enough space for your hands, take the glass unit around the edges and remove it . If you have a slippery floor (tile or laminate), be sure to lay a piece of cardboard or a wet rag where you are going to place it so that you do not have to scoop the glass unit up.

A glass unit from an opening sash can be removed either by first removing the sash from the frame, or without removing it - in this case it must be tightly closed . The procedure is the same, the main thing is very close attention to the position of the linings .

You can simply remove the glazing beads for more convenient gluing of the film without removing the glass unit completely. But without additional fixation of the glass unit, there is a danger that it may fall out on you in the process.

Film installation

Necessary tools: stationery knife, scissors, household hair dryer. If wind blows through the frame, you must carefully seal the joints with foam rubber. It is advisable to carry out the installation together.

The ideal option is to remove the handles and stick the film on the window frame (around the perimeter).

1. Apply special double-sided tape to a clean, grease-free surface (along the perimeter of the frame).
2. Separate the 2 layers of film from each other. Your kit contains film folded in two layers.
3. Let's cut the film (on a clean table) according to the size of the windows, taking into account the overlap of at least 2 cm on the tape. Check the correctness of the measurement by attaching the resulting piece of film to the window.
4. Remove the protective paper strip from the double-sided tape. This is easier to do if you separate the edges of the paper and tape before pasting.
5. Carefully (with two people, holding it from above and below) glue the film onto the tape. We recommend starting with small windows. Ignore the wrinkles. The main thing is to glue the film around the entire perimeter to the tape.
6. The film is heat-shrinkable. To achieve ideal transparency and smoothness, use a household hairdryer to evenly blow warm air onto the surface of the film until the desired effect is achieved. Attention: do not stretch the film too much - it will then reach the ideal tension on its own.
7. If the film breaks during operation, repair it with transparent tape.

If the film is inflated by the sail, the joints of the frames are poorly sealed. Remove the film, repeat the sealing job and stick it again. But it may not turn out beautifully.

When direct sunlight hits the film, it stretches to fit the window without losing its qualities. Unfortunately, this quality sometimes manifests itself during transportation, reducing the linear size by 10-15%. The film does not lose its properties over time.

Operating principle

Compared to sun-protection analogues, heat-protective films are more effective and create a barrier to the thermal (infrared) spectrum of solar radiation, eliminating overheating of the apartment. To reflect the thermal energy of the sun, heat-protective materials are used on the windows of private houses, office premises, panoramic windows, and glass roofs.

Solar heat levels are reduced by 70%. The load on the air conditioner is reduced, materials and furniture do not fade, do not lose the brightness of colors, and the view from the window does not suffer - the protection remains transparent.

The glazing area of ​​modern houses, apartments, offices is at least 20%; using athermal window film you can save energy and prevent overheating of the room.

Operating principle of athermal coating

Thanks to the multilayer composite structure, the energy-saving film coating effectively reflects IR rays and does not interfere with the passage of light.

When producing the material, a high-tech method is used - spattering: layers of film are covered with a microscopic ceramic or metal layer.

Where to glue the film - outside or inside: overview video

Tips for insulation

Remember the textbook example from Soviet physics textbooks: at an outside air temperature of -20 degrees, only one slit the size of a needle’s eye can turn a well-heated one-room apartment into a refrigerator in a day!

To be honest, there are plenty of cracks in our apartments too. So, without waiting for the cold weather, we advise you to start an operation to insulate your homes.

More on the topic What you need to know before insulating a loggia and balcony with your own hands

Advice one

Before deciding on this good deed, carefully inspect all the doors and windows for a tight fit of all opening parts and, if necessary, glue thin strips of self-adhesive foam rubber or rubber insulation to the problem surfaces.

We advise you to pay special attention to entrance doors - both iron and wooden. The first ones are covered with a batten made of bars, onto which either planks or a special set of foam rubber with dermantine are nailed, which can also be easily installed on wooden doors.

In order to reduce heat losses, you can paint the doors with TEZOLAT heat-insulating coating.

Tip two

Having insulated the doors, including balcony ones, move on to the windows. The simplest and surest way to preserve heat in the house is to cover the frames with paper, for those whose frames allow the wind to pass through. Preferably white, which is sold in rolls specifically for this purpose.

