Yeah, those plastic films can be a pain—I remember wrestling with one for an hour, only to have my cat poke holes in it the next day. Curtains and sealing drafts definitely seem more practical, plus no weird crinkling noises at night...
Haha, yeah, the crinkling drove me nuts too. I finally ditched the plastic after my dog decided it was his new chew toy—came home to shredded film everywhere. Now I'm using thermal curtains with a layer of fleece behind them, and honestly, it's made a huge difference. No drafts, no noise, and bonus: the pets seem totally uninterested. Might be worth a try if your cat's anything like mine...
"Now I'm using thermal curtains with a layer of fleece behind them, and honestly, it's made a huge difference."
Interesting approach! Thermal curtains definitely help, especially if drafts are the main issue. But I'm curious—have you checked your window seals and frames? Sometimes, especially at higher altitudes, the pressure changes and temperature swings can cause seals to degrade faster than usual. Curtains are great, but addressing the root cause might save you some headaches down the line (and maybe spare your pets from future insulation snacks...).
Good point about the seals—hadn't thought about altitude affecting them, but it makes sense. When we moved up here, I noticed our windows seemed to fog up more often, and sure enough, the seals were shot. Ended up replacing a few panes with double-glazed units, which helped a ton. Wonder if anyone's tried those DIY window film kits at higher elevations...might be a cheaper fix if you're not ready to replace windows yet.
"Wonder if anyone's tried those DIY window film kits at higher elevations...might be a cheaper fix if you're not ready to replace windows yet."
Funny you mention those DIY film kits—I actually gave them a shot last winter. We're up around 7,500 feet, and our windows were fogging up like crazy. Honestly, I was skeptical at first (the box made it look way too easy, lol), but they did help noticeably cut down on drafts and condensation. Not a perfect fix, mind you—still had some fogging on the coldest mornings—but definitely worth the twenty bucks or so I spent.
Eventually, we did bite the bullet and replaced a couple of the worst windows with double-glazed units like you did. Huge improvement there, no question. But if you're looking for a temporary fix or just want to buy some time before shelling out for new windows, I'd say give the film kits a try. Just don't expect miracles...or perfect aesthetics, haha.
I appreciate hearing your experience with those film kits. We're at about 8,000 feet and dealing with similar issues—fogging windows and chilly drafts. I've been hesitant because, like you said, the packaging makes it look suspiciously simple, haha. Good to know they're at least somewhat effective as a temporary fix.
"Just don't expect miracles...or perfect aesthetics, haha."
Yeah, aesthetics aren't my top priority right now anyway...just trying to keep the heat in without breaking the bank. Might give them a shot this weekend and see how it goes.
Used those film kits last winter at around 7,500 ft. Quick thoughts:
- Installation was easier than expected (though I did have a minor wrestling match with the tape, haha).
- Noticeably reduced drafts and condensation.
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Exactly my mindset—function over form, especially when it's freezing out."aesthetics aren't my top priority right now anyway..."
Worth a shot for sure.
Tried those film kits myself a couple winters back, closer to 8,000 ft. Maybe it's just me, but did you notice any issues with tape adhesion at higher altitudes? Mine started peeling a bit after a month or so... could've been user error though, haha. Definitely reduced drafts noticeably, but condensation still crept in around the edges. Curious if anyone else had similar experiences or if I just got unlucky with my tape skills.
Had similar issues myself at around 7,500 ft. The tape adhesive seems to struggle with the colder temps and lower humidity up here. Switched to a heavier-duty double-sided tape from the hardware store, and it held up better, but condensation still snuck in occasionally... guess nothing's perfect.
Yeah, I've run into the same thing at about 8,000 ft. Tried all sorts of tapes and films, but eventually just accepted that condensation is gonna happen sometimes. One thing that helped a bit was adding some thicker curtains—nothing fancy, just heavier fabric from a thrift store. Didn't totally solve it, but definitely cut down on drafts and moisture buildup. Guess it's just part of mountain living...