Winter window preparation is a key step in creating a comfortable home, despite freezing winter temperatures. Significant amounts of heat are allowed to escape through windows that aren’t sufficiently insulated, which can result in exorbitant energy expenses for you. There are many reasons to invest in window insulation during the winter months, including lowered energy expenses, increased comfort, and more efficient use of energy. Rather than cranking up the heat so that you can feel your fingers, consider increasing the insulation of your home, so that you can do more with less. When you can minimize your energy bills, while simultaneously increasing your comfort, you certainly should! You may also want to consider implementing energy-efficient windows to provide superior insulation for your building. Whatever your window needs are, Moyes Glass has the solution for you.
The Importance of Winter Window Preparation
Windows tend to be the area of the home that allows the most energy to escape. This means that in order to keep your home at a habitable temperature, your energy bills may be extremely high. However, it also means that insulating your windows is an incredibly valuable investment. Not only will these methods immediately lower your energy expenses, but they can also improve the value of your home. In addition to this, they create a far more comfortable environment and can even prevent the intrusion of sound into the building. Whether you hire a professional or use DIY insulation methods, insulating your windows is a great investment, especially with winter quickly approaching.
How to Tell if your Windows Need Better Insulation
If the temperature is colder near the window than in the rest of the room, chances are that your window needs better insulation. Other signs that you have a drafty window include:
- Exorbitant energy expenses
- Extremely cold home, despite the heater running
- Windows that are difficult to open or close
- Rustling curtains over a closed window
- Windowpanes that rattle in the wind
In some situations, there may be gaps that are letting drafts in through the window. These gaps need to be sealed to ensure that the window is able to function appropriately. To determine where these drafts are coming from, you can hold a lit candle around the window. Whenever the flame flickers, you have found a draft. Once you have located these drafts, you can use caulking, draft stoppers, foam, or weather stripping to seal these gaps. This can provide some immediate relief to an extremely cold building.
Methods for Insulating your Windows
Window insulation film is an exceptionally common method for window insulation. It is cost-effective and can provide large energy savings. This method includes a plastic film that is pasted over the window, which provides a layer of protection against energy escaping. Window insulation film comes in most “window insulation kits” and is relatively easy to install. It does require the use of a heat source, like a hair dryer, to shrink the film during the installation process. Window insulation film also provides another benefit aside from its insulating properties. It helps to block UV rays from penetrating into the building, which can protect carpets, rugs, wallpaper, furniture, and more from sustaining damage due to these harmful rays.
Bubble wrap is another effective method for window insulation. It helps to provide effective insulation, because it contains multiple pockets of air that can prevent heat from escaping the home. Not only is bubble wrap incredibly cost-effective, but it is also very easy to install. Ensure that the bubble wrap you use is wider than your window, or the same size as your window. You can cut it to fit, but one that is narrower than the width of your windows won’t provide effective insulation. You may also want to opt for larger bubbles, as they will allow more sunlight through than smaller varieties.
When you apply the bubble wrap to your window, all you have to do is spray a small amount of water on the window and gently press the bubble wrap onto the window. Ensure that you remove the bubble wrap after the temperatures have gone back up, as plastic seldomly does well when exposed to direct heat. You can use the same bubble wrap sheets again the following year, which only further simplifies the process!
Benefits of Energy-Efficient Windows
Energy-efficient windows provide many benefits when installed to a building. They tend to have a very high ROI, as they can both immediately reduce energy expenses, as well as raise the overall value of a building. These windows contain multiple panes of glass, providing more layers that energy would have to penetrate in order to escape. Investing in energy-efficient windows results in immediate savings for homeowners. In addition to preventing energy from escaping from the building, energy-efficient windows also tend to provide a noise-stifling effect. This helps to stop external noise from penetrating into the building, which goes a long way toward providing the most comfortable environment possible. When it is time to replace your windows, energy-efficient windows can be incredibly beneficial choices for your home, no matter what time of year it is.
Contact Us Today
Properly insulating your windows can go a long way toward ensuring the most comfortable environment possible within your home this winter. It can also be incredibly useful to have an expert inspect your windows before you begin the insulation steps. This will help you find problems with windows that, when fixed, can provide serious benefits to the insulation levels of your building.
In some situations, however, replacing your windows will be the most beneficial step to take to vastly improve the efficiency of the windows. Whether implementing new single-paned windows or opting for energy-efficient varieties, new windows will significantly improve the value and level of comfort within your building. To learn more about all of the benefits of energy-efficient windows, or to obtain more tips on how to ensure that your windows remain properly insulated throughout the winter, contact us at Moyes Glass today!