The winter months ahead

**Nana2two** · 11-03-2008, 01:57 PM

We are getting ready to use plastic at the windows this year. We are using it on the inside, does anyone use it on the outside also? We have a victorian home with 28 windows. The lower level is the ceiling to floor and upstairs is ceiling to around 3 feet from the floor. Here in IL it gets cold, last year our highest bill was $480 for 1 month. This year i just hate too see it.

**Russ** · 11-03-2008, 02:04 PM

I don't use the stuff but maybe you should look into some of those thermal curtains or insulated curtains... I forget what they are called exactly, but I'm sure someone will chime in.

**pinetree** · 11-03-2008, 02:14 PM

I have an old house with the back porch, covered in windows. We are going to do two windows outside to see if it helps.

I made window quilts and have thremal drapes for all mine. It really makes a difference.

**HappyMama** · 11-03-2008, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by Nana2two

We are getting ready to use plastic at the windows this year. We are using it on the inside, does anyone use it on the outside also? We have a victorian home with 28 windows. The lower level is the ceiling to floor and upstairs is ceiling to around 3 feet from the floor. Here in IL it gets cold, last year our highest bill was $480 for 1 month. This year i just hate too see it.

Hi Nana had to laugh when I saw your post. I am from the Midwest also probably near you...lol and have a Victorian with about that many windows. We use the plastic inside, and heavy curtains and does help. We did use outside but it just blew off unless you staple which I have brick and can't ( nor would I want to if I had wood). We have tornado shutters on many of the windows , if I put plastic on those and close the shutters ( which I do for two big Victorian doors that are like windows ) then the plastic stays. A friend of mine uses window quilts she made for hers.

Also try a Vornado space heater in certain rooms with a ceiling fan ( brings my room up to about 70 even with high ceilings and windows etc), and they are very energy efficient for your electric bill. They are pricey but worth it. As a side note don't get a used one if possible as there were recalls in yrs. prior.

This is the first year we got a fireplace insert ( a blazeking) love it . Well worth the money ( you put in about 5-8 logs and will last about 14 hours). That should help a lot the company told us they have millions of orders on back order and you can't even get one in the states right now. Stay warm and take care.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 11-03-2008, 02:46 PM

We did buy window plastic but I think it's getting too cold to put it on the large sliding glass door leading from our living room to the back porch. We're looking at some felt weatherstripping to take care of the draftiest parts. We've already bought the plastic but it's just a matter of how much we want it on there. With two kids, the desire to poke holes in it is always there.

**Trishagirl** · 11-03-2008, 02:57 PM

Hi Nana We have used it in our upstairs windows and it does help. I have insulated curtains on the downstairs windows and will be closing them at night so that will help. DH just got done cleaning all the windows inside and out so I think we are ready there. Hope that insulating plastic helps keep your bills down. I hope we don't have a bad winter but only the Lord knows that.

**Denvergirlie** · 11-03-2008, 03:32 PM

We use it, but have a hard time fitting it over the frame as well as we lose just as much heat out of the frame as the windwo. Another thing we did was spray the window with water and then put bubble wrap up on the window itself and then shrunk wrapped the window. The bubble wrap still lets a lot of light in but just adds another layer within the plastic to help insulate. It looks a bit "ghetto" but we see others houses that have it too in the neighborhood so just got over that real quick.

**IntlMom** · 11-03-2008, 03:43 PM

I think the best thing you can do is try it and see how it works for you this winter, and then next year you will at least be able to look back and see how it worked.

**Megareader** · 11-03-2008, 09:22 PM

You used the "w" word...winter!! Isn't there a rule against using language like that on FV?

**Laura2** · 11-04-2008, 12:25 AM

Can someone please tell me what "thermal drapes" are? Are they something you buy or make? If you make them, how do you do it?

Thanks!

**guest002** · 11-04-2008, 12:53 AM

Originally Posted by Laura2

Can someone please tell me what "thermal drapes" are? Are they something you buy or make? If you make them, how do you do it?

Thanks!

http://www2.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6E.asp...Id=60156|61476

**Nana2two** · 11-04-2008, 01:03 AM

See with us having so many windows it would cost alot.Each window would need 3 panels at $19.00 each x28 windows = around $1500,a little pricey price now. i guess

e will double plastic.

**Laura2** · 11-04-2008, 01:15 AM

Originally Posted by PaulaPAFW

http://www2.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6E.asp...Id=60156|61476

Thank you! They sound pretty good. I may need to save up to try some out. Since we don't have heat this winter, this may be just what we need.

**Denvergirlie** · 11-04-2008, 08:10 AM

Originally Posted by Laura2

Can someone please tell me what "thermal drapes" are? Are they something you buy or make? If you make them, how do you do it?

Thanks!

You can make them yourself, there are countless plans on the internet. Here is one from mother earth news back in 1983 article:
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Green...mal-Shade.aspx

Remember to look to the thrift store for fabric.... bedspreads, sheets, and excess fabric can be had for very cheap.

**YankeeMom** · 11-04-2008, 08:51 AM

I keep trying to talk my husband into using plastic on the windows. He always shoots me down. We have a three-story Victorian with 50+ windows (that's probably intimidating to him lol). 95% of them are 8 feet tall and 3 feet wide, all original to the house (126yrs old).

It's difficult because 1) there are sooo many windows and 2) they all have custom wood shutters on them. Do we plastic in the shutters (and make the house a virtual cave all winter) or do we plastic just the windows (and be unable to close any of the blinds all winter)? Dh just decided not to plastic any of them.

I'd also love to make thermal curtains, but again the cost. There are a lot windows, all very big windows. I shudder at the cost of the material it would take to cover them all.

So we just deal. We keep the thermostat down, open the blinds on the sunny side of the house, close them on the shady side and use the wood stove in the afternoons/evenings to cut down on the chill & dampness.