As a homeowner, you know that each season presents a different set of tasks for taking care of your home. When winter rolls around that usually means getting your home ready for the colder weather ahead. Winterizing windows is a big part of seasonal home maintenance and can be a big part of improving your home’s energy efficiency too. Let’s look at:
- The importance of winter window maintenance
- Preparing windows to enhance comfort and reduce heating costs
- Dealing with common winter window issues
- Long-term winterizing solutions for windows
The Importance of Winter Window Maintenance
Drafts and Heat Loss
Preventing drafts in winter around and through your windows is the main way to maintain a consistent and comfortable inside temperature in your home, no matter the season. When winterizing windows, improving window insulation is a preventive measure that helps in reducing heating costs by cutting down on heat loss.
Checking for Leaks
One simple way to check for leaks around your windows is by using a candle flame test. This window leak detection method is much like the name suggests, using a candle flame to test for air leaks. To do the test, light a candle and carefully move it around the edge of your windows, where most drafts originate, and watch if the flame flickers or blows in a specific direction. This will indicate a draft in the area where the flame is visibly affected.
If you find that your windows are drafty and leaking heat from your home, there are several DIY window insulation tips available to prevent this heat loss. Many of these window insulation techniques are simple and straightforward, and can be done without professional help, if you feel comfortable with DIY projects. Others are more advanced and require more time and resources.
Window Weatherproofing Tips for Winter
Sealing Gaps and Leaks
Maintaining, replacing, and adding caulking and weather-stripping around your windows can vastly improve insulation and reduce air leaks.
Window Caulking for Winter
Inspect the caulking around your window frames, especially the space between the interior trim and the wall, and the exterior perimeter of your windows. These are areas where gaps are most likely causing air leaks. If the caulk is old or crumbling, it is most likely time to replace it. Remove the old caulking and replace it with a new seal.
Weather-stripping Windows
Learning how to seal windows for winter to improve insulation and prevent heat loss can also include weather-stripping. A method that uses a strip of insulation material, usually vinyl, rubber, felt, foam or a metal such as aluminum or brass, to seal gaps around windows to guard against air leaks and moisture build-up. Properly installed weather-stripping should allow for your window to seal well when closed but also allow for the window to open freely.
Most weather-stripping can be installed with a few regular household tools. First clean and dry the area so you are installing on a clean surface. Then, cut the weather-strip to size and adhere it in place. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for installation to ensure the best outcome.
Another easy DIY window insulation option includes window insulation kits.
Types of Insulation Kits
There are several low cost insulation kits on the market for winterizing windows, including plastic insulating window films or reflective foil insulation.
Plastic Window Films
Plastic film kits are an easy, inexpensive option for homeowners looking to cut down on drafts and leaks, improve insulation, and decrease energy bills. Kits basically work by temporarily adhering a plastic sheet to your window panes with double-sided tape or magnetic strips. The sheet is then heated so it shrink-wraps to form a tight seal, adding a layer of insulation to your window. Once treated, the window cannot be opened throughout the winter season and is removed in spring.
Reflective Foil Insulation
The role of reflective insulation during the winter months is to create a barrier that helps prevent heat loss from inside the home by reflecting generated heat back into the interior space. This can help improve your home’s efficiency in maintaining a comfortable temperature during colder weather. Reflective insulation is best used in areas of your home that can experience significant heat loss, such as attics, roof cavities, or other inherently drafty spaces. It is best used along with other insulation methods and not as a stand-alone solution.
Other Low-Cost Insulation Methods
Thermal Drapes and Curtains
Another method for adding an insulated barrier around your windows is with the use of thermal window treatments. Used during the winter months, these insulated window treatments can help maintain your home’s interior temperature without as much expended energy, which will help lower your winter heating costs. Most thermal drapes or curtains are made from multiple layers of fabric that prevent heat from escaping through your windows. This method is especially helpful around large windows or sliding glass doors.
Advanced Methods for Winterizing Windows
Foam Insulators
Foam window insulation is a more advanced and permanent solution for improving the insulation around your windows and cutting down on drafts and air leaks.
It consists of an insulation foam that is sprayed through a nozzle into the gaps around your window. Once sprayed, the foam expands to fill the space and create an airtight seal. It is an effective method for improving your home’s energy efficiency but cannot always be used on older window frames in older homes.
Window Inserts
A more advanced option for improving window insulation includes using magnetic or compression window inserts. These inserts are a more expensive option, but can be reused year after year to great benefit. They are basically a temporary storm window that is installed on the interior part of your window using either a magnetic or compression system. For the magnetic window insulation system, it is necessary to permanently install a metal strip around your window frame for the insert to stick to. The compression system does not require this permanent strip and most often creates a better seal. They are also easier to install and remove.
Smart Glass for Insulation
Another more advanced window insulation solution is the use of smart glass, which can electronically control your window’s transparency level. When a current is applied, the window becomes completely transparent, as a normal window is, but when the current is turned off, the window becomes opaque, blocking light and heat. It basically functions as a regulator during changing temperatures and weather conditions by controlling how much solar radiation enters your home.
Common Winter Problems for Your Windows
Condensation on Windows
One common problem for your windows during the winter months is condensation build up. Condensation is caused when warm, moist air meets a cold surface, which can be the constant environment during cold weather months.
Drafty and poorly insulated windows increase the likelihood of condensation forming, which means that cutting down on drafts and increasing insulation quality will help prevent condensation. Other solutions include increasing your home’s ventilation to make sure air circulates instead of accumulating on window surfaces or improving your home humidity control with a dehumidifier. It is also important to maintain a balanced indoor temperature to prevent freezing.
If condensation is not controlled, it can turn into ice buildup, which can damage your windows and the interior and exterior of your home, which makes prevention important.
Besides improving your window’s insulation, cutting down on drafts, and adjusting your home’s humidity levels, other tactics for preventing window ice buildup in extreme cold, include applying antifreeze film or using heat tape.
Long-term Strategies for Winter Window Efficiency
Most of the window winterizing methods discussed so far are shorter-term solutions to improving your home’s window insulation and energy efficiency. Most are either inexpensive DIY projects or less expensive professional maintenance jobs. Long-term energy-efficient windows solutions include upgrading your windows to more energy efficient models. If your home is experiencing significant heat loss during the winter and causing your energy bills to skyrocket, replacing old windows with more energy efficient models can be one of the best investments you can make in your home.
Performing and Energy Audit
There are also services offered by professionals that can help in the long-term maintenance of your windows. One important service for winterizing windows is to schedule a professional inspection to perform a home energy audit and gauge the level of heat loss your home is experiencing.
Replacing Old Windows and Installing Energy-Efficient Ones
The most important thing you could do to winterize your windows is upgrading to energy-efficient windows is a long-term solution that can significantly improve your home’s insulation and reduce energy costs. Modern energy-efficient windows, such as double-pane or triple-pane models, offer enhanced thermal performance, minimizing heat loss in winter and maintaining a consistent indoor temperature. Professional window installation ensures a proper fit, maximizing the efficiency of your new windows and preventing drafts or air leaks. While the initial investment may be higher, the savings on heating bills and increased home comfort make it a worthwhile upgrade.
Winterizing Your Home: The Final Word
When it comes to how and why to winterize windows, the basic answer is to improve your home’s energy efficiency and therefore lowering your energy costs. If you want more information about winterizing your home’s windows and get a professional estimate on long-term energy efficiency windows, contact Summit Construction.
