Residential Window Tint
July 14, 2022 11:16 AM Subscribe
Does it work
Window AC died, might get another. Got quotes on mini-splits but: $$$.
Midcentury 1.75 story with hard-to-cool second level. Looking for ways to reduce heat load at end of summer day.
DETAILS
+ Location: Northeast Iowa. Yes, it is cold here much of the year; I can live with that. A sweltering bedroom sux.
+ Upstairs level is one room - my bedroom.
+ Dimensions 12’x30’
+ Four windows: two west-facing dormers along the long wall, one on each short perpendicular wall, so one faces south.
+ Windows are single-pane, double-hung originals, with olden aluminum frame triple-track storms. Not able replace in the foreseeable future.
+ Blackout shades on all windows. They’re not only ugly, it’s always super hot between them and the window.
+ Ceiling is sloped along the long dimension.
+ Two existing but not super-effective central HVAC vents. System installed 2 years ago. I have never lived in or visited a house like this with effective upstairs heat and AC that relied on a single central unit.
+ Insulation between ceiling and roof is not great but probably not improvable. Decent insulation behind walls.
QUESTIONS
+ Would tinting the storms be effective enough to bother with?
+ If so, should I attempt this myself? Longtime homeowner with decent skills; meticulous - I restore vintage bicycles sometimes. Or is this better left to a professional?
I realize this isn’t going to be a massive game-changer. I am looking for ways to make some other solution more effective. Probably moving in ~3 years, so a window unit is my almost certainly the actual *cooling* investment.
If you have experience with this remedy, please share your answers and tips.
Bonus round: I have considered awnings, but those look like next-level maintenance burdens. Thoughts? Other suggestions?
Window AC died, might get another. Got quotes on mini-splits but: $$$.
Midcentury 1.75 story with hard-to-cool second level. Looking for ways to reduce heat load at end of summer day.
DETAILS
+ Location: Northeast Iowa. Yes, it is cold here much of the year; I can live with that. A sweltering bedroom sux.
+ Upstairs level is one room - my bedroom.
+ Dimensions 12’x30’
+ Four windows: two west-facing dormers along the long wall, one on each short perpendicular wall, so one faces south.
+ Windows are single-pane, double-hung originals, with olden aluminum frame triple-track storms. Not able replace in the foreseeable future.
+ Blackout shades on all windows. They’re not only ugly, it’s always super hot between them and the window.
+ Ceiling is sloped along the long dimension.
+ Two existing but not super-effective central HVAC vents. System installed 2 years ago. I have never lived in or visited a house like this with effective upstairs heat and AC that relied on a single central unit.
+ Insulation between ceiling and roof is not great but probably not improvable. Decent insulation behind walls.
QUESTIONS
+ Would tinting the storms be effective enough to bother with?
+ If so, should I attempt this myself? Longtime homeowner with decent skills; meticulous - I restore vintage bicycles sometimes. Or is this better left to a professional?
I realize this isn’t going to be a massive game-changer. I am looking for ways to make some other solution more effective. Probably moving in ~3 years, so a window unit is my almost certainly the actual *cooling* investment.
If you have experience with this remedy, please share your answers and tips.
Bonus round: I have considered awnings, but those look like next-level maintenance burdens. Thoughts? Other suggestions?
Tinting using sheets of mylar is relatively simple, and the adhesive used is baby shampoo, so it's easy to pull the mylar off and give the window a quick rinse if you don't like it. Here in Northern California I bought my mylar at TAP Plastics (where they sold a couple of different levels of translucence specifically for window tinting), the process involved mixing some baby shampoo with water, applying it to the window with a sponge, using a squeegee to attach the mylar, and trimming the edges with a sharp knife or razor blade.
Non-destructive, you should definitely try it yourself, if it doesn't go the way you hoped (we had a little problem with peeling on the corners, probably some technique to getting the right mix of shampoo and water) you peel it off and let a pro do it.
posted by straw at 11:52 AM on July 14, 2022
Non-destructive, you should definitely try it yourself, if it doesn't go the way you hoped (we had a little problem with peeling on the corners, probably some technique to getting the right mix of shampoo and water) you peel it off and let a pro do it.
posted by straw at 11:52 AM on July 14, 2022
Seconding plastic films. I tried this DIY solution for window tinting, and it seemed to make a difference: How UV blocking film for windows
posted by ringu0 at 12:16 PM on July 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by ringu0 at 12:16 PM on July 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Anything you put on the exterior is going to be way more effective at blocking the heat, including updating your windows to modern ones. If you can spend the money on awnings, then it would be the best.
However, putting DIY plastic film is like $10 per window vs several hundred per awning, so you should try that first. Focus on the west and south first.
posted by The_Vegetables at 12:34 PM on July 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
However, putting DIY plastic film is like $10 per window vs several hundred per awning, so you should try that first. Focus on the west and south first.
posted by The_Vegetables at 12:34 PM on July 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
If you are handy, you can make DIY awnings out of sheetmetal and 2X4s, but that really depends on your home style if that'll look acceptable or not.
posted by The_Vegetables at 12:37 PM on July 14, 2022
posted by The_Vegetables at 12:37 PM on July 14, 2022
Awnings.
And tint on the west-facing windows.
posted by Thorzdad at 1:16 PM on July 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
And tint on the west-facing windows.
posted by Thorzdad at 1:16 PM on July 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
Middling option: external wall mount blinds, if you can figure out a way to operate them. Again with the advantage that it's better all around if the heat doesn't come in. The box stores sell them and I've just installed some I'm happy with (though on the ground floor).
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 5:42 PM on July 14, 2022
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 5:42 PM on July 14, 2022
Of course, if you’re cursed with an HOA, you might check first before you add any exterior bits to your home. My HOA doesn’t allow awnings, for instance, and I really could use ‘em. My house also faces west, and the upstairs bedroom can get mighty toasty, even with AC.
posted by Thorzdad at 8:11 AM on July 15, 2022
posted by Thorzdad at 8:11 AM on July 15, 2022
Response by poster: Thank you, friends, for sharing your ideas and experience!
I'm going to try out a home improvement big-box product this week or next. No HOA, but exterior blinds are not really an option, and I've decided to rule out awnings as too costly.
posted by Caxton1476 at 12:23 PM on July 18, 2022
I'm going to try out a home improvement big-box product this week or next. No HOA, but exterior blinds are not really an option, and I've decided to rule out awnings as too costly.
posted by Caxton1476 at 12:23 PM on July 18, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
One of my ACs "broke" this year.It was just full of leaves. I uninstalled it, took it out back and opened it up, and sprayed it clean with the hose and a screw on pressure nozzle. I saw this on youtube. It helped that a southern gal was doing this. Anyway it is back on the job. Overhead fans work well too. Or, there are fans that fit in the bottom of a window that blow outward. They help vent upper floor heat. Tint is easy to put on, and if you can get it in shrink wrap that is even better, because then it functions as double pane.
posted by Oyéah at 11:32 AM on July 14, 2022 [1 favorite]