apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

You can get clear window insulation film and it works well. But I have had problems removing the tape, so much so, I've stopped using it. But I may have to use it this year on a few windows. It's been minus 20 celcius (-4F) or thereabouts for the last week and it's not getting any warmer soon.

If anyone has any tips on how to remove the tape, I'd appreciate it!

Alana...

Have you tried Goo Gone?
www.googone.com

It works well!

I've had the same problems with removing the tape too. I tried rubbing alcohol, lighter fluid, some "junk" remover and one or two other things, but none worked. Eventually, I just scrapped the tape off and repainted. Surely someone has something that works better than that.

I made my own window insulation. This may not be for everyone but it's working well for me. :)

the tape on that stuff is usually a real problem. luckily the last couple places i lived and severely needed, were older, rental, student houses so it didn't matter if it messed things up that much. the last place, we needed them so bad, when it was windy you could see it moving in and out, as the air was suctioning in and out from inside the window/plastic.

take it off real slow when you do it, if there is residue goo gone like suggested above should work, but if it doesn't there is also "goof off". much higher power, but watch out it might strip your paint off.

you could always try heating it up with a hairdryer, should loosen the glue a little bit

i'm hoping to find some cute and stylish draft snakes this year. we live in a much much better place, and the windows are really new and good, but i can still feel a little air from underneath it.

does anyone have DIY tips for draft snakes?

sorry i see the DIY link now, good for me and not reading thoroughly before i ask questions...

I am going to try clear bubble-wrap, just on the glass. I used foam/rubber along the cracks to stop the draft.

My windows have plastic (yes, plastic) frames which are so bad it is surreal and the building is crumbling away around the frames. I have actually had SNOW DRIFTS INSIDE around the north facing windows in my bed and bathrooms. (Its all glamour all the time here in NYC.) I have done everything listed above but the best thing ever was when I discovered spray foam, available at any hardware store. They even have foam that expands a lot for big spaces or a little for small. Exciting, fun and easy to use!

Check around your window for any cracks or even tiny holes. Granted, some of these can be caulked but if there is a breeze shooting out that can make a flame flicker get that foam and spray. Any that extrudes back out can be easily cut away once the foam drys. You'd be surprised at the voids around window frames in old buildings. I used two cans on one window alone and now the place is so much warmer.

Thanks for the goo gone idea. I have tried using a hair dryer in the past and that can get quite a bit of it--but not all.

Try Mortite - it doesn't leave a residue, is very easy to apply and does a fairly good job sealing http://www.energyfederation.org/consumer/default.php/cPath/21_392_1412

If you have metal window frames, I'd bet you can adapt that great magnetic frame idea by using tiny, high strength magnets.

i stumbled upon this article a while back and found it useful... hopefully it can help someone else as well
http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/pages/publicationD.jsp?publicationId=687

Thanks for this post! This is my first real winter (California girl now in the midwest) and our apartment windows are terrible. I just put up bubble wrap on the windows to insulate per a comment in the How To Stay Warm Thread (the link above isn't working for me, BTW). It looks awful, but aethetics quickly became secondary to warmth, and a desire not to waste energy and money this winter. And I figure if the landlord is ok with having such broke-down, jankity windows in the apartment, she shouldn't mind a little tape residue if I can't get it all off once winter ends!

This is a pretty good idea, thanks!

ogma: Sometimes, when I describe my living conditions to non-NYC dwellers, I use the phrase 'third world'.

I am a fan of the 3m window film, but am also annoyed with the problem of removing the double-sided tape.

As a way around this problem, I discovered I could first put down a strip of electrical tape, and then adhere the double sided tape to the electrical tape (which easy to remove and doesn't leave residue), then I finish installing the film as directed. Works like a charm all winter, plus the electrical tape comes in various colors to suit your interior.

I tried all sorts of things in the old drafty place I lived, Seal N' Peel worked the best of anything, it's a tad stinky to apply (I did all but one window, left it open for an hour and left the apt to clear the stink) and then sealed up the last one before I left for the day.

It's like a caulk, dries clear, and you can peel it off in the spring. I didn't have any residue issues. In the spots where the paint was peeling it took some off but nothing horrendous. Highly suggest it for Chicago winters!

http://www.dap.com/product_details.aspx?product_id=20

I second the SEAL and Peel recommendation. I had to buy a whole case from Home Depot (a special order: $76 for 24 tubes) but it was worth it. Last year it was "drafty" in my bungalow. This year it's nice and toasty at nights.

IT DOES SMELL (like model airplane glue) when you're applying it but one smelly day was worth it for all the toasty nights I've had since.

(I live in CA so it only gets cold (40 degrees!) at night.)