Who doesn’t love big windows and tons of natural light filling your house with the golden glow of the sun? But who wants to be freezing in the cold of winter or sweltering in the heat of the summer? Although windows are a great preview into the outside world, they are also horribly inefficient from keeping the outside elements from seeping into your home.
We’ve made great progress innovating and creating more efficient HVAC systems, house builds, and appliances ever since building science started gaining recognition in the 60s and 70s. Windows, however, have not kept up. The most efficient windows on the market today are highly insulated triple-paned units with an R-Value of 5. These are expensive to produce and in most cases, NOT cost-effective taking possibly decades before the homeowner sees any return in savings.
So what are some things you can do to improve performance and longevity?
- Clean window weather-stripping, jams, and sills annually so they seal when closed.
- Repair any latches that get broken.
- Add/replace weatherstripping. Do not paint as it impairs performance.
- Install thermal blinds.
- Install storms to improve insulation and better maintain the temperature of your home. This is often a more cost-effective alternative than replacing your entire windows system due to it’s relatively quick and easy process.
If you’re feeling the elements and are uncomfortable in your home, you can schedule a home energy audit at https://energyefficiencyexperts.com/contact/ or call our office at 202-557-9200.
