In recent years, the popularity of plastic windows has increased significantly. Despite this, wooden windows are still quite common. Therefore, the question of how to insulate wooden windows for the winter remains relevant to this day.
In winter, up to fifty percent of the heat is lost through old windows. There are 7 known ways to insulate windows for the winter.
Heat transfer mechanisms
There are three main mechanisms for heat transfer:
- direct heat transfer (heat conduction) through windows, walls, doors, ceiling and floor;
- infrared radiation through window panes ;
- convection - heat escapes through porous materials, crevices and cracks.
Traditional methods of warming
If the budget is limited, then we often insulate wooden windows for the winter with improvised materials. A brief overview of budget methods of insulation:
- If the windows do not close tightly, then use self-adhesive rubber seals of suitable thickness. You can buy them at any hardware store. There are times that the adhesive sticks poorly. In this case, use a hairdryer or fan heater.
- Toilet paper is soaked in water, squeezed and clogged in the gap. Masking tape is glued on top .
- Using cotton wool, foam rubber or tow, the joints between the frames and sashes are hammered, after which they are sealed with tape.
- Relatively cheap, but reliable material is self-adhesive foam rubber, or polyethylene foam. He simultaneously owns the properties of insulation and adhesive tape. Sold in rolls like scotch tape.
- Slots are covered with plasticine or ordinary window putty. But the method has a big minus - in the spring they are difficult to remove from the window. This method is used only in extreme cases.
Use of heat-saving film
One of the ways to insulate wooden windows for the winter is to use a heat-saving film. If in winter condensation and ice appear on the inside of the window glass, this is a sign of low thermal insulation properties. The problem is peculiar even to modern two-layer double-glazed windows. The film is mounted on the inside of the frame, parallel to the glass.
It simultaneously performs two actions: it prevents heat loss in the form of infrared radiation and creates a heat-insulating layer of air between the film and glass. It makes it possible to avoid the effect of "crying windows."
Installation of thermal film is simple and quick. First of all, the frame is cleaned and degreased, and double -sided tape is glued around the glass . The usual film is sold folded in two layers (before use, the layers are separated).
The film is glued to the tape so that it covers all the glass. It is pulled, not paying attention to the wrinkles formed. At the same time, make sure that the edges of the film are firmly sagged and no bubbles form. After that, their hair dryer is blown onto the film with hot air. Under its influence, it is stretched and smoothed.
Window insulation with paper and soap
This method is one of the oldest and is rarely used. Paper from newspapers is torn into pieces, moistened in water and sealed with a mass of all the cracks between the frames. Before you warm the wooden windows for the winter with your own hands, you should prepare the necessary tools: a knife, a flat screwdriver or a metal ruler. When all the cracks are closed, strips of paper and adhesive tape are glued on top of them. You can also use fabric. The paper strips must first be lubricated with moistened soap, which will allow them to be firmly attached to the surface. The method is relatively cheap, but it has one serious drawback - it is problematic to remove paper without damaging the window frames . Often windows have to be repainted.
Window insulation with foam
This type of insulation is similar to the first. The difference is only in the material used, that is, foam is taken instead of paper. It is necessary to familiarize yourself with the installation technology before insulating wooden windows for the winter. Expert advice is not necessary at all, since the technique is quite simple, and any errors are easily eliminated.
Foam strips are sold at any hardware store. Compared to paper, their dismantling is simple. On top of them, you can also stick strips of paper pre-lubricated with soap.
Foam insulation
The best advice on how to insulate windows for the winter will certainly be given by experts. Using polyurethane foam is one of the most effective ways. In recent years, it has been widely used both in construction work and in everyday life. All cracks, chips and other defects are blown out with foam . After the cavity is filled with foam, it is allowed to dry. The excess is cut off with an ordinary knife.
When the foam is used outside, all places without fail are plastered. This must be done because the foam in the sun crumbles and turns into dust. In general, the material is reliable and durable.
How to insulate windows for the winter: instructions and step-by-step technology
The method based on the use of silicone requires more effort compared to the usual sealing of cracks, but at the same time it is the most effective. This is due to the fact that the method allows not only to minimize heat loss, but also to improve the overall sound insulation of windows.
The technology is as follows: the glass mounting points are insulated with silicone. First of all, the frames are removed from the hinges and put on the floor, after which the glazing beads are dismantled. To do this, you will need a flat screwdriver, but a knife will do. It is important to be extremely careful, as glazing beads can break. It is advisable to pre-buy spare. After dismantling, the glass is removed. All work should be carried out with gloves, as there is a high probability of cutting.
The place where the glass was previously located is cleaned of all kinds of contaminants and filled with sealant. At the next stage, the glass is put back, after which the sealant passes a second time and the glazing beads are hammered back. At the end of the work, the frame is hung back. In parallel with warming, it is recommended to carry out frame repairs: remove old paint, fill cracks, put quality locks. In the question of how to insulate wooden windows for the winter, every little thing plays an important role.
Tip: It is best to use a transparent sealant, as it will be invisible if it gets on the glass.
Gap elimination
Under the influence of various temperatures, wooden frames often crack. Before insulating wooden windows for the winter, you should close all these cracks.
To do this, use the following materials:
- molten paraffin;
- sealant;
- hard putty for wood ;
- a mixture of sand and flour in a ratio of one to three.
There are other methods, but they are less common. When using any of them, the windows will have to be repainted.
Insulation of windows around the perimeter of the frames
In general, window insulation is the sealing of cracks where the window sashes are adjacent to the window frame. Sealing joints can be achieved using rubber tubes with an adhesive base, foam tubes, polyurethane foam and other materials.
One of the most effective ways to place a gasket is to glue it onto the transom window around its entire perimeter. When the window closes, the seal will bend and block the cold air flow from the street. At the same time, it is important to ensure that the frame bends the seal, rather than sliding over it.
If the frame is wide enough, then the sealant is glued in several rows. To ensure that he is firmly fixed, they are nailed on the edges with small nails. This will not allow the material to peel off. It is important to carefully inspect the frame before insulating the windows for the winter. Insulation of wooden windows with a sealant can cause them to not close. Therefore, the frame sometimes needs to be hung so that the seal does not advance the sash forward, as a result of which the window does not rest against the adjacent sash.
This method is most effective when used in conjunction with the installation of windows on silicone sealant. One of the main advantages of the method is that with the departure of winter, it is not necessary to dismantle the entire seal, so that it can be used for several years.
Finally
Wooden and plastic windows have their advantages and disadvantages. They are distinguished by their soundproofing and heat-insulating characteristics and require completely different care. In our climatic conditions, the issue of window insulation still does not lose its relevance, therefore, requires careful and in-depth consideration.
Having studied the mechanisms of heat transfer from the apartment to the outside, as well as the structural features of the building, you can warmly and reliably warm the room in the shortest period of time at minimal cost. Windows play almost the most important role in this. Therefore, they are engaged in warming in the first place. The article described the main options for how to do this efficiently and professionally. We hope the tips presented are helpful to you.