It may not be winter now, but with consistently low temperatures, it’s clear that the frosty season is approaching. While your house might stay warm and toasty when you turn on your thermostat, the cost of heating it becomes clear when you receive your monthly bills. For those trying to reduce their energy bills, like turning down their thermostat, there’s something else they can do to stop heat from escaping.
Money-saving enthusiast Leigh, who goes by @financiallyfreeleigh on TikTok, has shared a three-minute tip to keep rooms in your house warm that is “so worth it”. Raving about the hack, she said, “I’ve been doing this for the last three years; I will never go back. I don’t feel the cold drafts anymore, and I save a bunch of money on my heating bill.”
How to keep your home warm for less
To keep energy costs down and reduce energy waste, Leigh recommends covering your windows in thin plastic insulation sheets. The idea behind this hack is that this added layer of plastic will help to insulate the windows.
She pointed out that they “actually keep you warm by keeping the draught out and save you hundreds on your heating bill.”
Leigh added, “Takes like three minutes. So worth it. Who knew that a little bit of plastic can actually make such a difference. The windows in my apartment are so old, so they all have massive drafts.”
If your house insulation is to a good standard and your windows are too, then window film will definitely provide an added layer of thermal insulation that will make a massive difference to the comfort of your home.
Do plastic window sheets actually save you money?
Applying window wrap to the inside of a window is a quick, easy way to reduce energy waste.
Speaking to Better Homes & Gardens, Nick Barber, energy expert and co-founder of Utilities Now, a prepaid electricity company, said, “Plastic window wrap can absolutely be effective if used correctly. It acts as a temporary barrier that slows heat transfer through single-pane windows.”
How does this hack work?
The plastic sheets can be added to windows to improve insulation and limit heat transfer through the glass. Slowing heat loss from your home reduces how hard your heating has to work and can lower overall household energy use.
Nick explained that the plastic creates a layer of trapped air between the film and the glass. Like the space in a double-pane window, this pocket of air slows warm air from escaping and cool air from entering.
The expert pointed out, “It won’t fix all the energy gaps in a room, but it will slow down heat loss through glass significantly.”
Speaking about how much money households can save with this hack, Nick said, “Using plastic window insulation kits, homeowners can expect to save as much as five to 10% of their heating costs. However, this percentage still depends on the number of windows insulated and the size of the house, as well as the airtightness of the rest of the building.”
How to apply the plastic insulation sheets to your windows
Start with clean, completely dry windows. If they’re dirty, clean them thoroughly and allow them to dry. Apply the double-sided tape supplied with most plastic window insulation kits around the inside edge of the window. For a DIY kit, use high-quality double-sided tape.
Press the plastic wrap firmly onto the tape, making sure it extends beyond the window edges. Use a hair dryer to shrink the plastic wrap until it fits tightly. This smooths out wrinkles and improves the seal. To finish, tape over the plastic’s edges to create an airtight seal.
See more of the stories you love from Daily Express and find us easily in Google by making us a Preferred Source. Free and easy to do, just click here to activate or add us as a Preferred Source in your Google search settings.
