Posted on Nov 29, 2023 at 2:00 pm by Emily Q
The heating bill represents a significant portion of household energy expenses, especially in winter.
Today, we present you with a surprising and inexpensive tip to save on your heating bill: the use of bubble wrap! This packaging material, usually used to protect fragile objects, can also be used to improve the thermal insulation of your home and thus reduce your heating expenses.
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How does bubble wrap insulation work?
The idea behind this tip is simple: by using bubble wrap to cover the glass surfaces of your house, you create an insulating barrier that prevents heat from escaping and cold from entering. The bubble wrap acts like double glazing: the air bubbles trapped in the plastic form an insulating layer that retains heat inside and limits thermal losses.
Here’s how to implement this tip:
- Choose bubble wrap with sufficiently large air bubbles (about 1 cm in diameter) to ensure optimal insulation.
- Cut the bubble wrap to the dimensions of your windows.
- Spray a little water on the windows and apply the bubble wrap with the bubbles against the glass. The water will allow the bubble wrap to adhere easily and without leaving any residue.
- If necessary, secure the edges of the bubble wrap with tape to keep the insulation in place.
The advantages of bubble wrap insulation
This insulation method has several advantages:
- It is cost-effective: bubble wrap is a cheap and easily available material. You can even reuse the bubble wrap rolls you have at home after a move or delivery.
- It is easy to implement: the installation does not require any special skills or specific tools and can be done by anyone in a few minutes.
- Energy efficiency: according to some studies, using bubble wrap to insulate your windows could save you up to 20% on your heating bill.
Bonus tip: also insulate your doors and other openings
To maximize energy savings, feel free to apply this tip to other glass surfaces in your home, such as patio doors, bay windows, or skylights. You can also use bubble wrap to insulate door frames and thus limit drafts.
Some precautions to take
Despite its many advantages, bubble wrap insulation has some drawbacks that should be taken into account:
- Lack of aesthetics: bubble wrap can give an unattractive appearance to your windows. However, you can remove the bubble wrap when you have guests and put it back in place afterwards.
- Reduction of brightness: the use of bubble wrap can decrease the amount of natural light entering your home. Therefore, make sure not to completely cover your windows to preserve sufficient lighting.
In conclusion, using bubble wrap as thermal insulation is a simple, effective, and cost-effective method to reduce your heating bill. So why not try this surprising tip at your home?
