How to get Maximum Energy Savings from Your Windows

We all want to save money and with energy costs soaring, especially in the winter months, people are always looking at ways to cut those energy bills. Did you know that one of the best ways to do this is to get new energy efficient windows?

Older windows may let in way too much air in the form of a draft. These drafts are cold and cause us to up the thermostat in order to remain comfortable. There are things that you can do short of replacing the window, but they are more of a quick fix than a cure. Weather stripping and new caulking may help temporarily.

When you are re-caulking a window you first need to remove the old and then apply the new. This works best when the temperatures are over 45F and the humidity is low, so before winter sets in is key. For weather stripping you must work with dry surfaces and in temperatures over 20F which gives you a bit more leeway. Both of these applications can block the drafts and help to lower your energy bills.

Installing storm and/or screen windows can also add insulation to your home and block pesky drafts, however, interior rather than exterior varieties do work better to keep your home warm and cozy.

To really improve your energy efficiency and get maximum energy savings though, you will have to replace those old windows. New windows with Low E gas coatings help reduce the heat transfer and the pesky UV rays that can damage carpets and furniture by fading them out. It reflects the heat back to the source which helps keep the home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

New double or triple pane windows also help to minimize those energy bills because there are two or three barriers for the air rather than one which we see with older single pane varieties. New windows fit better, allow in no drafts and are made with better materials than that of their older counterparts. Coatings and configurations are newer and updated and they all lend themselves to being much more energy efficient while significantly lowering those energy bills.

In the summer months we can also save on energy costs by replacing fixed windows with ones that open to allow the cool breezes in which means you may not have to rely so heavily on your air conditioner to keep your space comfortable. Better ventilation and air flow benefits both that bill and our family at the same time, and what can be better than that?