How to Keep Heat from Entering House through The Windows?

confidantduk on 01/11/2021 - 15:31

I live in the city and with summer coming up, the heat that comes through the windows create a really strong greenhouse effect within the rooms with windows.

I'm sitting 1.3-ish meters from the window with the blinders down and I can feel the heat hitting me through the blinders. Can't say I'll enjoy this once we get into the full swing of summer.

What do people usually do to 'reflect' the heat from coming in? I saw a few things like this: https://www.mattblatt.com.au/mb/buy/goodgoods-one-way-mirror… but am unsure how successful it'll be in combating the heat coming in.

Was thinking of something reflective since it's similar to that car cover you put up on the window to reduce heat from coming into cars 🤔 wonder if something similar would do the same?

Home & Garden

Comments

  • screensaver on 01/11/2021 - 20:32

    I bought white temporary stick on blinds from Iseekblinds,, sure helped a lot

  • ash5g on 01/11/2021 - 20:36

    Window tint from bunnings worked pretty good, looks alright as well though can be tricky getting on for the first few

  • djones145 on 01/11/2021 - 21:25
    +1

    own or rent

    rent means nothing structural and prolly means foil on the Windows

    can get curtains etc with you own

  • holmes182 on 02/11/2021 - 07:42
    +3

    Honeycomb (cellular) blinds

    https://venetablinds.com.au/pages/honeycomb-blinds-collectio…

    They are a great insulator, just ensure you size them right so they're tight fitting to the window frame and close to the glass.

  • subydooby on 02/11/2021 - 08:30
    +2

    Brick them windows up…

  • MontyMacaw on 02/11/2021 - 08:40

    Go to the supermarket and get a roll of tinfoil. Anybody who’s lived rough in the outback will tell you this is the cheapest way. Good Airconditioning and lights on in the daytime does the rest.

    • chriskq on 03/11/2021 - 10:47
      +1

      by lights i assume you mean fans

      • timps on 03/11/2021 - 20:19
        +1

        No they mean using lights in the day time because you cover all of the windows with alfoil and the sun can't get in.

  • Loopholio on 02/11/2021 - 09:14
    +12

    I use the silver car windscreen sun shades. They are around $5 from Kmart and work very well. There are other colours and patterns if that's your thing.

    • Clean the inside of the window so the tape will stick
    • No, really, clean that window
    • Fold or cut sunshade to size
    • Use the suction cup for positioning and clear packing tape to stop it falling
    • When the tape fails a few weeks later, redo it and this time clean the window first
    • skillet on 02/11/2021 - 11:52
      +1

      This is really good because there is a layer of air built in the shades that acts as an insulator if you can stick two layers it will work even better.

  • OzHunterNSW on 02/11/2021 - 10:02

    It's the price you pay… and if you conducted your research, you would find the penetrating sun would create an "oven" effect.

    Your only option is to have either shades installed on the outside, or install thick, heavy drapery.

  • saltypete on 02/11/2021 - 10:07
    +1

    Most effective is to minimise incoming before it reaches the window/wall.
    Cheap shade cloth blinds are probably the best option if you can attach these to the eaves - get at least 300 mm of distance between the blind and the walls.

    Next most effective will be similar, but against the external window.

    If you only do curtains or glass coverings these really help, but you will always have radiant heat from the walls and widow frames and glass warming things up.

  • Gekov on 02/11/2021 - 11:23

    A heavy window tint would help.
    Plus an awning to shade the outside of the window.
    Then you can still have the vew.

  • Rayzorback on 02/11/2021 - 12:31
    +1

    Shading the outside of the window helps with keeping the glass cooler, less radiant heat. If you shade inside the window, then the glass still gets hot and radiates heat well after the sun goes goes down.

  • shaybisc on 02/11/2021 - 14:36
    +1

    UV is only 2% of the solar energy passing through windows so film with total UV block may be letting in a lot of heat.

  • Alexxx on 02/11/2021 - 22:16

    Pillar mirror tint window film from Bunnings. Massive difference, you can sit right in front of the windows in full afternoon sun and it doesn't even feel warm.
    I put it on my east and west facing windows and has worked great for 2 years.

