Make winserts – Introduction

For several years, North Quabbin Energy has been promoting and teaching people how to make “winserts” – clear, two-layer window inserts that can help to reduce the heat loss in a typical window by up to 50%. The design has morphed over time, and there are three set of instructions here for three slightly different methods, starting with the most popular (and the easiest!). The “wrap” method is the one we recommend.

The basic principle is actually quite a simple one though: you need to build a frame slightly smaller than the interior dimensions of your window frame, cover both sides of it somehow with clear plastic, and attach some kind of compressible foam all the way around it so that it will fit firmly in place.  The idea is that the two layers of plastic create a space of dead air that heat does not cross, making a thermal barrier and cutting down on drafts and heat loss. The differences in the methods are in how the frame is assembled (butt-joint or mitered joint) and how the plastic film is attached (tape, spline, or wrapping).

Many public and private buildings in and around the North Quabbin have added these over the years, and they can confirm that this simple technology really does work!  Any way you choose, you can’t lose!

If you are interested in this project or want information about others who might make the frames for you, contact Janice Kurkoski at jdauphin3[at]hotmail.com.

WINSERT FAQs

What are they?
“Winserts” are re-usable transparent panels that fit snugly inside window jambs to add two extra layers of glazing.

How do they work?
The winsert uses two closely-spaced sheets of plastic to create a layer of “dead air” next to your window. This keeps warm air from the building from moving out to the colder air outside. While a single layer of plastic sheeting can help reduce heat loss from your windows, it does not usually create this insulating layer of dead air and may actually leave enough space for a convection current to form that pulls heat away from the living space. We believe that a properly-constructed winsert can reduce heat loss from a typical single- or double-glazed window by up to 50%. The design was inspired by a long-forgotten FEMA website and has been adapted by Brian Nugent and other North Quabbin Energy members and participants in our workshops. We hope you will feel free to improve it further or adapt it to your particular needs.

How complicated are they to make?
Winserts require some basic woodworking equipment and skills to make, particularly in the construction of the frame. If you don’t have these yourself, you should try to find someone who does–perhaps you can work together to make winserts for both of you! Attaching the plastic and foam is easy to do.

How much do they cost?

We estimate that winserts cost about $2 a square foot to make if you build them yourself. Here is a spreadsheet with sources for bulk materials as of winter 2015.

How long will they last?
First-generation winserts installed in the Millers River Environmental Center in Athol in 2008 are still going strong in 2015. Material choices have been improved since then – we are now using 1 mil thick film and UV resistant edge foam. We believe that winserts should last indefinitely with careful use and storage. They can also be left installed all summer long – they help keep out the heat too! The plastic film is the component that is most likely to need replacing from punctures and tears (the spline method of film installation addresses this nicely). The long-term strength of the double-sided tape used in the original heat-shrink method is also not known yet. However, the frames could be re-covered with new plastic film if needed.

Note:
Brian Nugent and North Quabbin Energy offer these construction methods as a suggestion of one way to weatherize your home. We make no guarantee of the results of making or installing winserts, but we believe that if you follow this method, you will notice a difference in the heat loss through your windows. We welcome feedback (email us at info@northquabbinenergy.org), and we invite you to adapt the design, make suggestions for improving it, and pass the results along to us and to others. As we all search for creative ways to reduce energy use and improve efficiency, we hope that more do-it-yourself ideas like this can be developed, improved, and shared. (For discussion about similar designs, visit the Historic HomeWorks Forum and Topher Belknap’s design.) For professionally made panels, visit Advanced Energy Panels.

Click here to see a short video on measuring your windows.

3 thoughts on “Make winserts – Introduction”

  1. in order to see winserts video, had to log on to facebook, which I did. I joined Facebook. But that did not allow me
    to see the video.

    am enrolled in class of winseerts next saturday; would have
    liked to figure out how to construct beforehand…
    must be some way to get onto video

  2. Hello – I am so sorry not to have the name of the wonderful woman who helped us make winserts on Buckland last November ’17.
    We’d like to offer the workshop again. But…. we would still need help. We would be able to pay for materials and a stipend as well.
    Looking forward to your reply. Thank you, Ellen Kaufmann

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