Question: My old windows sweat, are drafty and the sun fades my furniture. I cannot afford replacement windows. How efficient are the reusable snap-on interior storm window kits and will they stop fading rays? - T.G.
Answer: The new designs of durable interior storm windows are attractive and effective. At only about $2 to $5 per square foot, they are an efficient, low-cost alternative to expensive replacement windows.Interior storm windows save energy and reduce window condensation by creating an insulating air gap and sealing air leaks around old windows. Good-quality ones last for many years and install quickly each winter.
The reduced drafts also improve comfort. This allows for a lower furnace thermostat setting to save even more. Dust, dirt and outdoor road noise are also reduced.
Most lightweight interior storm window kits are made of crystal clear rigid acrylic plastic. Clear polycarbonate plastic (bulletproof glass), is more expensive but literally unbreakable and very safe around children.
Either type of plastic glazing blocks nearly all of the sun's ultraviolet fading rays. I installed an acrylic storm window under my double-pane glass skylight to protect my furniture from the summer sun, too.
Strong frames and simple well-sealing attachment methods are important to realize the maximum savings, comfort and quiet. The most common attachment methods are magnetic strips, hook-and-loop (Velcro) and snap-together strips.
The magnetic attachment method is one of the easiest to install and best sealing. A thin magnetic strip is formed into the storm window frame.
An adhesive-backed paintable steel strip is attached to the window frame or wall. Press the storm frame against the strip and it sticks and seals.
One unique design, Flex-Tite, incorporates a tiny flexible bellows (like a refrigerator door seal) between the storm window frame and the magnetic strip. This allows it to conform to uneven old window frames and absorb impacts from children.
One Velcro attachment method uses a secondary inner gasket next to the hook-and-loop strips. This produces a very airtight seal and is compliant with rough and warped window frames.
Clear acrylic sheets and vinyl framing are easy to cut to your window size. Most of the storm window kit manufacturers can also recommend a local professional installer. This sometimes includes a longer warranty period.
Write for Update Bulletin No. 829 showing a buyer's guide of interior storm window kits listing frame and glazing materials, attachment methods, prices and installation instructions. Please include $2 and business-size SASE. Write to James Dulley, Deseret News, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244.
Question: I installed a recessed heat lamp in my bathroom for efficient spot heating. The shroud gets very hot. Should I run the fiberglass attic insulation up to the fixture? - R.S.
Answer: If the light fixture is UL-listed, having a fire-retardant type of insulation touch it is not a problem. However, it never hurts to leave a small gap. Check the label on the fixture to make sure it is UL-listed.
Unfaced fiberglass batts, blown-in fiberglass, rock wool and treated cellulose insulations are fire-retardant. If your attic insulation has a kraft paper vapor barrier, cut the paper back so it does not touch the light.