Ahh, Fall: the season of pumpkin spice, crunchy leaves, and cider. You might want to insulate windows in your home before the winter weather sets in.
It’s hard to have a cozy home when there are cold drafts coming from your windows. According to Energy.gov, “heat gain and heat loss through windows are responsible for 25%–30% of residential heating and cooling energy use.” Besides your comfort, that’s a huge impact on your wallet! One solution is to make sure your windows are well-insulated, so here are four ways to do it.
Window Film
A great, low-cost, minimal effort option is to apply window film to your windows. Kits are available that contain a plastic shrink film that adheres to the glass with double-sided tape. Any wrinkles can be smoothed out using a hairdryer, leaving your view unobstructed. The film creates a barrier between the interior of your home and the windows, providing some insulation.
Bubble Wrap
A far less aesthetic solution is to use bubble wrap. Bubble wrap is great for protecting fragile packages, and it turns out it works very well to insulate windows. It’s as easy to apply as spraying a fine mist of water on your window glass and pressing the bubble side of the wrap to your window. Be careful about any tape you use to seal the edges, as it can lift paint on the window frame when the wrap is removed.
Sealing Exterior Leaks
Take your insulation game up a notch and seal any leaks around your windows. Exposure to rain, snow, wind, and all the elements can take a toll on the exterior of your windows. Cracks start to form around your window frames, letting cold air seep in. Caulking is your answer. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that caulking and weatherstripping is so effective, the costs are offset within a year. Watch for clear weather—you’ll need 24 hours of no rain or snow and temperatures above 45 degrees Fahrenheit for best application.
Replacing Weatherstripping
If your window has adhesive-backed weatherstripping, you can easily pull it up to remove it. If there are nails or screws holding it in place, you’ll need to remove those with the appropriate tools before proceeding. Give the window sash a good cleaning and allow it to dry thoroughly, then measure and apply your weatherstripping. Adhesive-backed foam or tubular gasket stripping can provide three to five years of protection from the cold.
Mountain States Windows & Siding Can Provide a Lasting Solution
Each of these options to insulate windows are relatively low-cost and may do the job, but sometimes window replacement is the real answer. Leaky, drafty old windows are no match for today’s double and triple-paned windows and their energy efficiency. The U-Factor, which measures how quickly heat is lost through your windows, is 20-30% better for triple-pane windows than for double pane windows.
Whether you live in South Jordan or Lehi, or as far south as Spanish Fork, do yourself a favor before the colder temperatures of winter set in and have Mountain States Windows & Siding replace your drafty windows! Contact us today for a complimentary window replacement quote, and we’ll help you get your home ready for a cold Utah winter.
