The standard house loses about 10 percent of its heat through its windows. This is a lot of heat, especially during the cold winter months. Thankfully, you can always insulate your windows to reduce or eliminate heat loss.
Window weatherproofing usually comes as an afterthought for most homeowners, and it’s hard to blame them. That’s because everything looks fine and dandy during spring and summer, and insulation seems unnecessary. However, when drafts from the cold winter months start blowing through the windows, that is when window insulation becomes a priority.
If you’re still on the fence about whether you should get window weatherproofing, we’re here to help you make the right decision. Today, we’ll be looking at what window weatherproofing is and why it’s so important for homes.
What Is Window Weatherproofing?
As the name suggests, window weatherproofing involves strengthening your windows’ defenses against the elements. It centers on sealing all passages of draft or water through your windows and insulating them to prevent heat loss. This helps maintain the home’s internal temperature and reduces reliance on HVAC systems.
Remember, even tiny openings can be a conduit for the draft, especially during the cold season. Window weatherproofing ensures that no wind or moisture gets through the windows so that you get the most from your heating system without stretching your budget.
How Does Window Weatherproofing Work?
Window weatherproofing is an intricate task that requires all house windows to remain airtight. The process usually involves:
- Removing the interior window to find cracks or gaps within the trim
- Using sealant to block any gaps
- Replacing the interior window with all the gaps sealed completely
Although it seems simple, you’re better off leaving weatherproofing windows to the pros. That’s the only way to ensure you seal all the air gaps. Our window service team would be more than happy to help you weatherproof your windows.
Common Window Weatherproofing Techniques
Thorough window weatherproofing involves a combination of different techniques to reduce heat loss. Here are a couple of common techniques used in weatherproofing windows.
Window Coating
This is a relatively simple way of weatherproofing your windows that involves applying a reflective coating on windows to reduce heat gain. The reflective coating reflects heat energy from the sun.
A low emissivity coating can also be applied during window weatherproofing. This coating will reduce heat transfer through the window, whether it’s flowing in or flowing out.
Double And Triple-Glazed Windows
Ever heard of double-glazed windows? That’s right, one window with two panes instead of one. It sounds almost bizarre, but it gets the job done.
Double and triple-glazed windows work by trapping air between the panes. This air acts as a barrier that prevents heat from going through the windows. The more the window panes, the greater the window’s efficiency.
Blown-In Fiberglass Insulation
Fiberglass is a type of reinforced plastic material that works as a great insulator. For this type of weatherproofing, fiberglass is blown around the window frames. This blocks any cracks or holes that may be letting in air from the window frames.
What Are The Benefits Of Window Weatherproofing?
Weatherproofing windows does a lot more than just keeping the cold at bay. It also serves a couple of other benefits, which include:
Improves Energy Efficiency
Everyone knows how much energy bills can stack up during the winter. Weatherproofing windows helps improve your home’s energy efficiency because there’s little heat lost or gained. This translates to massive savings on your energy bills.
Great for the Environment
As mentioned earlier, weatherproofing windows helps reduce homeowners’ reliance on their heating systems. This means they don’t have to use as much electricity; which is great for the environment. It also brings the world a step closer to averting a looming climate disaster.
Improves Air Quality
Weatherproofing windows involves sealing all the gaps in your windows, including entryways for allergens into your home. Allergens will be a thing of the past when you weatherproof your windows. This means you get to enjoy improved air quality at home because of the weatherproofing.
What’s more, the sealant also blocks the cracks that allow the entry of creepy crawlies into your home. If you’re tired of critters that seem to appear out of nowhere, you should consider weatherproofing your windows.
Extends Your Window’s Lifespan
Your windows could last a lifetime, depending on how well you take care of them. If you want to extend the lifespan of your windows, consider weatherproofing them. Sealing all the airways prevents the window from deteriorating because of harsh weather.
This means your windows will last a lot longer, without you having to replace them. It also means you get to save thousands of dollars in replacement costs. A small price to pay for thousands of dollars worth of savings.
Ensure The Home Is Comfortable
With weatherproofed windows, you no longer have to worry about drafts or rain getting into your home or office. That’s because weatherproofing seals all the entryways to rain or drafts. This helps ensure your home remains comfortable, regardless of the weather.
Helps Your HVAC System Last Longer
Once you weatherproof your windows, you don’t have to worry about overworking your HVAC. To counter the cold, most people crank up their ACs to work at full blast. While this works, it also accelerates the wear and tear on your HVAC and increases your energy bills.
If you’re weatherproofing your windows, you don’t have to worry about wearing down your HVAC. That’s because the HVAC doesn’t have to work as hard as it normally would to keep the house comfortable. This means less wear and tear and much longer service life.
Weatherproof Your Windows Today!
With so many benefits of window weatherproofing, you’d better start planning to have yours weatherproofed. Not only is it great for your pockets, but it’s also great for the environment. Remember to only let the best window weatherproofing services weatherproof your windows for the best results.
Get an estimate today and we can get started on weatherproofing your windows.