Quote:
Originally Posted by cmalberto
Maybe I need to look at your pics again. Yours wasn't in the window was it. I thought it was just hanging down around the cabin area down 4 ft...all the way around. Your last statement leads me to believe you have some in the window too.
It's just that the area of air between the window and reflectix has to go some..ie...leaking out. And you are right, it is area that I won't use anyways. It just seems like I need to cool it, that's all. It's a flawed mind set.
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Yep - we hadn't put the reflectix in the windows yet when I took the pics. But I'll tell ya what we did - first I cut oversized window cut-outs of reflectix. I measured the window and then left a couple inches extra all around, thinking - as you are - the tighter the fit the better the insulation and a loose fit will be meaningless.
No Velcro on these as the blinds w/ the strings held then in place securely. The problem we discovered was that it was difficult to remove the reflectix should we ever want some light or a view. But we stuck with it for about 6 months. The only other issue was that during travel they'd slide just an inch or two down, and then it was a pain to gently hold the blinds out and down while pushing the "cut too big for better insulation" reflectix back up.
So in the spring I removed the tight window reflectix and just tried some that were cut just a hair SHORTER than the window all the way around. Basically it sits in between the window and the blind and doesn't fall - but it's not tight around the edges.
It worked just as well!
I kept in mind that this is a MH I'm dealing with - so nothing is going to be airtight. While I'm sure there is some miniscule difference in temp - we never noticed and using the looser fit meant set up took seconds - not 10 minutes. And I can also move the reflectix from east to west during the day and still easily pull up a shade and have a view.
In total - here is what I insulate every camping trip:
1 - front cab curtain (and I like that idea of opening the hood)
2 - master bedroom large windows (but not the little ports on the slide)
3 - whichever living room window is getting sun (east/west)
4 - shower skylight
5 - door window (depending on heat and direction)
1-5 is all reflectix
6 - living room vent with my attic fan cover magnetic cover
7 - master bedroom vent with a seat cushion
8 - bathroom vent with pillow (also have used reflectix stuffed up there, but it's more difficult to get in place as i haven't attached any magnets or velcro to it yet)
I've also tried the pool noodles cut in half and stuffed under the slide-outs. I didn't really notice a big difference, but I'm sure it helps.
But I have to say - even loose fitting window covers, a cab cover that doesn't reach all the way down or around, a 'hot pocket' between windshield and the cab reflectix, and some old pillows in the vents - our drafty motorhome that cycled the AC or heater every 10 minutes suddenly became easily cooled/heated and felt cozy.
With that dramatic of a difference - i'm not worried about airtight or well fitting.