Just the other day we were starting to think about winterizing our home for the season, when we got a great tip from one of our favorite home improvement gurus, Lou Manfredini. Lou suggested that as an alternative to covering drafty windows with plastic, caulk them with a temporary and removable sealant such as Zip-A-Way. A removable sealant is a better alternative to unsightly plastic and is great for oversized or irregular windows…
We have the issue of windows that are too large for plastic, and honestly we really hate the damage that can be incurred from the tape that adheres the plastic to the walls and windows. A removable sealant solves that problem by applying it only to the cracks, joints and edges of a window frame. The provides a fast drying seal that lasts 3 to 6 months and is clear but can be painted if desired.
One of the downsides, however, is you lose the extra air buffer that you'd typically get between plastic and windows. This air pocket acts as an insulator and can be very beneficial for those with single-glazed windows.
Zip-A-Way can be purchased through Amazon – a 12 pack of 10.1oz runs $51.69, or a similar product, Dap Seal ‘N Peel, can be bought as individual tubes for $6.49. Both products are also readily available at most hardware stores.
(Image: Flicker member oolem licensed for use under Creative Commons)
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I'm sure the caulk helps. But single pain and/or old apartment windows are still heat thieves through the glass.
I hate having to use big sheets of plastic this time of year, but I also don't want to freeze or waste energy without wrapping the windows. I know curtains are an option, but insulated ones are expensive and girlfriend hates how they look anyway. Plus who wants the curtains closed all the time?
Does anyone know how smelly this stuff is? We used something similar in our office once - it was a silicone peel off caulk- but it would give you a headache if you got anywhere near it for a few days. I don't remember the brand. I'd like to use this in my house, but not if the VOCs are going to offgas like that.
Also, from what I've heard most of the energy loss through old windows is through drafts, not the single panes of glass. Insulated windows are better, but not dramatically so.
elissa -
I just put it on most of my windows last weekend - it did have a slight smell (it is not no VOC), but not very strong and it didn't last more than a couple of days, but also had at least a window open during the installation (except of course until that window needed to be sealed). My windows are too large for the sheets of plastic, so I'm hoping it helps this year.
Rachel
If your windows are "too large" for plastic, use the kit for patio doors. If you're clever, you can tuck the sides into the frame or wrap it around the window entirely, eliminating the need for tape. Cram it into the edge leaving a fair amount of extra, then jam in foam insulation cord behind it with a putty knife. Trim excess, heat & shrink. If that's unclear, look at the Ikea Klippan sofa cover directions; they supply foam used to keep the cover from coming off.
Another temporary sealant is cord caulking or caulking rope. It's basically a putty extruded into strings that you can press in to any gap. Mortite is the brand most places carry, but ask if you don't see it.
The product you're discussing WAS a good product...a tad smelly and a little stiff, but quite an energy saver, It has been replaced with a "new formula" and "VOC complaint" product that should be avoided. It is NOT REMOVABLE. It's also extremely difficult to install neatly, but that fact pales by comparison. It will take me as much as an hour per window to remove this product. It can only be removed with a solvent like Goo-Gone and a LOT of elbow grease. What a treat!
I'm curious about how this turned out when you tried removing it. I found many reviews saying DAP is much better. Of course, I read those only after using Zip-A-Way. It did go on pretty smooth, so that's a plus (here's how I did it: http://footprintmag.wordpress.com/2013/02/02/how-to-weatherize-windows-in-an-apartment-or-rental-house/). Still thinking about adding plastic as well, if there's a way to do it without harming paint.