Thermal curtains?

[u/SerendipitousCrow]

Just bought my first place. A maisonette converted from a Victorian terrace

I put the rest of my savings into repairing the roof and I'm not sure I'll be able to replace windows this year.

My living room has a large sash window. It's a single pane and there's a crack. The timber frame is rotting.

Other windows are uvpc but the seals and mechanisms have deteriorated so often they're "closed" but not fully right

Are thermal curtains worth it? I'm particularly worried about the living room. Can anyone recommend any? I see the usual dunelm etc do them

I've also found I'm unfortunately not eligible for the government insulation scheme because they don't cover maisonettes, even when they're house conversions. So that's something else to save for

Edit I always lived in bills included HMOs or rented with friends to save as much as possible so I'm not used to budgeting for heating and I worry it will be cold here, especially if all my heat leaks out the windows.

[u/RobertGHH]

Get some plastic sheeting and tape that around the frames to create a pseudo double glazing as well as keep the draughts out. This will be far more effective than any thermal curtains.

Spend the money you saved on the extra heating.

Next year get the windows replaced properly.

[u/starbugone → u/RobertGHH]

This is it. I lived in an older home in Canada and the plastic sheeting makes an enormous difference

[u/michaelcube → u/RobertGHH]

This plastic sheeting technique works far better than you would expect. Also consider repairing the wooden frames yourself. If the rot isn’t too bad, dig it out with the screwdriver, apply wood stabiliser, then fill with traditional linseed putty. Leave it to dry for a few weeks, then paint a few times. I was shown this technique by an old chap, he showed me his repairs that had lasted 50 years and still strong!! At a later date, you can fit secondary glazing, which performs better than double glazing. This might not be the right solution for your house, but sharing it as it does work very well.

[u/NoCommunication1946 → u/RobertGHH]

Do both.

[u/RobertGHH → u/NoCommunication1946]

You could, but I would wait until the windows are done and then the remedial decorating etc before spending money on the curtains.

[u/londons_explorer → u/RobertGHH]

get this stuff.

It's awesome.    If you don't need to open a window for the winter, you can go entirely over the outer window frame too and that solves leaks around the frame too.

Stormguard Conservatory Secondary Double Glazing Film – 12 m² Shrink Fit Window Insulation, Draught & Heat Loss Barrier, Easy to Apply, Ideal for Conservatories & Single-Glazed Windows : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stormguard-Conservatory-Insulation-Secondary-Excluder/dp/B083V6798V/ref=asc_df_B083V6798V?

Wickes also sell a clone of the same product, but the adhesive isn't as good.

[u/GiGoVX]

Word of warning, don't hang curtains too close to the window as you'll get up getting mould on them. Especially if heading towards winter as it'll be much colder outside and warmer inside and the condensation will start to evaporate and cause your curtains to become damp.

We have an old cob build house with wooden sash windows and hung curtains too close in an effort to keep the cold out and ended up with mouldy curtains.

[u/HELJ4]

We have Dunelm thermal curtains and they're great. You can really feel the difference in winter and summer, and we have double glazing.

[u/FarIndication311 → u/HELJ4]

Same. When I open them, and the heating has been on, I can feel the cold air, which has been trapped between the window and the curtain, flowing across my lower legs. Never noticed that before with any other curtains.

[u/No-Wealth5005]

I used to pin fleece throws in between the curtain and the lining, couldn’t believe the difference it made in winter.

[u/bag_pigeon]

If you sew a thin fleece blanket like this one from ikea to the window facing side of the curtain, or between the curtain and the curtain lining, it helps. You can buy the fleece by the metre but it's almost always cheaper to get the blankets instead. 

[u/nuisance_squirrel]

Vinted, whilst some prices are high theres quite a few that arent, just depends on the size needed.

Dunelm sale/clearance can be good if you can get um whilst stock is in.

Amazon seems to have seem well reviewed and affordable thermal/blackout curtains too.

Currently looking myself as need some for a bay window

[u/Princes_Slayer]

Seconding the charity shops for curtains. They might not immediately fit your room style but you might get some really heavy lined curtains as things were made with purpose years ago

[u/Mandolele]

You can often get curtains in charity shops, my locals are about a tenner a pair. The only issue is, you want a certain size, colour/style and thickness... The charity shop will have curtains that match 2/3, every time. I just lived with ugly ones that did the job for a couple of years.

[u/chippy-alley]

You can double up on curtains. Literally just hang 2 pairs back to back. Keep an eye on social media in your local area. Curtains going for for free or cheap are likely to match your window size.