It is quite dense and easily glued with ordinary soap. To do this, you need to pour water into a large plate and, having wetted the paper, walk over its surface with soap, then carefully apply it to the desired place and iron it with a cloth.

Paper with soap adheres well to any surface and is easily washed off in the spring with the same water. In those places where it blows especially strongly, you can stick two or even three layers of paper, and for insurance, you can also insulate the windows with foam rubber.

Of course, you don’t need to seal the windows; you just need to ensure they fit tightly using the same foam rubber. Naturally, we insulate the glass with film.

If the frames are plastic and the elastic still holds the cold, then you can glue them along the sash, if they are wooden, definitely stick them with tape on the box, having first removed the handles.

Tip three

In some apartments made of reinforced concrete panels or large blocks, the protective seams at the corners freeze in the winter, and even with hot radiators in the rooms, the cold blows from them. In these cases, we recommend gluing the corners with a double or triple layer of wallpaper.

And some craftsmen insulate cold corners by gluing foam rubber 15 centimeters wide on each side to them, after which they cover them with wallpaper stretched at an angle of 45 degrees. Foam rubber and air cushion significantly insulate the room.

Tip four

It is no secret that in many entrances in winter the temperature is not much higher than outside. Don’t wait for Uncle Vasya from the housing department, but take your own measures to insulate access doors and windows.

Any material will work here: rags, foam rubber, the same paper. You just need a little desire and a little effort. After all, in the end, both entrances and staircases are also our habitat, albeit short-term.

Keep your home in order yourself, teach your children and grandchildren a thrifty, stewardship attitude towards the housing stock. And then both our houses and our entrances will become not only warm, but also beautiful.

Tip five

There is another simple and affordable way to increase the temperature in the apartment by one or two degrees during the cold season. To do this, you need to install a heat-reflecting screen behind the radiator. Why heat the wall behind the radiator?

This heat should work for you! To install the screen, you can purchase either a special material - penofol, or simple aluminized foil. If you don't have either, take a sheet of plywood and paint one side with silver paint.

The screen behind the radiator can be secured with double-sided tape. Currently, a new product has appeared on the market: liquid insulation TEZOLAT, which can be applied like paint with a brush, roller, or spray gun.

Source: tezolat.com.ua/termoplenka-trete-steklo/energosberegayushchaya-plenka-na-okna-tre/

Where to buy the product

Thermal film is a fairly common product for preserving heat in the house. Over the past decade, this product has won the love of many customers. As a rule, the question of where to buy film for window insulation does not arise very often among buyers.

After all, the product can be purchased in an online store at a very affordable price. As well as wholesale and retail warehouses of building materials and hypermarkets of construction goods, they offer many options for thermal film from various manufacturers and different price categories, ranging from economy class to premium class products.

Energy-saving window film will keep your home warm

According to research by experts, heat loss through glazing of windows is about 30 percent, so in the cold season, due to heat leaks, 70% of the heat must be spent on heating in winter. In addition, heat loss through glass is three times higher than leakage around frames.

It is for this reason that the issues of thermal insulation and energy saving remain relevant today.

Such losses can be reduced in various ways. For example, fill the cracks with polyurethane foam, as a result of which losses are reduced by up to 90 percent; insulate the walls of the building outside and inside, increasing the thermal insulation of the building by 60 percent. In this case, installing metal-plastic windows can even help.

Recently, energy-saving film for windows has begun to be in demand, thanks to which it is possible to reduce heat loss by up to 70 percent.

Features of using polyurethane foam as insulation

To seal cracks and reduce heat loss, you can use ordinary polyurethane foam. It is extremely easy to use and allows you to obtain the highest quality thermal insulation

You just need to show maximum attention and accuracy during work in order to seal all existing cracks. After the foam has dried, its excess should be cut off with a sharp knife, and the insulation itself should be hidden with something

Polyurethane foam

To mask such thermal insulation, you can use homemade putty. To prepare it, you need to take part of the chalk and 2 times the amount of building plaster. Mix the ingredients, dilute the mixture with water to a semi-liquid state and spread on the foam. Of course, it will not be possible to completely hide traces of insulation, but at least the polyurethane foam will not be so conspicuous.

