Winterizing Sliding Glass Doors

[FrugalTexan75]

I am renting a "room" in an older house. One "wall" of the room is made up of a sliding glass door which used to open out onto the back porch. Due to the furniture in my room, the only good place for the bed is right against the sliding glass doors. It is cold. Very cold.

For the moment I am making do with a lot of blankets piled up. However, I would like to find a way of making it less cold in the rest of the room - I can't be under the blankets all the time.

I think I can make space for a space heater, which will help, but something still needs to be done to the sliding glass doors.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

[kork13]

Originally Posted by FrugalTexan75

I am renting a "room" in an older house. One "wall" of the room is made up of a sliding glass door which used to open out onto the back porch. Due to the furniture in my room, the only good place for the bed is right against the sliding glass doors. It is cold. Very cold.

For the moment I am making do with a lot of blankets piled up. However, I would like to find a way of making it less cold in the rest of the room - I can't be under the blankets all the time.

I think I can make space for a space heater, which will help, but something still needs to be done to the sliding glass doors.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Since it doesn't sound like you use the door, heavy plastic sheeting (available from a Home Depot/Lowes -- it's used as a makeshift waterproof siding for houses under construction) secured across the inside of the glass door will help... My parents did that for a window just behind their bed and apparently it helps alot. To make it more cosmetically attractive, and also further insulate the room, hang some heavy drapes/curtains across the door. That one saved me some VERY cold mornings while going to college in CO.

[creditcardfree]

Look at this product at Amazon. I think it is similar to what kork is suggesting. I've used window film in the past and it does a pretty good job!

[disneysteve]

Do you need to be able to see out the window or get light in? If not, you could actually insulate it. Buy a roll of insulation. Cut strips to fit over the door and tape or tack it in place. Then cover with the heavy plastic. If appearance is important, hang a sheet or pick up some inexpensive material and hang that over everything.

[FrugalTexan75]

Kork and CCF,

Thanks! I had heard about the putting plastic on the windows idea, but wasn't sure about how to really make it work. The one on Amazon looks good.

DisneySteve,

Hmm... no, the door isn't used. I wonder if my landlady would be willing to let me do that. If so, I wonder if the cost of insulation would be more than the plastic? Would the insulation also help make the room cooler in the summer?

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by FrugalTexan75

DisneySteve,

Hmm... no, the door isn't used. I wonder if my landlady would be willing to let me do that. If so, I wonder if the cost of insulation would be more than the plastic? Would the insulation also help make the room cooler in the summer?

As long as you aren't doing anything permanent, I don't see why she would mind. When you are done, you could just take it down. I just looked at Home Depot. A roll of insulation 15" wide and 32' long is $9.00. It would make the place warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer and quieter all year.

[MonkeyMama]

I swear by our thermal drapes (insulating). Though, it sounds like insulation and a sheet would be a lot cheaper!

[FrugalTexan75]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

As long as you aren't doing anything permanent, I don't see why she would mind. When you are done, you could just take it down. I just looked at Home Depot. A roll of insulation 15" wide and 32' long is $9.00. It would make the place warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer and quieter all year.

Quieter, you say? Ding, ding, ding! I am going to definitely see if I can do the insulation! It's not as bad as at my old apartment, but there are times people drive through the alleyway with their stereos blaring in the middle of the night.

The cooler in summer would be good too, although I'll probably be moving in May.

Thanks!

[FrugalTexan75]

Originally Posted by MonkeyMama

I swear by our thermal drapes (insulating). Though, it sounds like insulation and a sheet would be a lot cheaper!

If I was going to be here for another winter, I probably would go with all three - plastic, insulation AND thermal drapes.

[LuxLiving]

I'd probably cover the whole thing over w/tin foil (yes I know, not attractive - but stick with me.) If you just put up the insulation w/the fibers against the glass you may end up with moisture condensation back there. Oook. I'd be looking to avoid that. If twere me, I'd put up the foil or plastic, then the insulation, then another layer of plastic over the whole shebang. You don't want mold growing back in there. Maybe you could ask at the hardware store what you could do to prevent that situation?

[FrugalTexan75]

Thanks Lux,

My landlady didn't like the idea of insulation. So when I came home yesterday from work she had put up plywood and cardboard. Makes it dark and insulates noise some ...

I bought a space heater today, and am waiting to see if it'll heat up my room.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by FrugalTexan75

Thanks Lux,

My landlady didn't like the idea of insulation. So when I came home yesterday from work she had put up plywood and cardboard.

She was opposed to insulation but was okay with cardboard and plywood? Kind of strange but she's the boss.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Wish I had seen this before the plywood and cardboard went up. You can buy insulating hard foam panels and just cut them to fit right inside your door. Then you can easily move the insulation in and out of the door if you want to. No nails, no staples, no tape needed. They just stay in place by friction and an exact cut. Easy to do, and so quick & mess free. We've done this with 3 windows.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

My post to you blog does not appear to be showing up, so I thought I'd tell you this here.

Did I read in one of your blog entries that you'd bought a hat and scarf at Big Lots? Well, how about looking for an electric blanket there? If you heat just your body, it doesn't take as much energy, and the heat goes right where you want it. Last spring Big Lots here had small electric blankets (were called throws--less than twin size anyway) that are really good. The heating wires are closer together than in a lot of blankets so your arm or leg or whatever is more likely to make contact with a hot-spot. The brand name is BIDDEFORD. DH had previously given me one for Christmas and paid a whole lot more than BL charges I use mine both in bed and while sitting at computer. In your single room, you could probably put it on a long extension cord and be free to move about the room with it over your shoulders.

