Guide · Comfort & energy
Does window film help in an Iowa winter?
Yes, with the right film. LLumar low-E window film helps hold furnace heat in during winter and rejects sun in summer.
Free estimate at your home or business · Mon–Fri, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Central
The short answer
Yes, if you pick the right film.
Most solar film is built to keep summer heat out. Low-E (low-emissivity) film does that too, and it also reflects heat from your furnace back into the room, so your windows lose less warmth on cold Siouxland nights.
That makes it a year-round upgrade, not just a summer one.
Where winter heat goes
Glass is where rooms lose warmth.
Windows are usually the least insulated part of an outside wall. On a cold night, warmth from the room radiates to the glass and out of the house. That is why a room with big windows can feel chilly near the glass.
Low-E film has a low-emissivity coating that reflects that radiant heat back inside.
What winter brings
Winter glass problems film helps with.
- Low sun and snow glare: from December through February the sun sits low and shines straight into south-facing rooms. Film cuts that glare and keeps the view.
- Cold spots near the glass: low-E film helps rooms with large windows feel more even.
- UV all year: nearly every film we install blocks 99% or more of the UV that fades floors, rugs and furniture.
- The same film works in July: when summer comes back, the film rejects solar heat.
Solar film or low-E film?
We match the film to your glass.
Standard solar film is the right choice when summer heat and glare are the main problem. Low-E film is the better fit when you also want to hold heat in, especially in rooms with a lot of glass.
Our current low-E films are LLumar LE35 and LE50 (the same films as LLumar Vista VE35 and VE50). We check the type of glass in each window before we recommend a film.
Winter installs
Yes, we install all winter.
We install from inside your home or building, so cold weather doesn’t stop the job.
Film takes longer to cure when it’s cold. For the first few weeks you may see a little haze or a few small water spots. That’s normal and clears up on its own as the film dries.
For pricing, see our window film cost guide.
Questions
Winter questions.
Can film be installed in winter?
Yes. We install from inside, so cold weather doesn’t stop us. The film may look a little hazy for a few weeks while it cures.
Does low-E film help in summer too?
Yes. It rejects solar heat in summer and helps hold heat in during winter.
Will film still block UV in winter?
Yes. Nearly every film we install blocks 99% or more of UV, all year.
Do you carry LLumar low-E film?
Yes. Our current low-E films are LLumar LE35 and LE50, the same as LLumar Vista VE35 and VE50.
We come to you.
Have a question about your glass?
Book a free estimate.
We serve Sioux City, Dakota Dunes, Le Mars, Lawton, Kingsley, Jefferson SD and Okoboji, plus nearby South Sioux City and Dakota City, NE. See our service area →