Thus, to independently insulate windows for the winter, you can use a wide variety of materials. Choose the most suitable and convenient option for you and get started. Good luck with your work and have a warm winter!

Good luck with your work and have a warm winter!

Heat-saving film: characteristics

The production technology of such film is based on the basic physical properties of sunlight, which consists of visible, ultraviolet and infrared components.

Heat-saving film is a multilayer composite material. The thickness of each layer is several microns, and the layers are covered with an ultra-thin layer of metal, which is applied using a plasma discharge method in an argon atmosphere.

The metals can be gold and silver, alloys of chromium and nickel.

Such films do not interfere with visibility, since the thickness of the metal is only a few molecules, although this technology has a beneficial effect on energy saving.

And due to manufacturing under certain conditions (temperature and pressure are strictly maintained), it becomes possible to achieve a unique structure of the final product, which prevents heat loss from inside the room in the cold season and the influx of warm air in the summer.

This is achieved by filtering sunlight, in which unwanted components of light are simply not passed through.

In simple terms, in the summer the film outside reflects the rays, preventing the room from warming up, while in cold times the film reflects the rays inside the room, preventing them from escaping and retaining heat.

Recently, a new technology for the production of heat-saving films has begun to be used, which is based on the bombardment of low-emission metal atoms, as a result of which the energy-saving performance of the film increases significantly.

Peculiarities

The product is made of PET, the thickness directly affects the performance characteristics of the coating. Thanks to its qualities, it can make glass stronger.

Under mechanical stress, glass covered with a thick thermal insulation film will not shatter into small pieces, but will hang almost like in a car. Thanks to its elasticity, it is convenient to use and easy to stick to a flat surface.

The surface is coated with a very thin layer containing silver or chromium-nickel composition. These components block infrared rays. Consequently, thermal energy is returned back to the room. At the same time, the layer of material transmits daylight from the street.

Advantages

When glued to plastic windows, such a film increases the strength of glass to an average of 8 kilograms per square centimeter.

At the same time, broken glass does not shatter into small fragments, which significantly reduces the risk of injury.

In addition, such a film allows you to save money, since by gluing the film onto a single-chamber double-glazed window, the effectiveness of such a package is equal to that of a double-chamber one.

Additional advantages of heat-saving films include:

• making it difficult for intruders to penetrate;
• protection of interior items from exposure to direct sunlight;
• Blocks 99 percent of ultraviolet rays, which often cause burnout;
• blocking of infrared radiation within 30-99%;
• imparting confidentiality (protects against information leakage through electromagnetic and vibroacoustic channels);
• giving the glass one-way visibility.

A very important point in using films is their correct and competent installation, which should only be done by professionals, since this process is very painstaking. If installed incorrectly, all the benefits of the film are lost.

Thermal insulation of wooden windows

Don’t rush to get rid of such windows, because they can be restored

Do you have wooden windows in your apartment or house and even foam insulation doesn’t protect you from the cold? Of course, you can replace old wooden structures with plastic double-glazed windows. On the other hand, you can leave environmentally friendly wooden windows, but make them much warmer.

Elimination of heat loss using Swedish technology

Now I’ll tell you how to insulate wooden windows for the winter using Swedish technology.

Many people have heard something about Swedish technology, but not everyone knows what it is. In a few words, the Swedish technology for the restoration of wooden windows is a complex work, as a result of which a wooden window in terms of thermal conductivity will be comparable to plastic double-glazed windows.

Tubular seal in groove

The main stages of working with old windows using Swedish technology are listed in the following diagram.

Insulation of window openings using Swedish technology

Where to buy energy-saving film?

Buying such a film now is not particularly difficult, since it can easily be found in almost every construction and hardware store.

In addition, when purchasing plastic windows in recent years, manufacturers initially began to install films on their products.

Sometimes film is sold in subway passages, but in such cases there is a high chance of purchasing a low-quality fake.

Source: ru-remont.com/okna/plenki/energosberegayushhaya-plenka.html

General information

Self-adhesive insulation for windows - an effective but short-lived solution

Today, many methods of thermal insulation are known. The choice of one method depends on the type of window.

This time you will learn how to make ordinary wooden windows and modern double-glazed windows warmer. In addition, I will talk about how to insulate openings outside the house with your own hands using inexpensive polystyrene foam.

