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Drafty window are the worst . There are few matter that can ruin a cozy movie nighttime or pleasurable game like seat in front of a windowpane that leaks like a screen . you could almost see the heat escaping while picturing your utility meters spinning like a slot political machine . That cold-blooded air is just uncomfortable — for you and your bank chronicle .
That ’s why we tested several of thebest window insularity kit . We wanted to put up folks with older , possibly single - pane windows a room to keep their homes warm and more effective without an expensive window replacement . After days of examination , I determined that the 3 M Window Insulator Kit was the merchandise that came out on top . Keep take to find out why it was our best overall windowpane insularism outfit and to see if it ’s a good convulsion for you and your menage .
Photo: Tom Scalisi for Bob Vila
3M Window Insulator Kit: At a Glance
Rating:9.1/10
SPECS
PROS
CONS
Get the 3 M Window Insulator Kit at :
What is the 3M Window Insulator Kit?
The 3 M Window Insulator Kit is a charge card - based window movie and magnetic tape outfit that allow user to improve their homes ’ efficiency.Energy.govstates that up to 30 percentage of a home ’s heat loss or amplification is through its windowpane , and winter exploits this fact . het line is pull toward cooler air , and many windows with short detachment or old blueprint allow air to easily escape . The 3 M Window Insulator Kit aims to combat this .
Thiskit from 3Mincludes a film that is .75 cubic centimetre thick , which was about the average for the product in our test . It also contains strong double - sided tape . The installer applies the mag tape around the window and then put in the film over top . This create an air barrier that helps prevent heat get-up-and-go from bridging across the glass while preclude stale air from entering the home . While it ’s hard to tell just how effective window film are without a test lab , the principles are good .
This kit contains enough film and tape to cover five 3 - foot by 5 - foot windows . It come in one sheet of photographic film , so it can be cut to outfit larger , wide-eyed windows as well .
Photo: Tom Scalisi for Bob Vila
Cut, Tape, and Use a Hair Dryer for Easy Installation
All of the kits in our trial followed the same construct of applying tape and then applying the film . However , some were easier to establish than others . Some cinema come in rolling wave , which grant the user to roam the moving-picture show across the window and then blossom out it , but 3 M ’s come in a fold up sheet , which was my favourite method of instalment .
installment postulate :
The 3 M kit was very easygoing to set up following this procedure . However , there ’s one challenge that installers should recognise before cut . Sometimes , ascertain the edge of this flick is hard , and if you ’re not sure that you have the genuine edge , you could accidentally give a turn up piece of film to the windowpane . If it wo n’t unfold enough to address the window , you ’re going to have to get going over , wasting much of the product .
Photo: Tom Scalisi for Bob Vila
Simple Yet Superior Design
The3 M Window Insulator Kitcomes in one folded sheet that is then rolled up into a flatten out roll . I preferred this option because it was easy to lie down out and veer to the length prior to install . The other options include a roll of window movie that is applied to the window , rolled across the window , and then cut . I found that this was more difficult to coordinate . This is an country where the 3 M film really leaped ahead .
Also , while it ’s certainly not the duncical film in the radical ( and thicker generally means tough ) , there is a major welfare to it . The 3 M Window Insulator Kit film is very easy to remove line from . The film shrinks well within a few instant , leaving behind an almost perfectly exonerated film . For anyone think one of these outfit but holding off for reverence it ’ll face tacky , the 3 M outfit is by far the best at being the least noticeable .
Full Transparency of 3M Window Insulator Kit Performance
It ’s knockout to quantify performance in an actual home . There are a lot of factors to consider , such as each windowpane ’s facility , insulating material , placement in the theater , and more . Also , temperatures waver throughout the day , and wind is also a component . In short , it ’s almost out of the question to put a classical solvent on how well any one outfit from the original trial performed . I would ’ve needed a laboratory full of scientific equipment ( and a few more years of school ) to make that finding .
However , the 3 M kit was effective at reducing the cold air felt near the windowpane . It also last out impregnable and did n’t uncase or kill promiscuous during examination . When it came clock time to take the film ( an enactment I was occupy would peel paint from my trim ) , it remove flawlessly and quickly .
In full transparency ( paronomasia intended ) , it ’s of import to take down that all of the other kit were equally as adequate to of keep cold air at bay and removed easily as well .
Photo: Tom Scalisi for Bob Vila
Is the 3M Window Insulator Kit worth the money?
Absolutely . For around $ 22 , shoppers will get enough window film to cover five window with this one outfit . It come with several roll of taping and the pic required . While I ’m not sure if you ’ll make unnecessary $ 4.20 ( the monetary value of moving-picture show and tapeline for each window ) over the row of the wintertime in Energy Department saving , the outfit will make it much more comfortable to sit in front of the window without shivering .
There are less expensive kits on the marketplace , some of which we tested . However , few offer up as much insurance coverage with as few wrinkle and as smooth an installation process as the3 M outfit . It also provided the clean-cut flick once set up , while many others demonstrate lasting creases from folds or even marks from the machine used to make the film in the factory . For these reason , there is for certain note value to be had in this outfit .
Is the 3M Window Insulator Kit right for you?
The short response is , it depends . There are folks who should not grease one’s palms this insulation outfit , or any kit for that matter . First , if you live in an sphere that does n’t get extremely cold during the wintertime , windowpane insularity kits are n’t worth it . Second , if you ’re someone who likes to spread your window on the warmer days during the winter , a motion-picture show outfit will not help you . In both of these cases , a heavy drape might be a better selection . Thebest thermal curtainsdo a adept job of preventing heat transfer when they ’re unopen , but they appropriate exploiter to open up their windows if they ’d like some fresh air on ardent days .
If you have a very declamatory window or patio door to brood , this outfit wo n’t exercise for you . Instead,3 M ’s XL windowpane kitcomes with enough film to cover a full - size true laurel window or terrace room access or two ( the film is a sum of 19.7 foot long ) .
However , if your window are leaky and drafty , and you do n’t want to go through theexpense and fuss of replacing themthis year , get this kit . you may install it quickly and easily , and it will make a tremendous difference of opinion in the comfort of your home , specifically in front of those windows . This one kit contains enough film to do a large room ’s worth of windowpane or several small windows in bedrooms or bathrooms . Rather than dealing with the cold air pouring through and knowing your warm air is escaping , you’re able to put a cork on that airflow with this kit from 3M.
Photo: Tom Scalisi for Bob Vila
Where to Buy the 3M Window Insulator Kit
Meet the Tester
Tom Scalisi is a full - sentence DIY and construction writer for many of the large internet site in the industriousness , admit BobVila.com , This Old House , Family Handyman , and Forbes . He has set up and exchange countless window during his fourth dimension as a contractor , and he make out what it takes to keep frigid air out and affectionate air in during his native Northeast ’s winter .
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Photo: Tom Scalisi for Bob Vila
