# It's so cold my bedroom window broke **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 7, 2013, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-so-cold-my-bedroom-window-broke/675731 "2013-12-07T05:13:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrogance_ex_machina/32/192_2.png) [@Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrogance_Ex_Machina)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-so-cold-my-bedroom-window-broke/675731/21 "2013-12-08T06:05:37Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Just wanted to say, many years ago it got so cold one night it cracked the rear view mirror on my car in two. That also happened around -30C. Brrr! I had this happen as well when I was borrowing my parent’s car. It was only -25 C or so but that was enough - the temperature had dropped a lot during the night, I guess that made it break. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-so-cold-my-bedroom-window-broke/675731/22 "2013-12-08T06:05:59Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Um, hello, duct tape. Scrap off any frost with a razor knife. Wipe clean. tape window. for that matter, gorilla glue. It’s water activated and will foam fill the crack. [This is the shrink wrap window film](http://www.amazon.com/3M-Indoor-Window-Insulator-5-Window/dp/B00002NCJI) I was talking about. It included double-sided tape to tape the film to the window frame, then you use a blow dryer to heat the film and it shrinks and tightens. I’ve used it before, and it creates a very nice insulated barrier that still lets the light in. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-so-cold-my-bedroom-window-broke/675731/23 "2013-12-08T06:11:25Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > [This is the shrink wrap window film](http://www.amazon.com/3M-Indoor-Window-Insulator-5-Window/dp/B00002NCJI) I was talking about. It included double-sided tape to tape the film to the window frame, then you use a blow dryer to heat the film and it shrinks and tightens. I’ve used it before, and it creates a very nice insulated barrier that still lets the light in. yep. used it years ago. ---
**Author:** ![MoodIndigo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@MoodIndigo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoodIndigo1)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-so-cold-my-bedroom-window-broke/675731/24 "2013-12-08T06:53:38Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > [This is the shrink wrap window film](http://www.amazon.com/3M-Indoor-Window-Insulator-5-Window/dp/B00002NCJI) I was talking about. It included double-sided tape to tape the film to the window frame, then you use a blow dryer to heat the film and it shrinks and tightens. I’ve used it before, and it creates a very nice insulated barrier that still lets the light in. I’ve used that too, but I’d be wary of using a blow dryer on a very cold window that is already weakened. I’ve used it on an older window that was not quite airtight. Does anyone have experience using it on a broken window? ---
**Author:** ![Caneknife](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dec6dc/32.png) [@Caneknife](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caneknife)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-so-cold-my-bedroom-window-broke/675731/25 "2013-12-08T09:43:59Z")
Ahhh cold weather, I wish, it’s hot as hell where I’m in Australia , I love cold weather, would love to swap weather ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-so-cold-my-bedroom-window-broke/675731/26 "2013-12-08T09:51:18Z")
I’d think splitting the difference would work better. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-so-cold-my-bedroom-window-broke/675731/27 "2013-12-08T13:34:24Z")
> [@MoodIndigo1](#): > > I’ve used that too, but I’d be wary of using a blow dryer on a very cold window that is already weakened. I’ve used it on an older window that was not quite airtight. Does anyone have experience using it on a broken window? You don’t put it directly on the window. You put it on the frame, either outside or inside, so there’s an air space. Putting something over the hole first will be better. Even if you just plug the hole with a bit of rag, then do the plastic on the frame. You may have to repaint the frames in the spring. That tape doesn’t come off easily. That said, keeping the heat inside if worth a little extra paint. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-so-cold-my-bedroom-window-broke/675731/28 "2013-12-08T13:58:50Z")
I once frost-bit my thumb turning the key on a car in -20 without gloves. Raised a blister. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-so-cold-my-bedroom-window-broke/675731/29 "2013-12-08T22:25:29Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > My toilet is on an outer wall. The pipe running to it froze last night, and I was not able to flush it this morning. I had to put one of those little heaters in the bathroom with the door closed to thaw the pipe. Instead, you might look into one of these [Electric water pipe heater kits](http://www.homedepot.com/p/Frost-King-6-ft-Electric-Water-Pipe-Heat-Cable-HC6/202262328#.UqTxjI3ahJE). Likely less electricity and much higher return on the investment, since the power is used to head the pipe, not the entire room. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-so-cold-my-bedroom-window-broke/675731/30 "2013-12-09T06:46:58Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > Instead, you might look into one of these [Electric water pipe heater kits](http://www.homedepot.com/p/Frost-King-6-ft-Electric-Water-Pipe-Heat-Cable-HC6/202262328#.UqTxjI3ahJE). > > Likely less electricity and much higher return on the investment, since the power is used to head the pipe, not the entire room. Mobile home supply, camper sales, both should have the heat tapes. The ones we used are automatic, could be left on all year & only operated when it got cold. Have used the shrink wrap many times, works good. Just follow the directions. In our house on the mountain, we had aluminum frame single pane windows &\* 2 big single pane picture windows. The house is brick. We saved for several years and then had vinyl double pane, gas filled, double hung. inside cleaning windows and double pane gas filled pictures windows in vinyl frames. The window seller ( a big player in AR at least ) would only use one crew on a rock house because of the difficulty of good results with the installation. Just a little north of 7k for that house. The result was amazing. I had the house pretty well sealed, vents in the kitchen, bathrooms, the antic fan louvers, door seals were in good shape or shrink wrapped each winter. The drop in our heat & cooling bill was impressive. We have not gotten to the pay for it self point yet as it was not that long ago. In this house, we have the vinyl frames bur only single hung & single paned so we might have to start the window fund again. Keeping the look of the old windows is good on old places but if you plan to be there for 20 years plus, good windows & insulation is worth it IMO. Also check around the light switches & electric outlets. In older homes, you will be amazed at the flow through. Stay warm… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-so-cold-my-bedroom-window-broke/675731.md?page=1)