Did you know that a few intentional window adjustments and installation specifics can save you a significant amount of money on your energy bills?
Whether you are a home or business owner, a lot of energy can be lost through your windows if you’re not careful. In the summer months, that energy is lost through unnecessary air-conditioning costs, and in the winter, through unnecessary heating costs. Nothing breaks the bank more than a set of drafty windows.
You want the heat to stay in during the winter and air-conditioned coolness to stay in during the summer. Drafty windows also put a lot of wear and tear on your larger HVAC system or air-conditioning units. That is a sure-fire way to incur more costs due to ongoing maintenance, or worse, replacement sooner than needed.
In many home and commercial business designs, windows make up a large percentage of the surface area of a building. When windows are not installed correctly, are not of the highest quality, or do not include the correct treatments for energy efficiency, heat and cool air-conditioning are not the only things that are lost. Inefficient and insufficient windows and a lack of window attention can cost hundreds if not thousands of extra dollars each year in utility bills.
To keep a home or business comfortable throughout the year, winter, spring, summer, or fall, there are a few window-specific energy-saving tips.
Replace old, broken, worn, or drafty windows.
In all of these situations, the story is the same. During the winter months, cold air will come in, and hot air will escape, and during the summer months, hot air will come in, and cool air will escape. Your windows should be a barrier between the inside and the outside, so drafty windows need an immediate replacement.
Newer windows can include the best technology available, which is double-pane or double-glazed windows. Many older and cheaper windows are single pane, meaning they are designed with just a single sheet of glass. Double-pane or double-glazed windows, as the name suggests, are actually designed with two sheets of glass. These two sheets of glass are separated by a small air gap, which serves as an insulation component that helps keep a home or building’s temperature more regulated.
Ensure windows are properly sealed and that seals are checked regularly (and replaced if needed).
Even if you have the highest-quality, top-of-the-line window panes, if they are not sealed correctly during installation, draft problems are bound to happen. In addition, a poorly sealed window is prone to leaks, which can cause serious structural and physical property damage. Windows should keep outside air outside and also the elements, like moisture from rain and snow, outside. Many window seals are silicone or rubber based and are installed by a professional. If you are noticing moisture accumulating inside a windowpane, a visible leak, a stream of water, or evidence of moisture through something like mold or mildew on a window or window sill, a faulty or cracked seam might be the culprit.
It’s recommended to check window seals once a year, typically in the springtime. Home or business owners should look for visible seal cracks, seals that are peeling away or off completely, or seals that are shrinking due to the elements.
Add Drapes, Blinds, or Curtains
In addition to ensuring a home or business has the newest and best windows installed correctly, blocking the sun by adding drapes, blinds, or curtains is also a great tip for energy savings. Sun streaming through any window will increase the overall greenhouse effect of an area, so drapes, blinds, and curtains can actually block that effect completely.
During the heat of the day, closing the drapes, blinds, or curtains can be added to any routine or a timer can even be set. You can still get beautiful, streaming, natural light the majority of the day, but during the most extreme times, a simple reminder to shut out the sun can actually save quite a bit of money. If closing your drapes, for example, helps during the summer by keeping the cold air-conditioning inside, you better believe it also helps in the winter to do the opposite.
There are many different interior window covering designs that boast being the most energy efficient. If you are in the market for an interior design upgrade for your home or business and want something that also relates directly to your building’s energy efficiency, switching up or adding drapes, blinds, or curtains can make a huge difference.
It’s also worth noting that any of these tips for windows are also applicable for glass doors, whether sliding or standalone.
Auto and Residential Glass Services
At Advanced Auto Glass, our professional and dedicated team specializes in auto and residential glass services. If you are located in the Dallas–Fortworth Metroplex or surrounding areas, give us a call or request a quote online. We have a wide range of window and windshield repair and replacement options, but we also cover mirrors, skylights, and showers.
