DIY Window Thermopanes Using Insulated Foam Board

During cold winters, a substantial part of the money you spend on heat is floating out your windows and into the sky. Particularly if you have older, single-pane or leaky windows in your home, you can save a lot on heating by inserting rigid foam insulation panels into your windows at night. You can even leave them in north facing windows or windows in rooms that are rarely used and save even more heat.

Rigid foam panels, 2 inches thick by 2 by 8 feet
Measuring tape
Utility knife
Straight edge
Duct tape

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the size of the window you're insulating. Take the measurements from the inside face of the window frame since this is where the panel will be inserted.
- 2
  Transfer the dimensions to the face of a rigid foam panel. Draw the shape and size of the window on the panel using a pencil and a straightedge. For insulating large windows with dimensions that are larger than a sheet of foam, duct tape two sheets together by applying duct tape to both sides of the joint between them.
- 3
  Cut out the shape of the window with a sharp utility knife. For a tight fit, angle the blade of the utility knife slightly outward. This will make one face of the panel slightly larger than the other. When you put the panel into the window, press the smaller face of the panel in first, facing outward, and the angled sides will make firm contact with the frame of the window.
- 4
  Install the panels at night when the sun goes down by pressing them firmly into the windows. Remove them in the morning to benefit from the heat of the sun. Keep them stored in a closet or a corner during the day.

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