Tips for preparing for insulation

Before you begin installing thermal film for window insulation, it is necessary to carry out careful preparation so that the effect of its use is maximum.

Before you begin insulating windows, you must perform the following steps:

• Inspect the windows, clean them from dirt and dust, degrease them and let them dry;
• If the opening parts do not fit tightly enough to the frame, then use rubber or foam rubber to eliminate the gaps;
• Inspect the window frames, if you find cracks in or around them, seal them with special putty;
• To improve the effect, it is best to glue the seams with either special tape or white paper;
• Make sure that the glass fits tightly; correct any imperfections using transparent silicone;
• Remove the handles.

What are cold bridges

Cold can penetrate into a living space not only through glass, but also in other ways - through elements that are in one way or another in contact with the environment. Areas where windows are in contact with the outer surface of the walls, as well as leaky panel seams in multi-story buildings, significantly reduce the thermal resource of the room, which means that not only the windows themselves, but also each of these areas must be insulated.

Replacing windows even with the most modern double-glazed windows without additional insulation of the above parts will increase the heat resource of the room by only 15-20%. If you take a comprehensive approach to insulating a room, the heat resource can be increased by 45% or more.

What is needed to install thermal film?

To attach the thermal film, there is no need for the services of specialists; anyone can cope with this task. You should start by choosing a company and purchasing this material.

The standard kit, regardless of the manufacturer, includes the thermal film itself, as well as double-sided tape for attaching it.

Many suppliers also recommend purchasing tape with a desiccant applied to it. In addition, you will need a hair dryer, a stationery knife and scissors.

Selection rules

Colored film for facade and interior decoration
Recommendations for selection:

1. You need to make sure that the brand of the material really exists.
2. The seller must have a quality certificate. If you use a fake, you won’t be able to stick it properly.
3. The packaging must be intact - this is an indicator of proper transportation and storage of the goods.

How to install thermal film correctly?

Thermal film for window insulation is attached by performing the following simple steps:

• We glue the double-sided transparent tape that was included with the film onto the previously prepared frame;
• Upon delivery, the material arrives folded in two layers, so it is necessary to separate them;
• Cut the film, taking into account the need to apply about 20 millimeters to the tape, check whether you have measured correctly;
• Remove the protective paper strip from the tape glued to the frame;
• Attach the film to the tape, not yet paying attention to the small wrinkles that appear (it is better to do this step together);
• Since the film is heat-shrinkable, in order for it to level out and become smooth, we blow it with warm air from the center to the frame; for this purpose we will need a hairdryer;

Do-it-yourself window insulation

There is nothing complicated in the process of finishing a window with film - not only a qualified specialist, but also the owner of the house can handle this task. No special skills or tools are needed, but some rules must be followed.

Required materials and tools:

• film;
• special colorless double-sided tape;
• roulette;
• long ruler;
• pencil or marker;
• construction knife or scissors;
• cotton gloves;
• regular hair dryer;

Step by step guide:

Initially, you need to make sure that there are no cracks in the window frame. In plastic windows this unpleasant nuance practically does not occur, but in wooden windows it may be present.

Wooden windows contain frames in their design, which entails the presence of many joints through which cold air can pass through. For high-quality sealing of seams and other cracks, transparent sealant or silicone is used.

You can proceed with further actions only after they have completely dried:

1. The inside of the window frame needs to be washed. To do this, you can use household chemicals or soap solution.
2. Afterwards, the frame is treated with degreasers (preferably ethyl alcohol 96%).
3. Double-sided tape is glued along the edge of the frame (along the perimeter).
4. Next, the film unfolds on a large table. If it is folded in half, it needs to be stratified. To do this, it is advisable to blow on the joints. Holding the two edges, it gradually separates.
5. It is necessary to measure the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the glass unit in advance with a tape measure.
6. The recorded indicators are transferred to film, with a tolerance of 1.5-2 cm for attaching it to tape.
7. You can cut the material with a knife or scissors, because it is very pliable to cut.
8. The protective paper layer is removed from the adhesive tape attached to the frame.
9. First, the cut out area must be leaned against the upper horizontal plane of the tape and pressed carefully.
10. Next, you need to pull it a little and press the edges of the film against the vertical strips of tape.
11. In the lower part, the fastening process is identical to the previous ones. Thus, the film is fixed in the desired position and is ready to serve for a long time.