Just went and got the info on this blanket from Big Lots. It is called "Delightful Moments Automatic Warming Throw." It comes with thermostatic control, a 13 foot cord, and is 50" X 62". BL sold it for $13.50, though I think DH paid $47 for my original one....This thing makes life in winter so much better for me.

"bubble wrap window insulation." You might get the material for this project free on Craiglist. BubbleWrap

How cold is that house, anyway?

[FrugalTexan75]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

She was opposed to insulation but was okay with cardboard and plywood? Kind of strange but she's the boss.

As soon as I mentioned the idea of insulation, she spat back at me "Fiberglass! It'll get everywhere, and it's bad for your lungs." That's when she mentioned the cardboard and plywood idea. Seeing as though how she wasn't in a good mood, I didn't push it. The next day I came home and she'd already put the stuff up.

So ... I decided to not fight it and try to find a space heater. I only have to put up with this for one winter, and Texas usually doesn't stay cold very long (although we also don't usually get this cold in December ...)

[FrugalTexan75]

Originally Posted by Joan.of.the.Arch

My post to you blog does not appear to be showing up, so I thought I'd tell you this here.

Did I read in one of your blog entries that you'd bought a hat and scarf at Big Lots? Well, how about looking for an electric blanket there? If you heat just your body, it doesn't take as much energy, and the heat goes right where you want it. Last spring Big Lots here had small electric blankets (were called throws--less than twin size anyway) that are really good. The heating wires are closer together than in a lot of blankets so your arm or leg or whatever is more likely to make contact with a hot-spot. The brand name is BIDDEFORD. DH had previously given me one for Christmas and paid a whole lot more than BL charges I use mine both in bed and while sitting at computer. In your single room, you could probably put it on a long extension cord and be free to move about the room with it over your shoulders.

Just went and got the info on this blanket from Big Lots. It is called "Delightful Moments Automatic Warming Throw." It comes with thermostatic control, a 13 foot cord, and is 50" X 62". BL sold it for $13.50, though I think DH paid $47 for my original one....This thing makes life in winter so much better for me.

"bubble wrap window insulation." You might get the material for this project free on Craiglist. BubbleWrap

How cold is that house, anyway?

That is strange your comment didn't show up. I didn't receive a notice of a comment from you either.

Like I said to DS, I've decided to put up with what is there now. My landlady seems to rarely be in a good/approachable mood lately. But I digress.

I will have to look for that Delightful Moments throw! It sounds perfect - that in combination with the space heater.

I don't know about the rest of the house - it isn't very cold outside of my room because she has the central heat turned on. My room however just doesn't seem to catch much of that heat - or if it does, most of it goes right out the cracks by the windows/sliding glass doors.

ETA: I stopped by Big Lots today. They had one of the blankets, but it was for $25, not $13. I couldn't justify buying another blanket for that much when I have lots of regular ones. Thanks though, for the recommendation.

[kork13]

Originally Posted by FrugalTexan75

I don't know about the rest of the house - it isn't very cold outside of my room because she has the central heat turned on. My room however just doesn't seem to catch much of that heat - or if it does, most of it goes right out the cracks by the windows/sliding glass doors.

If that's the case, check the vent in your room to make sure that it's fully open/not clogged up with something. Also, if you have a ceiling fan, you can use it to push warm air down (you might have to hit the switch on the fan to change the direction it spins).

But I had this problem in my last apartment as well... The windows leaked air (I could hear it when the wind blew, and when cars drove by, it sounded as if my windows were totally open), and even though I did both of the above, my room was still by far the hottest in the summer and coldest in the winter.... ugh....

[FrugalTexan75]

Originally Posted by kork13

If that's the case, check the vent in your room to make sure that it's fully open/not clogged up with something. Also, if you have a ceiling fan, you can use it to push warm air down (you might have to hit the switch on the fan to change the direction it spins).

But I had this problem in my last apartment as well... The windows leaked air (I could hear it when the wind blew, and when cars drove by, it sounded as if my windows were totally open), and even though I did both of the above, my room was still by far the hottest in the summer and coldest in the winter.... ugh....

Hmm... the vent appears to be open and clear. I hadn't thought about the ceiling fan ... will have to look for the switch your talking about. (I've heard about that, but never tried it.)

[whaddadeal]

Originally Posted by FrugalTexan75

I don't know about the rest of the house - it isn't very cold outside of my room because she has the central heat turned on. My room however just doesn't seem to catch much of that heat - or if it does, most of it goes right out the cracks by the windows/sliding glass doors.

In addition to checking the room vents, check the furnace filter. A clogged filter reduces heating efficiency. Then, check the ductwork leading to your room; the furnace ducts should have adjustable dampers near the furnace to control the volume and direction of air flow throughout the house. Any damper that is turned too far closed will slow the heating of the rooms served by the duct. Finally, home centers sell duct insulation that will limit the heat lost through the ducts. Three years ago I insulated the ductwork in my house and cut my heating costs by more than 25%.

HTH
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[arthurb999]

Wood and cardboard isn't that great for insulaiton. I'd still get the plastic...