As the temperatures drop lower, you may find that the insulation of your home isn’t quite sufficient to maintain a comfortable environment. When this occurs, the first place you should invest in insulating is your windows. Substantial amounts of heat are allowed to escape through windows that may be drafty, have gaps, or are otherwise insufficiently insulated. Luckily, there are many cost-effective, simple ways to improve the insulation of your windows. Not only will these methods improve the level of comfort within your building, but they will also go a long way toward lowering your related energy expenses.
Why it is Important to Prepare your Windows for Winter
The windows tend to be the most common area where heat is allowed to escape. This can make it very difficult to keep your home at a comfortable temperature, as well as cause your energy expenses to skyrocket. By effectively insulating your windows, you can prevent this energy loss. This is better for you, your wallet, and the environment. There are many methods for window insulation, though the superior method will be determined primarily on where your window is lacking in sufficient insulation. It is important to seal all drafts to ensure that you aren’t unnecessarily letting heat escape.
How to Tell if your Windows Need More Insulation
If your windows are drafty, they certainly need better insulation. So how can you tell if you have drafty windows? In general, a cold home or extremely high energy bills indicate the need for better insulation. Windows are an incredibly common culprit of energy loss, so these likely mean that your windows need better insulation. If windows are particularly difficult to open or close, they may not be functioning effectively- which means they aren’t effectively keeping the heat in or the cold out. If curtains rustle, despite the window being closed, there is still a draft coming through the window. When the air near the window feels colder than the air in another part of the room, you can be certain that your window needs better insulation.
A simple way to detect where gaps or drafts are coming in through the window is by holding a lit candle around the edges of the window. Whenever the flame flickers, this indicates a draft. Note where the flame flickers and this will help you pinpoint where the drafts are coming from. These gaps need to be sealed in order for the window to function effectively. Caulking, weather strips, and even draft stoppers can all be implemented to prevent heat from escaping through these areas.
Window Insulation Film
Window insulation film is used in many households to enhance the insulation of the window. There are many benefits to the use of window insulation film, as it is effective at preventing energy from escaping from the home, but still allows sunlight to enter into a room. It also allows for a clear view outside of the window. This process consists of a sheet of plastic film that is applied to a window.
Installing window insulation film is a relatively simple endeavor. It is important to thoroughly clean the window frame prior to application, to ensure that it is as effective as possible. Following this, you will place double-sided tape around the edges of the window frame. Make sure that the sheet of film that you cut is a few inches larger than the window frame on each side, as it is better for it to be too large than too small. Hold the sheet tight and press it into the tape. Use a hair dryer to shrink the film, then cut excess film off. This simple process can provide some immediate benefits for the insulation of your window.
Bubble Wrap Insulation
Bubble wrap is another popular way to insulate windows, due to its ease of installation and incredibly low cost. This method is effective, due to the fact that bubble wrap consists of many small pockets of air. These pockets of air form a barrier, preventing the escape of energy. When you invest in bubble wrap for your window’s insulation, be sure that the roll is either the same width or wider than your windows, so that you can cut it to fit. It won’t work effectively if it is narrower. Though any type of bubble wrap is effective, you may wish to use bubble wrap with larger bubbles solely because it will allow the most sunlight to still enter through the window.
Applying bubble wrap to insulate your windows is incredibly easy. Once you have cut the bubble wrap to fit in your window, all you have to do is spray a thin layer of water on the window. Then, bubbly side toward the glass, you simply press the bubble wrap against the window, and it should stay in place! When you need to remove it from the glass, simply start at a corner and peel it away from the window. The bubble wrap sheets can be used again the following year, so you should keep them in a safe place.
Consider Energy-Efficient Windows
Energy-efficient windows are some of the best investments homeowner’s can make for their building! These windows often contain multiple panes of glass, which provides much more insulation for the window. The use of energy-efficient windows can reduce energy expenses, raise the value of the home, and ensure a much more comfortable environment. They also tend to be very effective for reducing the amount of sound that is allowed to penetrate through the window, which creates an even more comfortable atmosphere within the home.
Contact us for your Window Needs!
Installing new windows or replacement windows can create a multitude of benefits to the insulation of your home. These investments tend to have a very high ROI, as they both immediately reduce energy expenses and raise the value of the home. Having an expert inspect your windows prior to insulation can also help to ensure that you catch any potential problems that may be causing your window to be less than effective. To learn more about this, contact our experts at Peak Windows today!