With winter encroaching and temperatures plummeting, it’s important to ensure that your home will be warm throughout the colder months. One crucial way to do this is through winterizing your windows. Heat escapes through your windows more than any other part of your home, which means that if you don’t winterize your windows, you’ll be dealing with high heating bills all winter long. In order to both keep your house warm and heating bills low, winterizing your windows is a necessity. 

There are several indicators that you not just should winterize your windows, but that you need to. You can tell if your windows are drafty if: 

• Your heating bills are spiking
• Your house is cold even with the heater running
• Your window panes rattle when it is windy
• It is hard to open or close your windows
• Any curtains or blinds rustle when your windows are closed. 
• There are gaps.

How To Winterize Your Windows

Here are some of the ways in which you can winterize your windows. 

Inspect

You can inspect your windows for any gaps that are letting drafts in. Any gaps allow for air to leak from your home and cold drafts to come in. One way you can tell if you have gaps around your windows is through holding a lit candle around it. Any areas where the flame flickers abnormally is a gap.

Draft Snakes

Draft snakes, also known as draft stoppers, can be used in the event that you need to block a draft but can’t redo the caulking or the weatherstripping just yet. They are types that are aligned along the window frames in order to block gaps air can leak out through. 

Seal And Caulk

If you locate any gaps, you’ll want to seal them up. Caulking can deteriorate or crack, so you’ll want to dig out any caulking that is cracked or deteriorating and re-caulk the area to seal it. You may also need to repair or replace damaged window frames or glass in order to ensure your window is effectively sealed against the cold and won’t let any air out.

Weatherstripping

Weatherstripping is similar to caulking, but used on windows with moveable parts. Weatherstripping comes in several different types, from rubber to felt to v-seal to expanding spray foam. Adding weatherstripping or repairing or replacing current weatherstripping shuts out the outside air and keeps your heated air inside where it belongs.

Window Film

Window film insulates and is a very cost-effective way to winterize your windows. This plastic film is applied over your windows in order to provide an additional layer of protection. Window film both insulates your home and protects it from harmful UV rays. 

Insulate

Insulating around the frame can help winterize your windows too. You can use battling insulation or a low-expansion spray foam that will fill in any gaps in your framing. 

Bubblewrap

Bubblewrap is another cost-effective method of window winterization. You can apply it directly to the window in a similar way you would apply window film, and you can use it as a temporary insulator in any gaps between your window and its framing. 

Thermal Curtains 

Not all ways to winterize your windows involve the windows and their framing. Good thermal curtains are both more aesthetically pleasing than window film or bubblewrap and will keep your home warm, especially if you attach them to the wall. Curtains are easy to switch out for changing seasons and give your home a cozy vibe.

Cellular Shades

If you like the idea of what thermal curtains can do for you, but you don’t like curtains, you may choose to opt for cellular shades. These can be custom-fitted to your windows and can be more versatile in being able to be used all year round. 

Window Well Covers

If you have a basement with window wells, investing in well covers is a must to winterize your windows. These covers will trap heat into your basement, prevent drafts, and keep any snow that can build up in the wells out of your home. 

Energy-Efficient Windows

You may need to replace your windows rather than simply repair them. In the event of window replacement, energy-efficient windows are a way to winterize your windows through the windows themselves. Energy-efficient windows have multiple panes of glass, meaning that they keep energy from escaping. They also increase the overall value of your home, due to how they reduce your energy expenses and how they can soundproof your home for a more comfortable atmosphere, as well. 

Do You Need More Tips On How To Winterize Your Windows?

Here at Moyes Glass, we know the necessity of winterizing your windows in order to maintain a comfortable home all winter long. We can provide you with additional tips on how to winterize your windows. We also provide window repair, window replacement, and energy-efficient windows. To learn more, please contact us at Moyes Glass today!