Solar Window Inserts

Step 6 Attaching upper flap valve.

Now, we need a piece of light weight plastic as wide as the frame and 1/2 - 1" higher than the vent opening for the valve. We will trim any excess valve material upon completion. I used mylar here again because I had it and it is extremely light. Plastic trash can liner will also work. You need to have one good straight edge to but up against the trim molding edge. Carefully align the edge of the plastic with the edge of the molding at the bottom of the upper vent. When you are satisfied that there is not too much resistance to interfere with the flap opening and closing freely, staple the valve along the top edge only. Test the valve action again to make sure nothing got out of alignment. Satisfied? Good, now we can complete the project by adding the third piece of trim molding that we set aside in the last step to the top of the outlet vent. As with the last step, I drilled and screwed this piece to the frame.

If you picture a pet door in your door that swings in and out as your pet comes and goes, you can get the idea of what we're doing here. The flap needs to swing to and fro easily, just like the pet door.

Comments

[littleangels]

You should monitor you fresh air intake to make sure that you are getting enough 'fresh air' as not to fall victim to carbon monoxide poisoning.
I live i a mobile home as well, and these are not built as "houses". The gas pipes are right under your floor, and although the homes are built to have 'give', gas pipes aren't.... So you may have small gas leaks and not even be aware.
Just be careful.
Fantastic idea, though!

[Rafael61]

This looks like a nice project and relatively easy to undertake. I wonder how it worked during 2009-2010 Winter and what your outside temperatures were.

Good work, sir !

[gramcraker]

That's pretty cool. I didn't notice, have you had a cold winter to try this out yet? I would suggest making the upper inner rail a bit taller(or the trim a bit shorter) leaving a little more room for the upper control vent to seal across the frame's width without needing to be as precisely placed.

[Slezridr]

Actually, it is late Oct. and winter is just starting, but I do have some performance input.
Since I have such a snug fit in the window frame, I decided to cover the insert's exterior facing frame with the clear heat shrink window covering kit. I believe it increased the efficiency considerably, as it is heating just the existing room air and not the cold window air. Just the other morning, at 10:00 am, the outside temp. was in the low 40's and I was getting 96 deg. out of the window insert, while getting 84 deg. from the external solar panel. I have noted 110 deg. from the insert from earlier observations. At that time, the external panel was contributing 180 deg. to my bedroom and the room temp reached 75 deg. (heaven). I have a really low tolerance for cold temps.