Insight And Tips To Help Make Your Home's Windows More Energy Efficient

Whether the outside temperature is cold or hot, you will want to keep your home's interior at a comfortable temperature all year long. This means preventing the transfer of heat either into or out of your home. One way that heat can transfer in and out of your home and cause your energy bill to increase is by its windows. Here are various methods and tips you can use in your home to make your home's windows more energy efficient.

Install Window Film or Plastic

When your budget is small and you don't have the funds to replace your windows with new ones, you can take some measures to make your existing windows a bit more energy efficient. Add a layer of plastic sheeting to the inside of your windows to add more insulation to them. A layer of heavy duty plastic creates an insulation layer and barrier against heat transfer during summer and winter. You can install the plastic by taping it onto the inside frame of your windows. Or you can install the plastic sheeting on its own wood frame that snugly fits within the inside of your window.

If you are wanting to keep out summer heat from entering your windows, you can buy and install a reflective window coating to your windows. This coating helps reflect the sunlight back outside and keeps the heat from warming up your home's interior.

Use Window Treatments

Adding window treatments on the interior of your windows not only makes your interior look attractive, but it helps keep your windows more energy efficient. Installing a set of curtains or window blinds can reduce the transfer of heat through your windows during summer and winter. In winter, close window drapes on your windows when the sun sets. This helps keep the warmth inside your home and prevents it from passing through your window to the outside.

Window curtains made of a double layer consisting of an exterior fabric and an inside lining can boost the curtains' insulation to help keep the warmth in your home more easily. During the day, open the curtains to let in sunlight, which warms your home's interior from the sun's solar gain.

During summer, close the curtains or blinds on your windows during the daytime when direct sunlight is coming into the window, such as windows facing east, south, and west. This helps reduce the amount of solar gain you receive inside your home to keep your home's interior more cool. The use of window blinds is most effective, as you can angle the blinds to block direct sunlight, but allow indirect sunlight to illuminate the room preventing the need to use electricity for light. After the sun has passed by the window, you can reopen the curtains or blinds to let in indirect sunlight.

Upgrade Your Windows

You can also choose to replace your home's windows with new energy efficient windows. In fact, replacing your old double-paned windows with energy efficient windows with low-E coatings in your home can save you up to 15 percent a year on your energy bill. Replacing your home's windows can be especially helpful when they are several decades old, have leaking cracks, contain a single pane of glass, or are made of a framing material that easily transfers heat, such as aluminum. During winter, if the interior of your window frames collect a layer of ice upon them, it is generally a good indicator your windows are not energy efficient and need an upgrade.

Energy efficient windows come available with vinyl and other materials to help reduce heat transfer and insulate the window better to keep your home comfortable during summer and winter. You can also install windows double- and triple-paned to increase the windows' insulative properties. Some windows can be filled with a low-emissivity gas between the glass panes to help reduce the transfer of heat. Check out sites like https://kcglassinc.com/ and talk to a local window professional or the window expert at a local home improvement store to find out what your options for upgrading are and the cost associated.

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