Trying to cut down on the AC this year. We have a primarily south facing home, with a lot of windows, which is nice during the winter. However, during the summer, even with the blinds & curtains closed, we have a ton of solar heating going on. Until my trees grow up enough to shade during the summer, I’m stuck trying to block the sun.
I’ve thought of just buying car window tint for the windows, and doing that. I thought somewhere in the back of my mind I had seen a shiny type that is almost metallic that would reflect more back. What throws a loop is that I’d like to take it down when fall/winter comes to keep the solar heat, and preferably put it back up next summer to help with the cost savings. Any ideas or experience on this?
Edited 6/3/2008 3:32 pm by nater
Replies
There are all kinds of window films available.
There is a window film association. I have not been through it.
http://www.iwfa.com/
Most of the films are not only available through local dealer/installers.
But Gila films is avaiable at both Lowes and HD. Or online.
http://www.gilafilms.com/Residential/residential-window-film.htm
They really are not designed to put on and take off.
Look at their heat control line. It also has some winter value.
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
Edited 6/3/2008 8:35 pm by BillHartmann
If you have insulated glass with low-E do alot of research before filming or doing anything to those windows.
They do make roll up shades made from the reflective film. I have seen them in stores and restaurants. Be careful with films on the glass. If it is insulated glass, the heat will build up in between the glass and pop the seal. I know that some window manufacturers state the film on the glass voids the warranty on the glass.
"It is what it is."
I believe that some of the film companies will warantee the glass..
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
Some say they do but you should read the fine print. The one's I've seen only cover the glass up to the cost of the film.
I have a similar problem with a summer cottage, facing due east, with nothing to block the summer sun. The morning hours were brutal inside from the solar gain. Shutting the shades and curtains was of limited help, because the sun would heat up the shades/curtains and the heat would be released inside anyway. Finally I installed those white plastic rollups, hanging them under the overhang. This was easy to do, given that the house is single story with a deck along the front. Roll them down before going to bed, roll them back up after the sun has gone around. It makes a huge difference.
Depending on accessibility outside to the windows, this could be all you need.
We did that on a west facing deck, but put the rollup sades on the outboard edge of the deck roof. Worked great. We could even use the deck in the late summer evenings evenings. They kept the deck and house cooler.
Good sugestion.
A good solution ... if you can do it. It's not always easy or appropriate for the applications.
It is always too late if the sun already has gone through the glass ... interior shades help ... but not much. Preventing the sun from hitting the glass in the first place should always be the priority.
Nater,
"Any ideas or experience on this?"
Low tech, old school approach to solve this problem is called "awnings". The sun is high in the summer and lowe in the winter. Awnings shade the glass from the "high" sun but allow the "low" sun to pass beneath.
Yes, take care w/ tint and you can't use it seasonally like you should want to for the south side facing glass.
No overhang/eave? Can you add one? Consider a product called Kool Shade (sp) ... looks like a screen and acts like an overhang ... mini angled shutters. You could make your own sunscreed that allows winter sun in and blocks summer sun.
Grow a fast growing vine (e.g. climatis) ... you can often trim back for the winter, but leave enough that the summer will grow fast. Lots of plant options here.
food for thought ... start getting creative ... you'll find a solution.
Sun-blocking screens are an option if the windows are double-hung or casement. Can be removed or swapped with normal screens during the cooler months if you want additional light. Not much help, though, if your windows are fixed and outfitted to accept screens.