If you get cold drafts during the winter and some of the rooms in your home seem to overheat in summer, your windows may be the culprit. They’re a major contributor to the efficiency and comfort of your home.
Replacing windows isn’t always practical because it can be expensive and could take 20 years of energy savings to recover the investment.
Luckily, you can make significant improvements to your existing windows without investing a lot of money or time. Let’s take a look at how you can address heat loss during the winter and heat gain during the summer. We’ll start with the window itself.
Energy loss and drafts often occur in the cracks between the components of the window. Weatherstripping can be used in areas where a window’s movable parts meet the window frame. Retailers offer weatherstripping for different types of windows. These materials are low cost, easy to apply and can pay for themselves in energy savings in as little as one year.
Seams between the window frame and the wall are another common source of air leakage. For anything less than a quarter inch wide, fill it with caulk; for anything larger, use expanding foam and paint over it. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
If a window pane is loose or the glass is cracked or missing, it’s probably costing you additional money. If you’re handy, it’s possible to reglaze a window yourself.
Installing exterior or interior storm windows can sometimes produce as much savings as a full replacement. You can usually order these windows to the exact size of your window opening. Recent testing by a national laboratory showed that storm windows can cut heating costs by 7%–12%.
Another strategy to consider is window coverings. These include interior roller shades, cellular shades or drapes. Recent lab tests showed that cellular shades can cut heating or cooling expenses by 10%–16%. Cellular shades have a honeycomb construction that traps air for extra insulation and can be purchased with a lighter reflective side and a darker, heat-absorbing side. Some can even be reversed with the change of seasons.
Draperies are usually less efficient but can also provide a level of comfort during winter and summer months. For maximum effect, make sure they overlap in the middle, are as tight to the window and wall as possible, and reach the floor.
The key to reducing overheating in the summer is to keep the sun’s rays from reaching the window by installing awnings or overhangs above windows that receive most of the direct sunlight. Window film that adheres to the window surface can reflect unwanted summer sun. Solar screens that block rays can also be effective.
If there are windows in vacant rooms that you don’t use, cover the insides of those window frames with rigid foam insulation. Another low-cost measure for these areas that can produce as much savings as storm windows is to fashion a plastic weather barrier that adheres to the frame.
Building supply retailers sell a clear plastic and framing material that can be shrunk into place by using a hair dryer. These kits can also provide comfort and savings on all the other windows in your home.
To learn more about improving the efficiency of older windows, visit energystar.gov or energy.gov.
Posted: 2/13/2024 12:49:52 PM
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