Is it worth it to insulate our apartment?

October 22, 2013 4:59 PM

2.5 bedroom apartment, top floor, in Texas. Would any simple, DIY insulating tricks help? If so, what, how, where to get them? Difficulty: Can hammer, can drill, probably shouldn't be allowed to use power tools.

I notice some small details, like the door seems to not be too flush with the frame, and the windows are pretty thin. We are intending to stay here at least two more years; but huge renovations are obviously not on the menu. We generally spend ~100 on AC in the summer, because one of the roommates needs the AC around 75 to be comfortable. Winter, we just put on more clothes the 2-4 days its justified. Ideally, we would want some options that would pay for themselves before we move out (we will eventually, i'm sure!) Oh, and that the owner won't get mad about.

posted by Jacen to Home & Garden (11 answers total)

Weather-stripping is important. If you can see a crack, fill it with foam-strip.

Otherwise, your best bet is to manage solar gain. Have heavy-enough curtains on the windows, and pull them closed religiously. You want white-lined curtains to reflect light (and heat) back out though the glass in summer; that means closing all east-facing windows when you go to bed so that sunrise doesn't heat things up, leaving all south-facing windows covered the whole day but you can open in the evening, and probably closing the west-facing blinds when you leave for work, because the sun would be steaming in by the time you get home. Basically, you only want a window uncovered if (a) direct sunbeams aren't pointed to come in, and (b) there's someone home to appreciate it.
In winter, you'll want to experiment a bit; ideally you could leave the curtains open all the time and the warmth from the sun would help you, but in practice, I'm warmer with my curtains closed because they block drafts. Close the curtains, and periodically stick your hand behind to see if the airspace between the curtain and the glass is warmer or colder than the rest of the room.
posted by aimedwander at 5:10 PM on October 22, 2013 [2 favorites]

The anti-UV cling film on the windows is a huge win. Since I've put them up in our apartment (only on the top floor where the bedrooms are) in Northern California, less heating is needed in the winter, and less cooling needed in the summer.

It's a relatively cheap win.
posted by colin_l at 5:14 PM on October 22, 2013 [1 favorite]

Also, look up state-sponsored energy audit programs that apply in your area. Texas HERO for example, or here are some tips for a self-inspection.

If there's a state-sponsored audit program, send the links and information to your landlord, and encourage him/her to take advantage of the program. Usually, you get an inspection for free, and various simple upgrades for free (CFL bulbs, weather-stripping the doorways, packets of foam outlet-plate insulators, etc) as well majorly discounted insulation service.
posted by aimedwander at 5:16 PM on October 22, 2013 [2 favorites]

Unless energy rates have crashed in the last 4 years, 100 bucks a month for a large top floor location sounds pretty efficient. My 40's 4-plex in Houston was a beast that cost me 2-300 a month.
posted by politikitty at 5:29 PM on October 22, 2013 [1 favorite]

N-thing getting heavy enough curtains on the windows. After putting blackout / thermal curtains on the windows, we were surprised at the difference in temperature indoors that resulted just from blocking sunlight. The windows already had miniblinds but they were not as effective as curtains in blocking sunlight. (This is in North Carolina, where summertime AC bills are not trivial, either)
posted by research monkey at 5:32 PM on October 22, 2013

Good quality wood or thick plastic plantation Venetian blinds coupled with heavy curtains make a big difference.
posted by tamitang at 6:49 PM on October 22, 2013

Replacing one or more of your ceiling lights with fan lights really helps in circulating the air and helping cool down/warm up the place. Make sure you get the type of fan that has a reverse switch.
posted by BlueHorse at 7:44 PM on October 22, 2013 [1 favorite]

Seconding aimedwander--you might be able to get all kinds of free or discounted help buttoning up for winter.
posted by Camofrog at 9:46 PM on October 22, 2013

I think it is totally worth it - I've done simple things that have made an appreciable difference in how comfortable my apartment is in both winter and summer.

I put wall socket insulators behind all the outlet and switch plates; you probably only need to do outside walls, but the ones I got were dirt cheap, so I went ahead and did them all. You can get them at any hardware/big box hardware store.

Seconding the window cling film - it works really well. Don't do any windows you usually open when it is nice enough in the winter - use energy saving curtains or blinds over those.

If you have a window air conditioning unit that you can't cover from the outside of the apartment, fashion a cover for it from the inside. I don't own a sewing machine, so I had to improvise; I bought a (single) 64" energy saving curtain panel ($5 on sale) and three of the cheapest spring tension rods I could find - I think they were $2 each. I threaded the first rod through the panel top as intended and set it into the window frame about 2" above the unit. Then I folded the curtain panel over the second tension rod, which I put underneath the unit (it fit very snugly) inside the window frame. I opened the side seams of the bottom of the curtain panel and threaded the third tension rod through the pocket that created and then put it into the window frame above the a.c. unit, and below the first installed tension rod. I tucked the sides of the fabric along the sides of the unit to completely cover any air openings - when I am feeling less lazy I will probably get a bit of stick-on hook&loop tape to more firmly attach the fabric at the sides of the unit to the inside of the window frame. That one step has probably made the biggest difference to how warm the room feels in the winter.

I used stick-on foam weather stripping around the front door - dead simple and took maybe 30 minutes if I count having to hunt for the scissors. My landlord was okay with me installing a door sweep which took care of the draft coming in under the door. You can do non-permanent draft blocking with old fashioned door draft stopper - a tube of fabric filled with sand or rice (even a rolled up towel works). You can also buy them ready-made.

Hope that helps a little - good luck!
posted by faineant at 10:07 PM on October 22, 2013

No. Because you are not spending all that money on energy, because you are not going to be in your home for long enough for lower rate of return solutions to become effective and because not all interventions are open to you. You would probably be better saving your money or the planet by adjusting some other area of your consumption - like using a bike to go grocery shopping. See Mr Money Mustache's recent posting "When Energy Saving Becomes an Emergency".

Having said all this I don't think it precludes simple investment in some draft exclusion, as others have suggested.
posted by rongorongo at 1:48 AM on October 23, 2013 [1 favorite]

Don't fuss around with insulation. You can ask the landlord, but that's the landlord's perogative.

Replacing a ceiling light with a ceiling fan is a good idea, and you can take it with you when you move.

Ceiling fans have a switch that you can use to change the direction of the fan. In summer, you want it counter-clockwise to move the air down into the room. In winter, it's the opposite. (Most people don't know this, and it's WORTH knowing.

UV cover on the windows. Also, I use the Cellular Blinds for window insulation, and they're great. Again, you can take them with you if they're a standard size.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 7:12 AM on October 23, 2013 [1 favorite]