Recommendations in progress:

1. Before completely sealing the window with film, you must thoroughly wash the glass.
2. To ensure that no traces (fingerprints or other contaminants) remain on the canvas, work must be carried out with cotton gloves.
3. If folds appear on the surface of the material during the process, this can be corrected using a regular hair dryer. To do this, it is necessary to spray the film with a stream of hot air escaping from it - which causes shrinkage.
4. During the process of gluing the film, it is not recommended to stretch it too much, because the surface may burst. And it is almost impossible to repair it, unless you stick a strip of tape, but over time the defect will become noticeable.
5. If the window is large enough, it is better to carry out the work together.
6. Do not allow the film to sag or touch the glass - this will not provide good heat conservation.

What to do if the film is inflated or minor damage appears?

The insulation can “play” for two reasons: to inflate - if the sealing work is poorly done, to sag - if the film was glued in a room with sufficiently large temperature fluctuations.

In the first case, the film will have to be removed, the flaws removed, and pasted again. In the second case, you need to wait until the heating is turned on and the room is warmed up, and then use a hairdryer to fix the problem.

If damage occurs, there is no need to completely change the film, since this problem can easily be fixed with tape.

Mineral wool insulation technology

For external insulation of window openings with mineral wool you will need:

• mineral wool,
• plaster,
• adhesive solution,
• reinforcing mesh,
• perforated corners,
• dowels,
• putty knife.

The insulation process should be carried out according to the following scheme:

1. Measure the width of the slopes and cut pieces of reinforcing mesh with an overlap of 10 cm.
2. Place the mesh on the slopes with an adhesive solution.
3. Place a layer of mineral wool on top, having previously coated the surface with glue. Its width should be 1–2 cm greater than the slope.
4. To avoid the formation of air space, the slabs should be applied as tightly as possible to the surface of the slope.
5. Trim the remaining strips of cotton wool protruding beyond the edge of the slope.
6. After complete drying, apply glue to the edges of the insulation and wrap it with the remains of the reinforcing mesh.
7. Install perforated corners around the perimeter.
8. Wait until it dries completely and apply glue to the screed again using a spatula. The adhesive solution in this case should be slightly thinner than the original one.
9. Apply primer and then paint the window façade.

Mineral wool insulation scheme

On the inside, mineral wool is used in combination with PVC slopes or sandwich panels.

Research results

In 2014, a study was conducted at the Ukrainian State Research Institute of Building Structures. A polyethylene film was glued to the frame of the double-glazed window, and its characteristics were checked before and after pasting. Here's the result:

1. Tests of the reduced resistance of a window block have shown that the additional use of film installed on the surface of the sash or frame leads to an increase in the heat transfer resistance of the glass unit by 0.2 m2*K/W. When using the film, the reduced heat transfer resistance of the window blocks that were used for testing increased from 0.45 to 0.56 m2*K/W, and the heat transfer resistance of the glass unit from 0.32 to 0.46 m2*K/W.
2. The results of calculating the temperature on the surface of the glass unit and the film in the central zone showed that the temperature on the inner surface of the glass unit not covered with film was 5.3 °C, and the temperature on the surface of the film was 10.4 °C.
3. During the experiment, no condensation was observed on the surface of the film, while the surface of the glass unit, not covered by the film, was covered with condensation.
4. Calculation of heat loss through the building envelope during the heating period showed a decrease in heat loss by 64.6 kW/h, which is 13% as a percentage, for the type of wall structure under consideration.

Based on the results of the study, we can say that insulation with plastic film makes sense. Pasting a window block can reduce heat loss by 30.3%. Exactly the same effect can be achieved using energy-saving film third window, but it will cost more due to the beautiful packaging .

Summarize

The third window or third glass is a working technology. Not as effective as energy-saving reflective films, but it will help keep the room warm.

There is no need to buy sets and kits, why pay more? You can purchase double-sided tape and shrink film yourself. It will cost 2-3 times less than buying ready-made kits in beautiful packaging.

We hope the article was useful to you. You can ask your questions in the comments. Share with us and our readers your experience of using third glass heat-saving film. Don't forget to share the post with your friends

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