Winterized Windows

These winterized windows are making me very very uncomfortable and unhappy. I know that I have a mild form of claustrophobia. It's not the "I can't ride in an elevator" kind. It's the kind when I first walk into a place I immediately notice if there are windows are not.

Years ago I went to join a gym in Los Angeles and you walked in off the street and there was the front desk and when they took you for a tour they took you downstairs and there were no windows because you were underground. I couldn't even concentrate on what the guy was telling me who was giving me the tour. I just keep looking at the block walks and feeling creepy.

When I would to go the Apple Store in the Canoga Park Mall I was okay because I could look out of the store front and see the mall skylight. I can walk into a store that doesn't have any windows but I am not likely to do any amount of shopping in there.

As a kid, my favorite aunt was claustrophobic. She would not pass a big truck on the highway, even though she drove a big ass Cadillac. And she would never get in an elevator. I remember when we would go somewhere with her we would all have to take the stairs, which didn't make much sense to me because sometimes those stair wells were small and had no windows. I personally think it was the least of two evils for my dear aunt.

Even though I can see out of my windows I can't open them and that bothers me. It feels like a weight on my chest. I have always, as long as I can remember, lived in places where I can open the windows. I love windows open and air flowing in and out. I don't care if it is hot air or cold air.. it's air and it flowing. And with my windows winterized there isn't any air flowing and it bothers me.

Yesterday I couldn't take it any longer so I unwinterized one of the windows. Wow, I could feel my energy change. I got excited and happy and I don't care how much my heating bill will be. I'll gladly pay for the happiness in heating $$$s if I have to.

This is a picture that I took from the first snow storm that we had. My first 6 inches of snow. The weather guy says we may have some snow showers tomorrow and/or Tuesday. But nothing like we have had in the past.

Ciao

Winterizing Windows

This is my first time winterizing windows and I hope it will be my last. What a chore! You definitely don't do this kind of stuff in the south or the west coast.

This is only done to older homes. You wouldn't do it in the south because it doesn't get cold enough and you wouldn't do it on the west coast because it doesn't get cold enough and all of the homes are new. If someone purchases a home that is 50+ years old, in California, there is a 95% chance it will be torn down and rebuilt.

Here in Pennsylvania it's rare to find a newly built home. It's common to find homes 100 and even 200 years old. The home I am currently renting was built in the 1920's. So it is almost 90 years old. I don't think that they knew about insulating homes in the 1920's so most of them don't have any insulation. Like the one I am currently renting.

I am learning a ton about homes here in Pennsylvania and I am glad that I chose to rent for a year before purchasing. When next spring comes and I am ready to purchase I will know exactly what to look for.

The picture is exactly what my windows look like. You put a strip of this double sided tape along the top, side, middle and bottom of the window. Then you take this clear plastic and place it over the windows and press down on the double sided tape. Then you take the blow dryer and go over the plastic so that it shrinks tightly on the window. It was an extra chore for us because we had to remove the crap that the old tenants had put on the window. Which included some of this double sided tape, a caulking type of junk and some foam shit. My fingers are tried from picking and pealing and I even used a scraper at some point.

I now know that if I purchase an older home I am going to have to factor in the cost of new windows. The newer windows have a double pane so you don't have to worry about this plastic stuff.

Well, I can't type any more today.... as I mentioned my fingers are tried from picking and peeling.

Ciao