Bubble wrap

[unregistered65598]

Hi everyone. It's been awhile since I have posted, life has a way of screwing things up. But I would like to ask you all if you think bubble wrap up on the ceiling could provide some protection from heat loss. I am trying to find a way to keep my heating bills down this winter. I know it won't be pretty, but I really don't care about that. I was also considering lining the exterior walls with cardboard. I would paint it just to hide some of the ick factor, but I really need to keep my bills as low as I can. Thanks for any input.

[DaleK]

What's in your attic and walls? Cardboard on the walls won't help enough to cover the time spent putting it up, bubble wrap isn't much better.

[unregistered65598]

I have no idea whats in the walls or attic space as this is a rental. I am pretty sure there is nothing in the walls. It's a very old place.

[Linda J]

I would hang some quilts over the windows and the doors, or even heavy blankets. You might be able to get some wool ones at the army surplus store. Get some of those insulation things that you can put in the wall sockets, especially the outside wall ones. They sell them at the hardware stores. Put carpet on the floor. Does your water freeze up?

Good to think about this now, when it's pleasant to work on getting things ship shape for winter.

[Harry Chickpea]

Nope. Insignificant because it is only a single air bubble barrier.

How desperate are you?

Your issues (other than time) will be fire safety and pests (rodents), and landlord freaking out. If you don't mind sharing, more info is needed. Including, but not limited to... how many rooms, dimensions, how much heating budget, how much last year costs, how many people, etc.

[TNHermit]

What kind of floor do you have. If your over an uninsulated foundation you would do better to try and insulate that, because the cold foundation will literally suck the heat out. I can tell you that personally. It won't matter how well the rest is insulated. the only thing is to insulate the perimeter or lay foam on the floor

1 inch foam is about 7.00 a sheet. its easy to work and you could stick it with double stick tape or just a nail here and there. Its probably cheaper than bubble wrap. Aluminum foil on the walls will reflect the heat and give your friends something to talk about try and make a "warm room" to start and move out from there.

[unregistered65598]

Originally Posted by Harry Chickpea

Nope. Insignificant because it is only a single air bubble barrier.

How desperate are you?

Your issues (other than time) will be fire safety and pests (rodents), and landlord freaking out. If you don't mind sharing, more info is needed. Including, but not limited to... how many rooms, dimensions, how much heating budget, how much last year costs, how many people, etc.

It's a 2 bdrm, 1 bath about 750 sqf. I don't know how much the heating cost was last year as it was empty then. There are 6 people. I have a dryer that will be used a lot and I know I can vent the heat from that into the house. As for budget well I want to keep it less then 150.00 a month. Pipes are all on interior walls so they do not freeze. Landlord will not freak out as he doesn't even live in the same town. There is a large picture window in the livingroom that I plan to cover with plastic, I will cover all the windows, but just want some extra ideas. I can get all the cardboard I want for free from work. The bubble wrap would cost me about 60 bucks to do the whole ceiling. But if neither will help then no sense in doing the work.

[Lizza]

I would wrap the windows in the plastic sheeting they sell to "winterize" single paned windows (windows are horrible heat suckers). Beyond that I would try to keep only one or two rooms warm. Usually the bedroom really doesn't need to be very warm, the kitchen usually stays decently warm due to the oven, so that leaves just keeping one living area toasty, I would focus on that one room. Shut off all other rooms that aren't absolutely needed (although you didn't mention how many people/kiddos live there?).

[unregistered65598]

Originally Posted by Linda J

I would hang some quilts over the windows and the doors, or even heavy blankets. You might be able to get some wool ones at the army surplus store. Get some of those insulation things that you can put in the wall sockets, especially the outside wall ones. They sell them at the hardware stores. Put carpet on the floor. Does your water freeze up?

Good to think about this now, when it's pleasant to work on getting things ship shape for winter.

I will see what I can find for blankets and check into those wall socket things. Thank you

[unregistered65598]

Originally Posted by TNHermit

What kind of floor do you have. If your over an uninsulated foundation you would do better to try and insulate that, because the cold foundation will literally suck the heat out. I can tell you that personally. It won't matter how well the rest is insulated. the only thing is to insulate the perimeter or lay foam on the floor

1 inch foam is about 7.00 a sheet. its easy to work and you could stick it with double stick tape or just a nail here and there. Its probably cheaper than bubble wrap. Aluminum foil on the walls will reflect the heat and give your friends something to talk about try and make a "warm room" to start and move out from there.

