A home that benefits from quality insulation brings real comfort to the occupants during the winter but also throughout the summer, the aim being to prevent cold or hot air from entering and the heat (or freshness) to go out. Perfecting the insulation of the windows is strongly recommended to, in addition, achieve substantial energy savings. If the replacement of the windows is not on the program, it is possible to resort to specific solutions, even relatively long-lasting, in order to remedy the losses of heat.
Treat yourself to curtains
The curtain brings an aesthetic touch to the house or apartment and plays the comfort card, even more so when placed in front of a dilapidated or single-glazed window. Optimal efficiency is obtained by choosing sufficiently thick fabrics rather than sheer, and by installing curtains whose dimensions are larger than those of the window. They thus represent a kind ofThermal screen. Many specialists market standard thermal curtains but also offer thermal curtains custom made.
Intervene on the seal of a window for better insulation
It is frequently through the seal of a window that cold air infiltrates the house (just like hot air for that matter) to the point of considerably modifying the temperature of the room. In winter, despite the heating, it ends up getting cold, and in summer it is difficult to keep the room cool. Before thinking about replacing the window, it is useful to intervene at the level of the joint. The best solutions are:
Install a silicone seal
All DIY stores sell this type of product. the silicone gasket is especially suitable for PVC windows. It is simply installed – without the need to be a DIY professional – using a metal or plastic tube called a cannula. A small smoothing with the spatula allows to finalize the installation of the silicone joint and to obtain an impeccable result. If you do not have a spatula thin enough for this, the smoothing can simply be done with your finger.
Restore a window seal with expanded foam
If we find that the joint of the window lets in fresh air coming from outside, it can be restored with a simple expanded foam. This solution is rather recommended for renovating the joints of wooden windows.
To do so, two solutions are possible. Either use a cannula to diffuse the foam precisely, or buy a expanded foam in aerosol ready to apply. The result obtained is immediate since by inflating, the foam fills the slightest gap. It therefore blocks the air which can no longer infiltrate or escape. However, fine-tuning is essential to obtain an aesthetic effect. With a cutter or a clean spatula, just remove the excess foam once it is completely dry.
In the same vein, we can insulate an old window with a self-adhesive bead ready-to-install which guarantees effective caulking for around fifteen euros. It is a one-off solution that allows you to wait for more substantial insulation work to be carried out.
Install overglazing to insulate a window
Overglazing is an interesting solution to which one resorts when one wishes to improve the insulation of a single-glazed window. It comes in different models.
Glass overglazing
This type of overglazing can be made of glass, fiberglass or one-way mirror with or without decorative motifs. It’s a economic tip because it does not entail major work but gives good results in terms of comfort. To install overglazing on the inside face of the window, the procedure is as follows:
- Dismantle the leaf,
- Clean the chassis,
- Sand down any rough edges,
- Draw the reference points that will be used to balance the position of the hinges,
- Screw the hinges,
- Install the overglazing by fixing it to the window leaf,
- Apply a small rubberized bracket to each corner, the role of which will be to absorb the vibrations.
- Put the flap back in place.
The principle is relatively simple but may still require the intervention of a professional if you have no notion of DIY.
Before opting for this type of overglazing, it is essential to ensure that the window to be insulated is still sufficiently in good condition because it must be able to support the weight of the overglazing, i.e. more or less 2.5 kg/ M² and per millimeter of thickness. For example, overglazing with a thickness of 3 mm has an average weight of 7.5 kg/M², or all the same 3.75 kg for overglazing with an area equal to 0.50 M².
Adhesive window film
There is another way to overglaze a window causing heat loss: adhesive overglazing film made of heat-shrink insulating plastic. Some models are to be installed outside, others inside, but all apply to the glazing itself. The principle of installation is simple since once applied to the glass it is posed with soapy water thanks to a perfectly carried out smoothing.
Before applying a overglazing filmjust do the following:
- Thoroughly clean the glass so that no dirt or traces remain,
- Note the exact dimensions of the window to be covered with the film,
- Unroll the heat-shrinkable film on a flat surface then cut it with a cutter, adding 6 mm in height and the same in width to the dimensions of the window. For example, for a 1.80 x 0.60 cm window to be insulated, the overglazing film must be cut to the following dimensions: 1.86 x 0.66 cm.
- Take a flat ruler and a cutter then carefully cut the film. It is advisable to insert a protection between the film and the support so as not to damage the latter when cutting with a cutter.
For the installation of the overglazing film, it is necessary to refer scrupulously to the advice recommended by the manufacturer. They are clearly specified on the packaging.
The adhesive overglazing film protects from prying eyes while allowing light to pass through.
These tricks are more or less durable solutions, which it is useful to know for insulate a window while waiting to replace it. Of course, if you want to benefit from perfect thermal insulation over the long term, it is better to consider renovation work. Requesting several quotes from specialists allows you to compare prices and services. Going to a pro is all the more useful if he can see insulation faults at other levels (floor, attic, walls, etc.) and propose appropriate solutions. The expenses used to make the house less energy-intensive can be considerably reduced thanks to the CITE, the Energy Transition Tax Credit.