Thermal film on windows: features, installation rules

In anticipation of cold weather, many owners of houses and apartments think about their insulation. Creating a comfortable temperature in living rooms, saving on heating are important tasks. One of the options for their solution is the use of a thermal insulating film, which is glued to the glass unit.

Experts say that windows account for about 60% of all heat loss at home. Moreover, even if the profile of the glass unit is of high quality, the installation was carried out correctly, the slopes are hermetically sealed and insulated, all the same, the glass itself accounts for up to 30% of heat loss. The thermal imager, about the use of which we wrote in detail, will help you to verify whether this is so..

But many homeowners, even without a thermal imager, decide – the glass needs to be additionally protected from the cold! For this purpose, energy-saving, they are also heat-insulating, athermal films, which are often called “third glass”, are used. After all, it is the functions of additional glass that they perform, becoming a barrier to the entry of cold into the room and heat leakage from the house.

Important! Yes, you can immediately buy triple-glazed windows, energy-saving, designed for severe frosts. But thermal film will be cheaper for sure. That is why it is in demand among apartment and house owners who have ordered double glazing.

Remember how many homeowners used to just cover their windows outside with plastic wrap for the winter? Yes, it didn’t look very nice, you can’t open the window in winter, the street is practically invisible, but this measure helped to reduce heat loss through old wooden windows. Thermal films operate on the same principle, they look similar to ordinary polyethylene films. However, they are easier to use, they are attached from the inside, they do not interfere with the ventilation of the rooms, the view from the window does not block.

Describing the types of protective films for windows, we mentioned energy-saving ones. The thermal insulation film, despite the external similarity to ordinary polyethylene, is in fact a polyester sheet, on which an extremely thin layer of metal or ceramic is sprayed. It is thanks to this layer, which is applied by a flame discharge in an argon atmosphere, that the thermal film gains the ability not to let out warm air from the house in winter, and in summer – to prevent the room from getting too hot. According to experts, the energy-saving film on the window can raise the room temperature by at least 3 ° C..

The cost of thermal films for windows can vary greatly. You can buy a square meter of such a protective coating for 50 rubles, or you can buy it for 500 rubles. The difference is in the properties of the film itself. The cheapest thermal films can hardly be called truly energy-saving, they create the effect of a thermos, serve as a “third glass”, but do not protect against infrared rays.

The second plus of expensive options is that such films combine several functions. They not only prevent heat loss, but also protect from sunlight and ultraviolet radiation. They are also part of the anti-burglary protection, making it difficult to break the window with a stone or hand tool.

In addition, expensive thermal insulation films are self-adhesive. That is, it is much easier to apply them on glass – the protective top layer is torn off and the canvas is neatly attached, while, of course, one must not forget about the need to remove possible air bubbles.

If the film is not self-adhesive, you can attach it to the window in the following way:

1. Wash the entire window, degrease, wipe dry thoroughly so that there are no streaks;
2. Double-sided tape is attached along the prepared frame perimeter;
3. A piece of film of the required size is cut from the purchased roll;
4. The upper protective part of the tape is removed;
5. The film is glued;
6. In order for it to stretch, let in sunlight and not interfere with observing the surroundings, you need to walk along the surface of the film with a hairdryer – it stretches perfectly and becomes barely noticeable.

Important! Experts insist that the film should be glued to the frame, and not to the glass itself. In this case, an air heat-protective pocket is formed..

The thermal foil should be changed every year so that the protection of the room from heat leaks remains as reliable. We strongly recommend that you additionally check the seals on the plastic windows, replace them if necessary. Wooden frames should also be checked and, if necessary, sealed.