Insulate windows with little money: With a trick you can save on heating
Created: 09/19/2022, 11:28 am
By: Florian Dörr
High gas prices create uncertainties.
Therefore, many are looking for cheap ways to insulate their own home.
A trick can help with windows.
Kassel – Temperatures in Germany are gradually falling.
Many are already asking themselves the question: Is it time to turn the heating up again?
But the massive rise in gas and energy prices is likely to cause lengthy discussions in many households over the answer.
And indeed: Sometimes even small measures can be taken to keep the temperatures in the apartment a little higher.
The windows are often a weak point that can lead to heat loss and cold drafts.
Here, among other things, the seals can be an approach that can be tackled without much effort and high costs.
Insulate windows: paper test on the frame, lighter check and air cushion trick on the pane
The
North Rhine-Westphalia consumer advice
center recommends a simple test here: "Clamp a sheet of paper between the window frame and the window sash.
If you cannot pull out the paper when the window is closed, the window is tight at this point.” Of course, the paper test should be carried out at different points.
Material for repairs to the window seals is already available for little money in the hardware store.
This is how you find out whether a window is airtight: A jammed sheet of paper should be firmly in place.
© Zacharie Scheurer/dpa-tmn
Saving on heating: This is how much heat is lost in apartments through the windows
Replacing entire windows is significantly more expensive.
In case of doubt, a lot of heat is lost even through poorly insulated windows.
This need not be.
The North Rhine-Westphalia consumer
advice center provides an overview
.
Relevant here: the heat transfer coefficient – the so-called U-West – of components.
The higher this is, the more heating heat is lost.
The comparison shows differences:
component | U-West |
toughened glass | 5.6 |
2-pane insulating glass | 3.0 |
2-pane thermal insulation glass | 1.2 |
3-pane thermal insulation glass | 0.6 |
uninsulated wall | 1.4 |
well insulated wall | 0.2 |
Incidentally, the U(w) value – i.e. the heat transfer coefficient of the entire window with glass and frame – must be specified by the manufacturer and is printed on the window, often in the space between two panes.
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However, there is also a special trick to find out before winter whether heat-insulating glazing is installed.
The only tool you need is a lighter.
This is ignited in front of the window so that several reflections of the flame can be seen.
If this is discolored in one of the front mirror images, this indicates heat-insulating glazing.
The
consumer protection agency North Rhine-Westphalia
explains the background : "This is due to a metal vapor coating on the inner pane.
It reflects the light differently than an uncoated glass surface.
If any of the rear mirror images appear discolored, it is solar control glazing.”
DIY trend to save energy
In view of the exploding gas prices, a stove made of tea lights initially sounds like a good alternative to heating.
But the creative Internet trend can become dangerous.
Insulate windows: bubble wrap, spray bottle and water are sufficient
In view of the high gas prices, many would like to leave their heating thermostat untouched for a longer period of time.
(Iconic image) © Hauke-Christian Dittrich/dpa/Iconic image
But what can be done with little money, for example, is only single pane glass installed?
Against the background of skyrocketing gas prices and the approaching winter, the air cushion trick is circulating on various portals on the Internet.
On
chip.de
, for example, it says: "In this way, the insulation can be attached in just a few minutes and, if necessary, removed effortlessly and without residue in the spring and reused as often as required."
The idea: cut the bubble wrap to the size of the window, moisten the pane and the smooth side of the foil with a spray bottle, press on and you're done.
This should not affect the spatial lighting conditions.
Of course the view is gone.
(fd)