Blocking heat from windows - Page 3

katiesue · 07-27-2009, 08:43 AM

I'm airless right now since the breaker blew and melted the pannel. My celing fans have helped immensley. Only issue I have with the remotes is make sure to program them on different frequencys - I have to stand in certain places in the bedroom to turn the light on/off or it turns on/off the light in the living room as well. This may not be an issue if you're on different floors.

I also have some sort of window shades. They came with the house so I don't know much about them. They're like a paper blind, but heavier, and they do a really good job at keeping the heat out.

Ghoulish Delight · 07-27-2009, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scaeagles

Definitely go remote control....that way you don't have to worry about going down the wall to wire a switch or two. That turned a relatively easy ceiling fan mount into a HUGE project for me.

Unfortunately there's no ceiling light installed right now, so there's no power in the ceiling. No matter what I'm going to be going down the wall. But there's already a switch there, I'll just be tapping in to the hot line going into the switch, not installing a new switch, which should be easier.

DreadPirateRoberts · 07-27-2009, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Unfortunately there's no ceiling light installed right now, so there's no power in the ceiling. No matter what I'm going to be going down the wall. But there's already a switch there, I'll just be tapping in to the hot line going into the switch, not installing a new switch, which should be easier.

I had a similar issue, but I found an electrical wire going above the bedroom ceiling in the attic that I was able to tap into. I added a junction box.

Ghoulish Delight · 07-27-2009, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadPirateRoberts

I had a similar issue, but I found an electrical wire going above the bedroom ceiling in the attic that I was able to tap into. I added a junction box.

The only power I saw up there when I was replacing the bathroom fan was for the fan itself...and that's on a switch, so that just brings me back down to the switch again. I suppose if getting to the wall switch turns out to be more difficult than anticipated I could get lazy and drill a hole in a discrete corner of the ceiling (there's a built in desk in the corner that would hid it well) and just plug the thing in to a wall socket, but that's pretty sloppy and I'd rather not.

Not Afraid · 07-27-2009, 09:16 AM

I'm in the process (well, Milt is) of repairing our disintegrating French Doors in our bedroom. Milt works on vintage houses and will be injecting a resin into the doors to repair the wood rot, stripping the paint, getting the windows that are in the doors to open and generally making the doors as "new". They will still have to be painted and not varnished.

The next thing he is going to do is to put in restored double hung windows to replace the 50's slat windows in the bedroom. Then I can have air conditioning in the bedroom!

Our Living Room is still hot in the afternoons, but with the windows open, it's not bad at all. I'm looking into the film to put over the big arched LR window as a heat-reflecting option - IF it won't look strange or ruin the look of the house.

BarTopDancer · 07-27-2009, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Hmm, our attic insulation is probably as old as the building. May be worth looking into, though that would be a job and a half, for sure. Wouldn't want to attempt to clean up there. Can we just dump new insulation on top of filth?

I think some of the utility companies are offering discounts or rebates on re-insulating attics. It might be part of their energy survey. Might want to look and see if your electric or gas company offers this.

DreadPirateRoberts · 07-27-2009, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

I think some of the utility companies are offering discounts or rebates on re-insulating attics. It might be part of their energy survey. Might want to look and see if your electric or gas company offers this.

Good idea

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?...ts.tx_index#c2

http://socalgas.com/rebates/residential/insulation/

There are also some rebates on windows (mousepod), if they are EnergyStar compliant:

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?....pr_taxcredits

Snowflake · 07-27-2009, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

Our Living Room is still hot in the afternoons, but with the windows open, it's not bad at all. I'm looking into the film to put over the big arched LR window as a heat-reflecting option - IF it won't look strange or ruin the look of the house.

NA, there are varying shades of tint. Looking at the windows in our apartment you would never know they have a tint. The only thing about the tinted sheets is when cleaning windows you have to be a tad careful, but in the 15+ years we've had them on, the window washer has never torn or scraped them.

Not Afraid · 07-27-2009, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowflake

NA, there are varying shades of tint. Looking at the windows in our apartment you would never know they have a tint. The only thing about the tinted sheets is when cleaning windows you have to be a tad careful, but in the 15+ years we've had them on, the window washer has never torn or scraped them.

So, how easy was the installation? I'm looking at the big arched window in the LR and the product would have to be cut during installation. There's not way I could reproduce the exact size of that window.

Pirate Bill · 07-27-2009, 10:24 AM

This thread has inspired me to put some film on our upstairs windows. We have double-pain vinyl windows, but there isn't a UV block and I think that's what's causing the heat build-up upstairs. We have great attic insulation, but when the sun hits those windows it gets hot.

I'll report the results when it's done.

07-27-2009, 08:43 AM	#21
katiesue Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 4,678	I'm airless right now since the breaker blew and melted the pannel. My celing fans have helped immensley. Only issue I have with the remotes is make sure to program them on different frequencys - I have to stand in certain places in the bedroom to turn the light on/off or it turns on/off the light in the living room as well. This may not be an issue if you're on different floors. I also have some sort of window shades. They came with the house so I don't know much about them. They're like a paper blind, but heavier, and they do a really good job at keeping the heat out. __________________ My life is so exciting I can hardly stand it.
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07-27-2009, 09:16 AM	#25
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	I'm in the process (well, Milt is) of repairing our disintegrating French Doors in our bedroom. Milt works on vintage houses and will be injecting a resin into the doors to repair the wood rot, stripping the paint, getting the windows that are in the doors to open and generally making the doors as "new". They will still have to be painted and not varnished. The next thing he is going to do is to put in restored double hung windows to replace the 50's slat windows in the bedroom. Then I can have air conditioning in the bedroom! Our Living Room is still hot in the afternoons, but with the windows open, it's not bad at all. I'm looking into the film to put over the big arched LR window as a heat-reflecting option - IF it won't look strange or ruin the look of the house.
	Submit to Quotes

07-27-2009, 10:24 AM	#30
Pirate Bill Quality since 1973 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Right here Posts: 473	This thread has inspired me to put some film on our upstairs windows. We have double-pain vinyl windows, but there isn't a UV block and I think that's what's causing the heat build-up upstairs. We have great attic insulation, but when the sun hits those windows it gets hot. I'll report the results when it's done.
	Submit to Quotes