It's hardwood floors with I am sure nothing insulation under them. I will look into picking up area rugs as I can, or maybe I can find some carpet remnants cheap.

[Lizza]

I wouldn't bother with cardboard and bubble wrap, I can't imagine it is going to help you much. Board foam insulation might?

[unregistered65598]

Originally Posted by morningstar

I would wrap the windows in the plastic sheeting they sell to "winterize" single paned windows (windows are horrible heat suckers). Beyond that I would try to keep only one or two rooms warm. Usually the bedroom really doesn't need to be very warm, the kitchen usually stays decently warm due to the oven, so that leaves just keeping one living area toasty, I would focus on that one room. Shut off all other rooms that aren't absolutely needed (although you didn't mention how many people/kiddos live there?).

Yes I plan to put up plastic. I have 2 kiddos, 1 grandson and his mommy and myself. My 2 DD's Share a room and my DS and GS share a room and then I sleep in the living room. My DD will be having her second baby in Nov. So then there will be 7 of us.

[Harry Chickpea]

The cardboard will help. Six people in that small a space will not require a lot of insulation.

CO can be cold, but the coldest days might total a couple weeks. Plan for a one room existence those days and nights, and put your extreme insulation in that room and stay there those nights.

[unregistered65598]

Originally Posted by Harry Chickpea

The cardboard will help. Six people in that small a space will not require a lot of insulation.

CO can be cold, but the coldest days might total a couple weeks. Plan for a one room existence those days and nights, and put your extreme insulation in that room and stay there those nights.

I live in the very NW part of the state the coldest days can last for a month of more. A couple of yrs ago it was -10 to -20 the whole month of Jan. All of us in one room might work. We'll have to see about that.

[TNHermit]

Originally Posted by Merks

It's hardwood floors with I am sure nothing insulation under them. I will look into picking up area rugs as I can, or maybe I can find some carpet remnants cheap.

Don't waste your time. Carpet wont help. I lived in Leadville 12 years before I came to TN you need insulation or foam down then you can lay something over it if you want. even if its only 1/2 it will be better than nothing. If you can get some straw bales and put them around the foundation. if you can find it cheap enough stack it as high as you can. specially from the wind direction.
On windy days find all the cracks where the wind comes through and foam or caulk them.
We talk about insulation all the time but i lived in a place that had 8" in the wall and 2 ft in the ceiling. Coldest house I ever lived in. Was really drafty where they couldn't put insulation and didn't do anything.. Wind is your enemy

[Lizza]

Originally Posted by Merks

Yes I plan to put up plastic. I have 2 kiddos, 1 grandson and his mommy and myself. My 2 DD's Share a room and my DS and GS share a room and then I sleep in the living room. My DD will be having her second baby in Nov. So then there will be 7 of us.

750sq ft is pretty small but I would try to close off as many rooms as you can during your really cold spells. Old quilts over windows helps too, my favorite are wool blankets over windows, scout the 2nd hand stores.

If the neighbors don't complain, I think Hermits suggestion on hay bales are your best bet, having cold wind blow under your house is going to be a really big problem, especially if you have no insulation down there.

[Terri in WV]

You could check into getting an Eden Pure. I have 2 and they work great. If the windows are covered with plastic it might be all you need, at least for most of the winter. They're safe to leave on all the time and don't run up the electric bill.

[unregistered65598]

Well I don't think the nieghbors will complain about hay bails, I will look into that. I will also see what I can find for blankets to put on the windows. As far as the eden pure, well the reviews really suck. So I will really have to think about that. Thats money I don't have to spend.

[CarolT]

Hang blankets over inside bedroom doors to help keep the heat in your heated area. However you heat the area, get solid bricks or cast iron irons (antique ones for ironing clothes) and put them against the heat source. Right before going to bed, wrap one in a towel and put at your feet. Makes the cold bed easier to bear :-)

[unregistered65598]

Thank you all for all your advice, I am going to see what I can make work for us. You all are really great!