Winterizing/weatherproofing your home

Thanks for the info. I am always looking for new, cheap ways to make the home more energy efficient.

 

It is the air gap in the double pane windows that provides the insulation value. Does it make a difference adding two more air gaps, yes, it does.

There may or may not be a "storm" to go in that track. That information is frequently on a sticker somewhere on the frame that you can't normally see without opening the window but the location varies a lot.

 

Flame spread is basically the rate that a fire will spread across a surface. Foam insulation in all forms is very flammable and a fire started at one spot will spread very fast across the foam's surface. The normal method of lowering it is to apply drywall to the exposed side of the foam. What is acceptable in one jurisdiction isn't always in another so always talk to the code enforcement folks where you live before you start such a project.

 

We have old wood windows in our home (single pane) and don't have the money to replace them, so I've been putting on the shrink wrap insulation over them for the last few winters and it has made a huge difference. You could literally feel the breeze coming in before, but it stopped all that. Very simple to apply, and 10 std windows cost about $12 @ HD. On top of that, they are so clear most people don't even notice they are there.

 

Do you have exterior storms? A single pane window in good repair with proper weatherstripping + a good quality storm gets you to the performance of a good double pane at a fraction of the cost of replacements (consumer reports did a test once proving this).. Plus if your old windows are more than 50 years old they are made out of much better wood with higher quality joinery than anything you can buy today short of custom work.

Good quality storms can be very inexpensive - check out Harvey Tru-Channel and Larson Gold.

If the draftiness is coming in around the sash weatherstrip might be all you need. 3M vinyl v-seal is dirt cheap and very effective. On my really old windows I use spring bronze, which is the same concept but in metal that nails into place. More labor intensive but it can last 100 years.


I'll stop ranting about windows... if you really want a mouth full - this guy is a bit over the top but links to a lot of good documentation about windows. http://www.oldhouseguy.com/windows/

 

My house is about 30 years old, and I think they just put in cheap windows. I did the caulking, but it is a "raised ranch" built into a hill, so many of my windows are approx 30ft off the ground and don't lend themselves to storm windows. We have been here about 15 years and plan to stay only a couple more (got my eye on a certain 50 acre parcel of hardwoods in North Georgia!) so I won't put much more money into it.

 

Ahh i see. Yeah 80s vintage windows probably are not worth saving.

 

How are those fall to do lists coming along?



I'm making progress finally:

• Generator tuneup/oil - Done
• Snowblower tuneup/oil - Done
• oil change on wifes SUV - Done
• Tire rotation on wifes SUV - Done
  
• clean out the garage so the cars can move in for the winter- working

• Build mini-shed - Done
• Take out air conditioners - Done
• Put shrink plastic on the bad windows I didn't get to this year.
• Finish the second floor repaint - Done
• Reinstall all the closet and cabinet doors on second floor - Done
• Finish restoring and reinstall second floor windows - Done
• Lots of painting touch up on the first floor I never finished - working
  
• Give the back fence a fresh coat of paint - Done

• Flush sediment out of the gas boiler & water heater - Done
• Get the gas boiler professionally cleaned - next week
  
• Check the boiler flue (should not need a clean) - Done
  
• Cleanout woodstove & sweep flue- Done
• Clean fireplaces and sweep flues (2)- inspected, did not need cleaning

• Fall lawn fertilizer - Done
• cover the wood stacks - Done
• fall yard clean up - leaves, brush piles, etc - working
• Split and stack the pile of rounds in the driveway
• lots of tree trimming needs to get done

 

Did you have pre existing inhalation in the walls? If so did they just inject the foam over it?

Really thinking of having this fine, but my walls currently have bat insulation in them.

 

Sealed all the recessed fixtures in the house, and finally got some cooler weather to see the performance difference.

WOW!!!

Holy smokes, the house maintains temps overnight and in between burns much better.

To think I have lived here almost 8 years before I really started tightening up the house.

 

I got storms for my thermopane Anderson windows. Also a slider storm door for my atrium door in the dining room. Used to have an aluminum slider there, but that froze up too often. Hinged wooden thermopane is much better.
I've had one window repaced twice. Pheasants flying into it. Now the seal phas failed. Might just replace the whole window.