Window Inserts

[yddeyma]

I own a couple of rental properties that are older homes (60s).  We live in GA, so my concern is mostly keeping the heat out of the house.  I paid to have attic insulation put in, and the houses all have blinds.  The windows are all in pretty decent condition, but are all single pane and not very energy efficient.  I have had one renter complain about high energy bills.  And I just purchased a third rental of the same era and am appalled at the energy cost this month ($125 for 1500sf, and I have the thermostat set to 60, gas heat, electric water heater, no one is living in the house yet). 

I just can't see spending the money on new windows, but would like to do an insert of some type if that will help.  I've found several DIY folks claiming you can make a good insert with a wooden frame and some thin plastic sheets (the kind that come in a roll).  Commercial inserts start at about $75 each and have a thick plastic panel (like plexiglass or some such).  The ready made ones seem pricey enough that it seems silly to buy them instead of putting that money toward new windows.

To give you an idea of what I'm after, here are links for the DIY and the purchase options:
https://www.windowinserts.com/home.php
http://www.arttec.net/Thermal-Windows/

I'm willing to put in the time to build some custom window inserts myself, but I am just not sure how good flexible sheet plastic would be or if it helps enough to be worth the time and energy to build the inserts.  If you've got links to better DIY options, please share!  Or if you think my high energy bill for the third rental is due to some other reason, please send ideas.

[zolotiyeruki]

Another option is reflective window film--it goes on with soapy water, and acts as window tint.  It'll probably be more beneficial in summer, when it will reflect radiant heat more, but it's fairly easy, almost unnoticeable, and cheap.

[Josiecat]

I have an old house. The windows are original and I'm not replacing them for historic preservation reasons. I'm thinking about buying these window inserts too.

[yddeyma]

Has anyone tried these and know how well they actually work?

[PatStab]

We are working on an old rent house now, built in 1910.  A lot of the walls are solid boards. but my husband is going to insulate the attic and side walls.  We haven't decided yet to do it from the inside or the outside.  Drywall isn't that hard to repair, the outside you can put the round buttons in but since it has siding I think would look pretty tacky. 

I am working on redoing the windows, I am taking them apart, stripping them, reglazing them, then staining on the inside and painting on the outside. The top pane has 4 or 5 on some windows of panels so
lot and lots of work.  We do have storm windows in this house so I'm also stripping the frame, priming and repainting that part.  I'm putting spray foam in the top and bottom of the weight cavities, but these look like they are well cased so not a lot of air infiltration, its around the storm windows and the frame sides.  Am also putting in new ropes so the weights work again.  So far I have completed the living room there were 5 windows and a door frame to strip, very, very, very labor intensive. Have done about half of 1 bedroom window, I stopped for the winter, just to cold, its 17 here today.  Once I'm done they
will be pretty warm again.  Now having said that if it is just the windows you could use plastic but it would not be very aesthetically pleasing. Does it have a basement?  We are going to insulate under the floor and also around the top part of the foundation in the basement.  We figured if the house is energy efficient then the tenants can afford to pay the rent!!  The furnace is only about 10 years old but we are going to replace the AC unit in the spring, it is old.  Since my husband is still working this is just a project he is working on as he goes along.  I will paint the garage and have the trees trimmed in the spring.  It may take us a year to fix it, but that's ok, we enjoy doing this stuff.  It will be a little doll house when we are done.  Already had a new metal roof put on and gutters.  We have had rentals for years and take good care of them.  We still own a duplex in Texas, the tenants asked we don't sell that one, one lady has lived there 14 years, the other 8 and they want to stay.  We keep everything well maintained. I screen heavily upfront and had 1 eviction in 15 years.  Supply a good home that has affordable utilities and generally, not always, you will get good renters. I always talk to much, so sorry I did again.  The internet is a great release for me as I am pretty isolated with DD and this is where I have a lot of fun and interaction with others.