    • morse on 04/11/2021 - 02:51

      Does it go on the inside or the outside?

      • skillet on 05/11/2021 - 09:28

        Yeah good question. Won't it wear quickly if exposed to the weather?

  • loadingpast on 02/11/2021 - 22:23

    Roller shutter.

    • cashless on 02/11/2021 - 23:19
      +1

      Roller spliff

  • factor on 02/11/2021 - 23:12
    +1

    low-e films or low-e glass reject a substantial portion of the radiant heat while still allowing windows to be used.

    Double glazing is the wrong solution for radiant heat rejection. Where double glazing does reject radiant heat it is due to the low-e coating layer, not the second pane of glass.

    • JimB on 03/11/2021 - 15:50

      Very good answer.

      A lot of people think that double glazing is the magical bullet, but it doesn't stop solar heat gain. They are fantastic for winter and for ambient heat transfer, and also for noise.

      I have double glazed with low-e, room still gets hot.

      I'd say reflective tint is the most effective solution.. but the room will be dark year round.

      • abuch47 on 03/11/2021 - 21:06
        +2

        So most effective solution is building design with large eave overhang the whole way round (ranch style) or add awnings over the windows which allow light transfer but stop direct sun. Trees are also good as they help bring wind down to ground level and provide natural beautiful shade at the cost of leaves and space.

        • JimB on 04/11/2021 - 10:27
          +1

          Yes, shading is important.

          Deciduous trees are even better.. shading in summer and letting light/heat in during winter.

    • amsaini15 on 04/11/2021 - 13:06

      Are you sure about ability of low-e glass in not allowing heat to get in? But then in winters your house could remain cold even during the day?

  • cashless on 02/11/2021 - 23:13
    +4

    Stick a Venetian in the window
    Might not stop the heat coming in, but he’ll show you how to use a gondola

  • pogichinoy on 02/11/2021 - 23:46

    Foil, or solar screens.

    http://www.solarscreen.com.au/

    • gviddy on 03/11/2021 - 19:21

      Wow, now this looks great!

      • abuch47 on 03/11/2021 - 21:07

        Extremely popular for 4wders

  • neverlate on 03/11/2021 - 05:14
    +1

    emergency foil blanket, stick right onto the glass or hang as close as possible

  • istoleyourid2 on 03/11/2021 - 07:43
    +1

    Window tint.

    Had a similar issue with my new place that has huge front windows and is north facing. Lounge room was easily 4-5 degrees warmer than rest of house - checked with thermometers. Post tinting it's about 1 degree hotter.

    I ordered polyfilms mirror tint - 15% 10m roll. You can go lighter or darker. They also sell the tools, well worth it in my opinion. All up was $110 delivered for me but I did 3x windows that are 2.4xm x 2.4m with several panels. Smaller roll might work for you, measure and buy extra.
    https://www.polyfilm.com.au/film-silver-mirror/

    Bunnings sell tint too but it was twice the price and they didn't seem to have all the tools. Only downside was delivery from qld during lockdown took 4 weeks.

    Lots of YouTube videos on how to install. https://youtu.be/BYxxakujj2I

    Edit: blocking UV with tint will save your floor and furniture over many years from fading too.

  • Assburg on 03/11/2021 - 09:21
    +8

    Destroy the sun

    • Caped Baldy on 03/11/2021 - 18:05

      Not before we send a brave person to walk on its surface!

      • Kuzdog on 04/11/2021 - 13:16
        +7

        Don’t have to be brave. Just go at night.

        • funnysht on 04/11/2021 - 21:05

          Don't have to.. just wait another 5 billion years and you'll have the last laugh

  • Tomhaigh1 on 03/11/2021 - 09:47

    Go for overseas holidays anywhere in northern hemisphere

  • paradise on 03/11/2021 - 10:00

    awning

  • ripesashimi on 03/11/2021 - 10:12

    Trees

  • diddy50 on 03/11/2021 - 10:22

    If you're in an apartment. There may be rules with what you can put up on your windows.

