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4 budget ways to stop heat escaping from your windows

“Up to 25% of winter heat loss is caused by air leakage."

The heater’s on but you’re still cold. It’s a common scenario for many people living in Australia.

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Sometimes no matter how hard you try to warm a room, you can’t reach a toasty temperature. This is most likely because your precious heat is escaping from your windows.

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How to insulate your windows

In fact, Sustainable Victoria says: “When you consider that a single pane of glass can lose almost ten times as much heat as the same area of insulated wall, it is worth taking some simple steps to reduce heat loss through your windows to make your home more comfortable and reduce your heating costs.”

The websites adds: “Up to 25% of winter heat loss from existing houses is caused by air leakage (also known as draughts). 

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Here are 4 DIY ways to stop heat escaping through your windows.

1. Insulation film

diy window insulation
(Credit: Getty Images)

When warm air inside your home comes in contact with the cooler air on your window, condensation occurs. This can make your feel much colder. Installing double-glazed windows will help to prevent the air inside your home from reaching your windows, but it’s expensive.

Luckily, there is a cheaper alternative: insulation film. Using double sided-tape, the film is placed across your window. The gaps are then sealed using a hairdryer, essentially acting as another pane of glass to prevent the air from reaching your window. 

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2. Bubble wrap

window insulation
(Credit: Getty Images)

Another cheap alternative to double-glazed windows is to use bubble wrap. Simply cut your bubble wrap to the right size for your window, spray the surface with water to help the bubble wrap stick, and place it to the window.

While this method doesn’t look aesthetically pleasing, it can be easily removed and put back up again as needed.

3. Update your window furnishings

ways to keep warm
(Credit: Dylan James)
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Updating your window furnishings is a simple way to increase insulation.

There are a few options here. You can:

  • layer a blockout roller behind your existing curtains
  • double your curtains by layering sheer and blockout curtains on separate tracks
  • install lined curtains.

Evan Montero, Co-Founder of DIY Blinds says lined curtains are a “designers best kept secret”.

“Lined sheer curtains are one of the most insulating window furnishings, and a designer’s best kept secret,” says Evan.

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“They’re made of a sheer curtain and a blockout lining joined together on one curtain track. Architects and designers love lined curtains for so many reasons. They’re super versatile, they’re plush and weighted without projecting too far out from windows, and they add sophisticated drama to any room.”

4. Cardboard

insulate room with cardboard
(Credit: TikTok/@sbellcaster)

When we said budget, we meant it.

TikTok creator Stephanie shared a “dodge” but “effective” way to stop hot air from seeping out of her bedroom – taping cardboard over the window.

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“I’ve completely sealed it off with cardboard,” she said. “It looks dodge but it’s really effective at insulating a giant piece of glass in your room.”

Watch her TikTok video here.

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