Most people don’t know this, but old windows are the number one source of heat loss in a home. That’s because they leak air and allow drafts to enter your home. This is especially true if you live in an older house built before modern insulating materials were invented. Reports suggest that as much as 25 percent of heat loss in old buildings occurs through windows and drafts, which can be easily managed with the proper and timely repair or energy-efficient window replacement. Fortunately, there are several things you may do to make your existing windows more energy efficient!
Steps to make old windows more energy-efficient
When it comes to fighting the seasons, most people feel like a losing battle. While purchasing energy-efficient windows will always produce the best results, many don’t have that option due to cost or other factors. Fortunately for everyone, though, there are ways you can fix your home in 2021 and beyond!
How to Make Your Windows More Energy-Efficient on a Shoestring Budget
When it comes to fighting the seasons, most people feel like a losing battle. While purchasing energy-efficient windows will always produce the best results, many don’t have that option due to cost or other factors. Fortunately for everyone, though, there are ways you can fix your home in 2021 and beyond!
Insulated and heavy curtains, shades, or blinds are a good idea.
• Insulating your windows with heavy curtains or blinds is a great way to cut down on energy costs, but if you’re worried about blocking out the view from sunny days, then this solution might not be for you.
Seal up the gaps in your window with weatherstripping
• Weatherstripping is a low-cost way to make your windows and doors more energy efficient. It’s suitable for renters strapped for cash, but it can be time-consuming without being as effective as other weatherproofing methods.
Install window film
• Window film is a cheap and effective option for renters. Transparent films can give you extra shade, while translucent ones allow light in but reduce the amount of heat that enters your home. However, installing this type of window treatment is difficult without leaving a messy or unattractive-looking job behind – so be sure you know what you’re doing before taking on this project!
How to Increase Your Home’s Energy Efficiency on a Medium Budget
Replace the caulk if it’s cracked or crumbling.
You can use caulking to save money by blocking drafts and excessive heat from entering your home. Caulk is the “sealant” around windows, doors, or any gaps that have been created between two types of building materials. While both sealants and caulk are used for sealing purposes, it may be worth noting that they differ in how rigid they become when dry due to their different composition.
Caulking comes in two main types: silicone caulk and acrylic latex. Silicone is more expensive but has better durability, while latex can be less messy to work with. Be sure to remove the old caulking before applying the new to trap dirt inside your home, where it will cause problems later on!
When you are ready to seal, use a very thin layer of caulk. If you put too much on, it will make your home feel stuffy and may cause damage long-term because the excess material can seep through to other parts of your house or outside, where it could catch dirt that reduces its effectiveness over time!
If your windows are old and thin, or if you simply can’t repair them no matter how hard you try, caulking may not be enough to keep cold air from seeping into the house. It’s a cheap way to test whether this will work for you before going all-in on expensive window replacement.
Repair Broken Windows before Replacing Them
Repairing rather than replacing your windows is a good option. If you’re on a strict budget. However, it’s not always easy to get the same type of replacement window you had installed before – so be sure that this will work for your specific situation!
If you don’t want to waste money on heating and cooling or lose your temper when it gets too hot in the summertime, then fix that broken windowpane as soon as possible. Whether this takes ten minutes or two days depends on how much work goes into fixing something like a single-pane window; however, there’s no reason not to do so!
Make your windows more energy-efficient with a high-budget, top-of-the-line solution.
Energy-efficient windows: the best solution to your energy woes
If you have single-pane windows, and they’re just too old or worn out around the edges for effective heat transfer prevention, the double-pane is by far your best option. The Department of Energy recommends this solution if that’s what it takes! Before replacing them, an energy audit will determine where exactly in your home there’s a heat loss. An inspector surveys homes using thermal imaging cameras to detect leaks along walls and roofs, so start preparing for this expert visit today.
The main downside of this solution is the cost. For example, this process might only be worth it if you do every single window in your home. If not, then there’s no point in doing partial replacements because they won’t improve energy efficiency as much- which means a big one-time hit on your bank account!
Before deciding to replace your windows, try out some of the cheaper options. For example, request a consultation with an inspector who can help you determine if it’s worth replacing them altogether or whether other simple fixes may work better for you first. Similarly, take into account the age and quality of your current window panes before diving in headfirst.