  • tinmancactus on 03/11/2021 - 10:52
    +4

    If you own you have more options, but there are still several options if you rent.

    • Cut some tinfoil to the size of your window, spray it with water and stick it to the window. It will reflect the light and heat back out and stay stuck on until you pull it off. I do this with my west-facing windows in poorly insulated parts of my house. This will block the light as well, but if you want some light to come back in, buy Renshade foil, which has little holes in it.

    • Secondary glazing will improve the insulation of the windows. You can stick it on with permanent or temporary adhesive, or you can build a perfectly fitting frame to go into the window frame. This won't block light though, but add some curtains/blinds and you'll have a good set up.

    • Shading the sun so it doesn't hit the windows directly would be even better. Retractable awnings or well-positioned deciduous trees are good for this. Obviously these options are only really relevant to home owners.

    • Knowing when to open the windows/doors and when to close them helps too. Open up the house in the morning until the heat becomes too much, then close them all until a cool change arrives.

    Check out Green It Yourself for some more low-budget insulation ideas. I found that sealing gaps in the spare room (WFH office) made a huge difference for me in the winter.

  • Joejoeinc on 03/11/2021 - 11:43
    +2

    We had a similar problem in our house. One room would just get super hot and it would be a constant battle between the sun and the aircon (at the other end of the house).

    We put in horizontal blinds from Ikea but this just seemed to make it hotter since the sun would just heat up the blinds.

    Then I installed one of these
    https://www.bunnings.com.au/windoware-1800-x-2100mm-black-su…

    this stopped the sun from hitting the window at all and this made the biggest difference. during summer that room is fine to be in now. During winter you just roll it up for more light.

  • OzzyOzbourne on 03/11/2021 - 11:44
    +4

    Never understood the propensity for floor to ceiling single glazed windows in Australian houses considering the strength of the sun and the cold winters (in the south at least). Each window lets in kw's of heat in the sun and let's out heat in the winter (plus the crappy sealing around windows and doors).

    Anyhow, plenty of information on Google how to improve this and there was recently a topic on here too.

    • wallet72 on 03/11/2021 - 13:29
      +1

      yeah, and never understood why they aren't tinted when they are installed.

      Then again, I don't understand the whole steepled roof and not flat roof in our climate as well.

    • Philthy on 03/11/2021 - 22:51

      cause views

    • [Deactivated] on 05/11/2021 - 13:39

      It’s alright if they’re not copping any direct sun, but that requires careful placement and shielding, and not being on the East/West. We used to know how to do it with wide verandas.

      Crazy people are still installing single glazing new though, double glazing is so much better for comfort even with air conditioning and helps with sound.

      Regardless of size there should really be no windows copping direct sunlight on the East/West in summer on a properly designed and oriented home, but we stamp down cookie cutter homes and worse apartments with no regard for orientation.

  • surg3on on 03/11/2021 - 12:35

    Hi OP. I've had similar issues. Outside of replacing the window glass the film is you best solution and it definitely works (used a similar product myself). Best to stop the heat getting in in the first place. The other solutions such as curtains/shutters can add to the film as well.

    I'd suggest professional install unless you are supremely confident.

  • Herbse on 03/11/2021 - 12:45

    Tint the windows with tint on eBay or use the foil lined bubble wrap that comes with hello fresh boxes if you don't care what it looks like

  • wallet72 on 03/11/2021 - 13:28

    we just tinted our windows with rolls that you can buy from Bunnings. I wasn't convinced before we did it but now I'm a beliver. The heat is much reduced, and it is still bright enough inside without being full sun.

    Doing it yourself it pretty easy, but I would never pretend I could do as well as a professional.

  • Littlevu on 03/11/2021 - 13:39
    +2

    Plant a tree outside your window. If you live on the 8th floor of an apartment, get a really really tall pot.

    • John Kimble on 04/11/2021 - 20:46

      Or some magic beans?

  • trapper on 03/11/2021 - 14:24
    +1

    For radiative heat (sunshine) you are best blocking the light on the outside, curtains are too late to block it as the energy is already inside by then.

