Insulating Apartment Windows: Tips + Ideas for Renters
Insulating your apartment windows can help make your space more energy-efficient, comfortable, and budget-friendly. But if you’re renting the apartment you’re currently in, you might not want to splurge on expensive solutions for a drafty space that isn’t your forever home.
Thankfully, though, there are a few ways to keep your apartment more energy-efficient with affordable, easy-to-install options available. We’ll break down a few of our favorite ways to insulate apartment windows here.
Why Bother with Insulation?
Whether you’ve just moved into a new apartment or lived in your home for a few years, it’s a good idea to inspect your windows on an annual basis to ensure that they’re providing your space with a well-ventilated and well-insulated environment.
Windows play an important role in protecting the home’s building envelope. To keep the home well-sealed, windows and doors require regular maintenance to stay functional.
Any air leaks in your window design can result in higher utility bills during the winter or summer. They also make it harder to call your apartment your “home sweet home” when you’re never quite comfortable with the temperature.
“If your existing windows are in good condition, taking steps to reduce the energy loss through windows can make your home more comfortable and save you money on energy bills,” according to Energy.gov.
You can inspect the windows and doors to see if there are any leaks or gaps that need attention. “See if you can rattle them, since movement means possible air leaks. If you can see daylight around a door or window frame, then the door or window leaks. You can usually seal these leaks by caulking or weather-stripping them,” suggest experts at Energy.gov.
Options for Insulating Windows
There are a few products and methods that make it easy for anyone to insulate their windows for optimal functionality — even if you have a smaller budget.
Rope Caulking
If you’re in a pinch, rope caulking is a rubber-based rope material that offers a cheap yet effective solution for sealing bigger gaps in windows. There are a few brands of rope caulking out there to choose from. Simply follow the instructions on the product packaging for installation.
Bubble Wrap Insulation
Bubble wrap offers another quick and budget-friendly solution for apartment-dwellers. While it might not be the most stylish strategy for insulation, placing the bubble side of the material against wet glass will add a layer of protection to the windows. “The still layer of air trapped in the bubbles gives a cheap double-glazed-type effect,” scientist Jenny Edwards told ABC Radio.
Thermal Curtains
Thermal curtains feature a special lining that helps trap warm air inside the layers of fabric. They also offer a more aesthetically appealing solution to apartment dwellers. For optimal impact, any curtains you select will need to cover the length and width of the entire window.
Window Inserts
Window inserts are an easy-to-install and more permanent solution for insulation, in which a panel is simply inserted on top of the original window. Window inserts can be a more expensive option than bubble wrap or caulking, but their custom sizes and durable features make them a viable long-term option for insulating apartment windows.
“With any efficiency improvements, take steps to ensure proper installation and check for air leaks again after making the improvement,” suggests Energy.gov.
Simple Solutions for Your Space
There are a few ways that you can improve the comfort and livability of your apartment, and insulating windows is an easy way to help. If you’re after more dependable, long-term solutions, window inserts from Indow offer a few benefits:
- They’re made of durable materials that went through third party testing
- They provide effective insulation to protect older windows from air leaks and moisture.
- They prevent heat transfer in the building envelope.
- The inserts also offer soundproofing from external noise, for a more comfortable indoor environment.
- They are backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
We know that you might not be willing to pay for inserts if you are only living in your apartment for a brief period of time. However, you can have a conversation with your landlord to get them onboard. If they invest in Indow inserts, they will be giving their property an upgrade that will benefit future tenants. These inserts can quickly become a selling point for them, which would benefit them in the long run.
If you do plan on staying in your apartment for a long period of time and decide to buy these inserts yourself, you’ll certainly be getting a bang for your buck. Our inserts will provide you with comfort for years to come, and you can order and install them whenever you’d like.
The team of innovators at Indow works hard to create the best and most effective window inserts on the market, improving the performance of windows in apartments, homes, and commercial buildings everywhere.
