One wall of my bedroom has sliding glass doors and it gets really cold at nite. I cannot afford to replace them. What can I use to sort of insulate the doors so as not to freeze at nite?
By Linda
Are you familiar with the kits for insulating windows that include the plastic you shrink with a hairdryer? They make kits for patio doors, too...probably around $10. You can also hang blankets or quilts.
When it gets really cold outside, we have a piece of heavy duty clear plastic that we hang over our sliding glass door. I cut it to fit the door and put a border of masking tape across the top of the plastic. To the masking tape I have four small strips of self sticking Velcro. The match to the Velcro is on the woodwork of the door. It is white, same as the woodwork and is not noticeable.
My son went to WalMart & bought real thick insulated curtains that help to keep the warmth inside his bedroom.
I lived in an apartment for a year that had a sliding glass door in my bedroom. Oh boy, the drafts coming in were terrible, even with a heavy set of insulated drapes. So I rolled up newspapers into logs, fastened with rubber bands from the Sunday paper, and set the logs into the frame along the bottom.
It made a huge difference-no more drafts, and I was able to open and close the doors by removing the logs when I needed to use the doors.
I've also used bubble wrap on large windows to insulate, using duct tape to secure the wrap to the outer edges of the frame. You can't open the windows or doors if you do that, but it does really cut down on the heat loss and drafts.
If you don't have to go through it much, hang an old army blanket then a pretty sheet or comforter over it.
You can also get plastic sheeting by the 5' roll in the craft section of your local walmart for 2.97 and up per linier yard. You can then cut to custom and simply use clear shipping tape from the Dollar Tree to secure it on the inside. It will keep out the air, stay dry and reusable for next season.
I hope this helps.
PBP
You can buy a package of clear plastic window covers. They are designed to keep out drafts. You staple or tape it tightly over the whole window. You can still see out and a drape or blind over that will keep you warm. These plastic covers can be put over other windows in your house too. Before putting up the plastic, stuff insulating cotton, or foam that comes on a roll in the cracks where air comes in. These supplies can be purchased at any hardware store and are not expensive. The price of them will be made up by the heating cost you will save.
What I do with my reg. size window is first set a tension rod, actually in truth I use an old shower rod and hang a heavy old Army wool blanket or flannel sheets neatly hung then I have my regular curtain rod for my nice curtain. I do have two sliding glass windows in living room and it was hot as blazes this summer.
One entry mentioned bubble wrap. It is very inexpensive and all you have to do is spray a little water on the glass and stick the bubble wrap up. It will stay for a very long time and if it does come down, just re-wet and re-stick! It makes a good insulator and can be removed easily if need be! I have it on all my windows which I put up last winter. It insulates so nicely I left it up on the rooms in which I don't use the windows. Good luck!
Bubble wrap has an insulating number of 1 which means it has the lowest insulating value. Your best bet is plastic window wrap or insulating drapes.
In addition, make sure the door is well caulked also. Check the outside perimeter of the door, no caulk, drafts will be there. There is also a product called 'warm window' for a roman shade that you add a fashion fabric to the room side.
I also have a sliding glass door in my bedroom
How do I insulate it and still be able to open it to let the dog in and out?