  • KevCol on 03/11/2021 - 14:36
    +1

    Buy a roll of builders Sisalation and cut into strips to fit your windows. It is more durable than Alfoil. Foil combined with bubbled roll out insulation has a higher K value but is bulky and would be difficult to make into a roller blind.
    External shading is best.
    North facing windows can be shaded with timber pergolas where the slats can be tilted to utilise seasonal sun angle changes to automatically control when you want the sun to enter your home, or use a deciduous Glory of Grape vine to achieve the same seasonal control.

  • Hangryuman on 03/11/2021 - 15:23
    +2

    yeah - absent basic information like owner or tenant, location, and aspect

    I'll guess the worst case is west-facing windows, second worst case is east facing in summer.

    radiant heat is best stopped outdoors with external shading/blinds/plants, even maybe the magnet foil if you wouldn't get complaints from strata neighbours about appearance in keeping

    once through the glass, the sun's radiant heat turns into convective heat, heating the room by rising air convection.

    if a tenant, Block Out curtains well sealed with close-fitting tops to a pelmet or fitted as high as possible to minimise the gap at the top to minimise rising air heating the room.

    if an owner and not strata, go nuts with hinky external foil shading, provided you never want to open the window for fresh air - if strata maybe seek approval for reflective tinting (recommend pay someone to do a non-ugly job)

    you DO want to open the window sometimes ? then probably block out curtains

    we ordered online for our bedroom windows from curtainsonthenet.com.au - a pair of about 200 wide (each side) x 160cm drop curtains were $136 incl delivery - not beautiful but transformed our sleep from light disturbed to wow dark and peaceful. That was about 18 mths ago and I just checked and found some light spots where the ?vinyl block out coating must be coming off, so not so durable but hey as easy as swapping curtains if you already have tracks or rods.

  • ParkingFine23 on 03/11/2021 - 15:56

    Apply the right type of film to the glass. See list of films here with their Glare Reduction and Heat Reduction.
    https://aboutwindows.com.au/tell-me-about/reducing-heat

  • seraphim2017 on 03/11/2021 - 15:59
    +1

    8 10 12 double glazing, correctly fitted, using thermal glass. you can do a whole 4 bed house in the UK for 4 grand, and yet their solar costs a ton! opposite way round here!

  • DiscoJango on 03/11/2021 - 16:01

    . Double glazed windows
    . Tinted windows
    . Blockout blinds

    Your living room will be significantly cooler with these 3 options implemented.

  • Gnilgorf on 03/11/2021 - 16:53

    Just clarifying something about double glazing, it will help reduce heat ingress, but has to be spec'd right for it to be effective.
    Not all double glazing is made equal. Thicker glass panes, wider gap, additional layers of treatment (films, coatings etc), picking more expensive inert gases for the void will have varying impacts on thermal gain.

    What often gets forgotten regarding windows is that the frames should also be 'thermally broken'.
    All the effort of putting in double glazing gets wasted if the heat enters the house via the metal window frame. With metal typically being much more thermally conductive and all that. Unfortunately, I've encountered folks who switch to double glazing but cheap out on the frame, then blame double glazing for being completely ineffective or a waste of money.

    Otherwise a lot of folks have touched upon the basic principles of preventing heat gain. i.e.
    - Stop it before it enters the the house before treating it after it does.

    As for the OP's situation, it all depends…need more info.

  • gviddy on 03/11/2021 - 19:17

    The OP says he lives in the city and people are telling him to plant trees and add awnings. Did any of you miss that info? They most likely live in an apartment facing the sun. How about somebody help them with some real alternatives? Maybe something you've tried when YOU lived in the city? :)

  • Deadalready on 03/11/2021 - 21:35
    +1

    Window tinting will massively reduce the heat entering your house in the first place, a secondary layer of heavy block out curtains will further reduce if not eliminate issues.

    I can't stress how much of a difference good window tint will change things for you though.

  • bmerigan on 03/11/2021 - 22:17
    +2

    An awning outside keeping the sun off the window is the best.
    Once the light comes in your room will heat up.
    Double glazing will stop ambient heat outside permeating through the window, but won't stop the sunlight heating whatever it shines on.