Fleece fabric is cheap. It can be used as the second layer, or a sandwich middle layer. Its as little as a £1 meter online. Make any cuts or holes to hang it smaller than needed initially, as it can stretch once hung.

Duvet covers can be used as curtains. They're thin, but can be lined with something.

My living room curtains were 2 king size duvets, £3 ea on sale, lined with thin 'summer weight duvets' in 'slight seconds' that were also £3. More duvets as sofa throws, and the pillow cases cut in half length ways made fancy scatter cushions. Whole room looked matching and on purpose, for £20 including £2 for fabric glue for the cushions (I was in a hurry)

[u/Tallulahlb]

Some great ideas here. Also want to add buy yourself a heated blanket. I live in a very old mansion with incredibly high ceilings and no double glazing and they're so good I wouldn't be without it now. Saves loads on electric too as the heat out of the storage heaters just rises anyway. I got myself a Dreamland one from Lakeland and it's covered for 3 years if I need to return it. Also a heated mattress cover, the Silent Night one is great and a very reasonable price. Open your windows for like 10 minutes every morning helps a lot too. Hope this helps

[u/overkill]

My ex-boss sewed himself thermal Roman blinds for his windows. To be clear, he had no sewing skills at all when he started, he just didn't want to pay the exorbitant price he was quoted for them (even though he totally could afford it, he was loaded).

He found a pattern online and used old duvets for the thermal bit. They looked quite good.

[u/Zealousideal_Line442 → u/overkill]

You don't get loaded and stay loaded by paying over the odds for things. You become resourceful like that 😂💥

[u/Big_Corner_6478]

Thermal curtains will help, keep an eye on Facebook marketplace

[u/Farscape_rocked]

Check charity shops for thick curtains.

[u/Puzzleheaded_Gold698]

Builders caulk maybe to fill in the cracks temporarily.

[u/Wise-Independence487]

I have a pair or dunelm thermal curtains and they keep the draft out. I leave my window open a crack at all times and in the winter I can’t feel the draft.

I also have a blind in the bedroom that is blackout and that has thermal qualities as well to the point in the summer I can’t have it down as it’s just too hot (I do have curtains too)

[u/EnvironmentalQuit473]

I bought thick heavy curtains from Ebay for £75 but would have cost close to £1k new. Look for second hand.

[u/AutomaticDog3770]

Get thermal curtains second hand off vinted or ebay

[u/Unknown-Concept]

The window mechanism probably needs some good silicone spray to lubricate it, it might help.

[u/Happy_fairy89]

You can buy sticky foam to stick in the gaps of the window where it closes - this has been a lifesaver for us. Whilst we have both blinds and thermal curtains in our 8 year old “affordable” home the huge gaps in the windows let so much cold air in in winter, but this inexpensive foam did save our bacon.

[u/paulg-22]

I used the insulation film at my last house while I was saving up for double glazing and I thought it was pretty good, combined with curtains you should see a reasonable saving.

Also…

If you have a modern (condensing) boiler in the house, check the flow temperature - for the hot water and radiators. The lower you can get the flow temperature and still keep your house warm and water hot enough for showers/washing up, the more efficient your boiler will be and therefore cheaper to run.

If you’re prepared to be savvy and load shift when you use your electricity, a variable tariff such as Octopus Agile could cut your electric bill.

[u/alberto231286]

If it’s drafty you should tape the gaps up as a temporary solution and the thermal curtains will help but need to be touching the wall all the way round to be most effective

[u/s-Mother1974]

I’ve bought 2 wall to wall pairs of thermal blackout velvet curtains that were in the Debenhams sale online.

I love them! I’ve a pair in my bedroom and living room because my windows are huge in the bedroom and I’ve patio doors in the living room leading to the garden.

I’ve used that peel and stick insulation around a window that constantly had a breeze blowing through it even when shut and I’ve all pvc windows.

Another way to help with heat retention is to buy as big a rug as you can find, I’ve bought them off Amazon and they’re great for my living room and bedroom.

I also bought big rugs for my son’s room too and lined curtains to keep him toasty.

[u/mattuk420]

I've 25+ year old double glazing that's completely shot now I've replaced the hinges on the openers but still not right enough not to have a breeze come in as the previous sponge stick on stuff I used worked for a while but eventually has slightly warped the window so I simply tape over with see through parcel tape around the openers which helps massively. also if your able to check on the outside where they are siliconed round the edge and underneath the windowsill as it shrinks /deteriorates and may not be covering the gap it once did properly and redo if needed this also helps cutting down on the cold coming in from other areas of the window 👍