So I decided I'm going to start consolidate some of the tips and stuff. It helps me get my thoughts together and will hopefully help get moving. And I'm starting with windows.
For more energy efficient windows:
You can buy new windows.
-OR-
1. Check the caulking on the exterior where the windows meet the siding. If the caulking is cracked or peeling, it needs to be replaced. This can be done in a weekend for a whole house. You will need:
- putty knife/scraper ($3.94)
- Caulking gun ($3.97)
- Silicone caulk ($7.98)
- Ladder to reach higher windows (variable)
2. Install Low-e film on your windows. The highest rated film deflects up to 70% of summer heat, retains up to 55% of winter heat, and blocks 99% of UV rays to protect your energy bill and your furniture. Best of all, Low-e film doesn't significantly change the view. $46.07 for a 4' x 15' roll of the highest protective film from Gila. Measure your windows and buy the sizes that will fit best in width.
3. Check your insulation around the windows. Choose your oldest/leakiest window and remove a section of the trim. If there is no insulation between the woodwork and the wood, this is a prime place for air to leak in. Use insulating foam ($5.47/can) in the crevices to seal the leaks. Before starting with the foam, ensure all trim on all windows is removed, as the foam is only usable for a short time after the seal is broken. Allow the foam to dry and take a serrated knife (I used a steak knife) and cut off the excess. Replace the trim. Three or four cans of foam should work for the whole house. This may be a two or three weekend project with removing and replacing the trim. Take your time removing so you don't damage the trim. Pound out the nails and use a nail gun to replace the trim when finished to make that go faster. If no trim is damaged, this project could cost as little as $20.
4. Purchase cellular shades for your windows if your current window treatments are not as good as insulating. Aluminum blinds are the worst, so definitely consider this option if you have them. Spend a bit more and purchase custom shades so they fit as close inside the window as possible for the best insulation. Buy online and purchase the company's house blinds instead of a brand name to save more money. With cellular shades, the larger the cell, the more insulating. Ditto for the number of cells. They also come in light filtering or room darkening, so they're good for all rooms of the house. Top-down/Bottom-up option is usually worth the money also on these shades.
So there it is. If anyone knows of anything else you can do to save energy with your windows, comment here so I can add it to the list.
All prices from Lowe's.
2 comments:
This only works if you have really old double hungs, but reglazing. It takes serious time and some skill, but making the glass fit again is a good thing. Mom did it at our old house.
Curtains also help to retain heat or cool air. The insulated ones have the best R value. I leave my curtains and blinds open during the day during cooler months, especially the ones that the sun is shining through and close them at night to help retain the heat. I keep them closed during the day in the summer unless one of the windows is mostly in the shade.
You could also help alleviate the problem of sun heating your home in the summer by planting deciduous trees in front of the windows so that their shade will help keep the house cooler in summer but still let light in during the winter. This project may take some time to get any benefit from it, but it does end up working great a few years down the road. To make it a more quick process, I'd buy a fast growing tree such as a poplar or ash, they grow many feet per year.
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