    • Gowrie29 on 04/11/2021 - 08:55

      Agree with this. Keeps the direct sun off the glass

    • Elfarol on 05/11/2021 - 11:30

      THIS - also helps stop the window frame from heating and transfering heat inside.

  • [Deactivated] on 03/11/2021 - 23:33

    WTF are blinders?

  • Gowrie29 on 04/11/2021 - 08:54

    If it is possible install an outside blind so that the direct sunlight doesn't hit the windows in the first place. It made a massive difference to me when I finally had this installed. Meant the glass didn't heat up.

  • grr1701 on 04/11/2021 - 09:42

    E-glass works really well. We used factory-made e-glass in our windows and it works a treat. You can get an after market e-glass film applied to the inside of existing glass which should work similarly.

  • Munki on 04/11/2021 - 11:03
    +1

    Just live with the heat and complain about it. It's the Aussie way.

  • pompompom on 04/11/2021 - 11:34
    +1

    Tinfoil hat.

  • Zachary on 04/11/2021 - 11:39

    Cover your windows with mirrors so they reflect the sunlight back out. problem solved.

    • vinnycol on 04/11/2021 - 19:42

      Great way to annoy the neighbours across the road!! I might try that!!

      • Zachary on 07/11/2021 - 00:44

        Well that's their problem or if you really care about them then point the mirrors somewhere else….

  • drick on 04/11/2021 - 16:18

    I rented a house and the landlord wouldn't allow us to install an aircon even though the temp upstairs used to get up into the upper 40s. then i used those cars' reflective sunshades cut up and taped together to fit the window and held in place with a little tape.
    They worked amazingly stopping most of the heat coming in through the windows.

    The Materials are really cheap and you'll find them outside most $2 shops.

  • jlev on 04/11/2021 - 18:19

    Opening the windows fully HALVES the amount of sun hitting them AND provides a way for air to exit.

  • Davo1111 on 04/11/2021 - 18:35

    Heavy curtains work well

  • funnysht on 04/11/2021 - 21:14

    Nelly had the same problem
    His solution was to take off his clothes

  • aerona on 05/11/2021 - 02:43

    Cheap solution: aluminium cooking foil and water spray bottle. Stick directly on every window

  • Elfarol on 05/11/2021 - 11:28

    Nothing beats keeping the sun out in the first place (before the sun hits the window and radiates heat inside). I have a bunch of cheap shadecloth style roll-up blinds with great success https://www.bunnings.com.au/products/curtains-blinds/outdoor… Have also tried many of the good suggestions in this thread from foil backed bubblewrap to tint to thick curtains with reflective backing and white corrugated board. They all work to varying degress (and it makes sense to employ them in concert as needed) but the single biggest difference I have seen is in keeping the sun off the window. In my case, in addition to heating the block-out blinds after entering the window, the sun also heats the window's aluminium frame turning it into a mini radiator. So I get a double benefit from external shading.

  • cnrmlj on 05/11/2021 - 17:04

    We have roller shutters on the eastern side of our house which stay down in summer until the sun is over the house. Make a huge difference. Downside is they let no light in.

    Thicker glass may work or tinting.

  • Kelvin0911 on 05/11/2021 - 17:10

    Stick an A4 sign on the windows and gently remind of the unwanted guest!

  • G K on 05/11/2021 - 19:23

    This is working for me in my old house. Only one review in bunnings is not good, but I am using it and it is working for me.

    https://www.bunnings.com.au/pillar-products-1-2-x-2-4m-cryst…

  • ahly92 on 05/11/2021 - 22:02

    How to Keep Heat from Entering House through The Windows?

    Maybe close the windows, if it still enters then install some locks…worst comes to shove, bikies?

  • c64 on 06/11/2021 - 11:33

    you need to block the sun on the outside, not on the inside. external window awnings

  • Hangryuman on 08/11/2021 - 12:51

    eeyago - $5 shadecloth outside the windows

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-04/energy-efficiency-car…

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