Our window inserts are available across the U.S. and Canada, and we offer a free estimate to help plan your insulation project.
Customer Reviews
4.49 Average 1505 Reviews
Anonymous
WE just took delivery of the two window inserts we ordered. they both fit perfectly. The most difficult part of the process was me trying to hold the laser measuring device still while taking the diaginal measurment! The Indow team was helpful and the ordering process was catch free. the finished product is just as they described. once installed, you can not even tell that they are there. I will warn you, if you have larger sizes they will come in a pretty large packing crate/box to protect them so be prepared. The only reason for 4 stars insted of 5 is they have just been istalled and we shall see how effective they are at reducing cold air, but they fit so snug that I anticipate they will be very effective. Just in time too, because our area is in a low temp/low wind chill pattern at the moment.
Craig F
The Indow I ordered was a perfect fit. It looks great and is an extremely well made product. The ordering process was seamless.
Catherine J
Noise reduction by at least 50%! I cannot hear most car that drives by now. My bedroom is so quiet! Thank you!
Walter M
Easy to order and install.
Dianne F
Window inserts help with sound since I live facing the street and the highway
Dianne
This is a 5 star company from beginning to end. I purchased the I inserts in 2017 because the bedroom on the second story faced the street. These are very effective for street noise. Noticed a problem on one of the windows recently and they quickly took care of it due to their warranty. Customer service personnel are very helpful. The price of the windows was acceptable for top quality of sleep and less noise during the day
Charles C
Recently purchased the acoustic window inserts for a couple of old windows facing a busy street and they've made a huge difference in terms of noise reduction! The measuring process was relatively easy with the laser measuring tool that Indow sent and the windows were delivered faster than expected. Martin was easy to work with and we would highly recommend Indow to those looking for window inserts.
Dean C
Installed noise canceling acrylic Indow window inserts to deal with the road noise at my condo, 4 lane state road is 40 feet from the condo. Expensive custom fit, but oh my gosh, they cut the noise by 75%! Decibel meter app I trust shows a 6 Decibel noise reduction, average Db over 30 minutes. Turns out 6 Db is letting only 25% of noise through! I am one happy camper…
Harry T
The Indow team was great from start to finish! They were very clear about each step. After installing the inserts my home has been significantly while still preserving the fabulous city views. For anyone who lives in a noisy street or city like NYC I would highly recommend it. Leave the chaos outside and come home to piece and quiet.
Paula S
From start to finish, we were very pleased with our rep, Reed, and the other staff at the PDX will call! The inserts themselves are stupendous! We purchased six total for the noisiest, road side(s) of our home. The outcome was beyond our expectations! Not only did the three rooms that bordered the road become at least 70% quieter, the other end of our home did as well! I cannot recommend Indow inserts more! The technology makes sense to add the inserts rather than purchasing new windows. Great results and thank you! Paul and Paula Spilsbury
JD
Brian was very helpful & informative. He helped me order the correct windows for my needs. They were shipped with the utmost of care & arrived ahead of schedule. Ultimately, the Indow Windows have been very helpful in muffling unwanted noises & they have helped save on our energy costs. Thank you, Indow Window!
Cynthia M
Very happy with the reduction in noise. Easy to install and use. Great customer service.
Juli E
We are thrilled with our Indow window inserts! I'd been on the lookout for a more permanent solution to leaky windows in our third floor living space. I discovered Indow on social media but since then have learned of friends who'd had Indow recommended to them by their rennovation contractor. The entire process went smoothly with friendly reps at hand to talk through questions during measuring, etc. They fit perfectly and help us to maintain the beautiful design of the windows on our 100 year old home! Highly recommend!!
Jen F
Worth the money!
Elizabeth H
For townhouse living, this solved my problem with noise from my neighbor's with my kitchen window. A considerable decrease of noise indeed! Measurements were a bit frustrating so I recommend using a laser measurement device and following directions to use a string for the diagonal. They look great and were easy to push into place. I highly recommend as an alternative to buying a new window.