# Is UV Window Film Worthwhile? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 16, 2019, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-uv-window-film-worthwhile/840314 "2019-09-16T14:50:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-uv-window-film-worthwhile/840314/1 "2019-09-16T14:50:10Z")
After being quoted $30k for impact-rated windows with UV protection, I’ve decided to explore some cheaper temporary options. All I’ve seen online about UV blocking film for windows says that it’s good for reducing heat in the house. I’m skeptical since all these sources have a vested interest. Does anyone here have experience with this? Any advice or recommendations? I live in SW FLA, so heat is almost an all-year situation. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-uv-window-film-worthwhile/840314/2 "2019-09-16T15:11:25Z")
Yes it works. I have put the film on existing windows and I have French doors and windows with a coating that clearly is having some effect. The most effective UV blockers I know aren’t totally transparent though, those are sometimes implemented as roll up blinds instead of applied directly to the window. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-uv-window-film-worthwhile/840314/3 "2019-09-16T15:13:55Z")
I live in Las Vegas. I just put some film on my 12 NW-facing garage door windows this past May. My garage was noticeably cooler all summer than it had been in previous summers. Like, 10-15 F (2-3 C) cooler than previously. I used Gila brand (bought at Home Depot) and found it easy to install. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-uv-window-film-worthwhile/840314/4 "2019-09-16T20:06:50Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > I live in Las Vegas. I just put some film on my 12 NW-facing garage door windows this past May. My garage was noticeably cooler all summer than it had been in previous summers. Like, 10-15 F (2-3 C) cooler than previously. > > I used Gila brand (bought at Home Depot) and found it easy to install. Hah! that’s exactly the rand I was looking at. What is the application fluid? I heard someone say that it was just soapy water. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-uv-window-film-worthwhile/840314/5 "2019-09-16T20:51:34Z")
[Moderating] Questions like “What percentage of UV does it block?”, or “How much would it decrease heating of the house?” would be factual questions. Questions like “Is it worth it?” or “Any advice?” are not. Moving from GQ to IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-uv-window-film-worthwhile/840314/6 "2019-09-16T21:27:30Z")
Pardon me for asking, but Infrared is where most of the heat gain comes from, rather than UV. Or did I not pay attention to the light spectrum? UV will fade your fabrics though. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-uv-window-film-worthwhile/840314/7 "2019-09-16T21:48:48Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > Pardon me for asking, but Infrared is where most of the heat gain comes from, rather than UV. Or did I not pay attention to the light spectrum? For sunlight, the peak is in the visible light, not infrared, but there is a some UV. See [spectrum here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunlight#/media/File:Solar_spectrum_en.svg). But I think those “UV blocking” films also block infrared. And there are films that also block a large fraction of visible light as well. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-uv-window-film-worthwhile/840314/8 "2019-09-16T21:59:35Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > Hah! that’s exactly the rand I was looking at. What is the application fluid? I heard someone say that it was just soapy water. It’s really just de-ionized water, I think. I bought the little installation kit and found it all worked great. The trimming tool was way better than trying to do it with a razor blade/knife. I tried using an Xacto knife on one window to see but I stopped after the 2nd side. Also, the kit comes with a little squeegee tool to help push the air/water bubbles out which worked better than my PVC nylon putty knife. Very worth the cost, IMO. I think all total I spent like $30; that’s 1/1000th what you were quoted for new windows. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-uv-window-film-worthwhile/840314/9 "2019-09-17T12:32:19Z")
Now the hardest part: getting off my ass and doing it. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-uv-window-film-worthwhile/840314/10 "2019-09-17T14:15:25Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > For sunlight, the peak is in the visible light, not infrared, but there is a some UV. See [spectrum here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunlight#/media/File:Solar_spectrum_en.svg). > > But I think those “UV blocking” films also block infrared. And there are films that also block a large fraction of visible light as well. When I had my Avalon windows tinted I chose a non-darkening but Infrared blocking film for the windshield. I can tell the difference if I hold my arm out the open window. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-uv-window-film-worthwhile/840314/11 "2019-09-17T14:39:19Z")
UV film will be clearer and will mostly help with preventing UV light from fading colors. It won’t help much with heat. Heat blocking film will often be darker or reflective to prevent heat. From what I remember, most of the heat in light is split between the infrared and visible spectrum. UV light contributes just a small amount to heat. The more expensive heat blocking film will be clearer to visible light but still be able to reflect a lot of IR. The cheaper film may have a mirror-like appearance or be darker and may block more visible light. But they all should help reduce heat. The film will typically say what percent of light it blocks, which should give you an indication of how much heat will be blocked. If you have windows which get a lot of light, putting up film which blocks some visible light will help reduce the bright glare from that window. This might be beneficial in windows in bedrooms or whatever where bright light itself can be a problem. Make sure you clean your windows really well. They recommend using a razor blade over the whole window to ensure there is nothing stuck to it. And try to make the environment as dust and hair free when you put up the film. You don’t want some cat hairs in the air to end up behind the film when you’re installing it. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-uv-window-film-worthwhile/840314/12 "2019-09-17T14:47:17Z")
I’m thinking IR blocking as well. Isn’t ordinary window glass already a pretty good UV blocker? ISTR UV lamps have to be made of quartz glass for that reason. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-uv-window-film-worthwhile/840314/13 "2019-09-17T17:06:13Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > I’m thinking IR blocking as well. Isn’t ordinary window glass already a pretty good UV blocker? ISTR UV lamps have to be made of quartz glass for that reason. B and C but not A unless treated. Windshields block A but not side windows. [Cite1](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19614895). [Cite2](https://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q12082.html). ---
**Author:** ![MeanJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanjoe/32/5693_2.png) [@MeanJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanJoe)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-uv-window-film-worthwhile/840314/14 "2019-09-17T17:16:24Z")
Our backyard is south facing and in full sun all day. We have a large storm door that is basically just a small frame and all glass. The glass is Low-E and reflects heat. I cannot detect any noticeable heat transmission into the home when the sun is shining through the door. If you put your hand on the floor where there is a block of sunlight there is no noticeable warmth of the area. Same with the exterior door that the storm door is protecting. It is pretty darn amazing. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-uv-window-film-worthwhile/840314/15 "2019-09-17T17:55:02Z")
I put some privacy film on the window on my front door. Installation was surprisingly easy. Hardest part was just separating the film from the backing. Cleaned the glass really good, sprayed it and the film down with soapy water, used the supplied squeegee to flatten it out and squeeze out air bubbles. Immediately after installation, there were a lot of little bubbles, even after squeegeeing, but after about a day the soapy water evaporated away and almost all of the bubbles went with it. ---
**Author:** ![Scoobysnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Scoobysnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoobysnax)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-uv-window-film-worthwhile/840314/16 "2019-09-17T20:08:56Z")
When we first bought our house here is SoCal the dining room had a 7’x12’ west facing door/window. It was single pane glass so in the afternoon it got very warm. We bought UV tint film from Home Depot and installed it ourselves using the company’s kit. It was easy and quite effective. Just make sure that you clean your windows really well. We went over the glass with a razor blade to remove everything.