Image via Flickr by Clément Belleudy
Heating your home during the winter is expensive. Home heating bills run high during the colder months of the year, but there are several ways you can lower those bills by better preparing the windows in your home for winter. Here are five ways to winterize the windows in your home and start saving on your home’s energy bills now.
Check to see if the windows are properly insulated
One of the main reasons your home energy bill is so high during the winter is due to poor insulation in your home. If your home is not properly insulated or the windows were not properly installed, the heat in your home leaks outside and costs you money every time it’s turned on.
If you notice any of the following warning signs on the windows in your home, then the windows are most likely drafty and need more insulating or replacement:
- Window panes rattle in the wind
- Moisture build-up in the corners or edges of the window
- Temperature drop in the surrounding area near the window
- Window is difficult to open or close
Once you check the insulation in your home and notice one or more of the highlighted warning signs, there are a variety of things you can do.
Cover any leaks with rubber weather sealing
First, you should run your hand around the problem windows and see if you can feel any noticeable leaks. If yes, you should pick up self-stick rubber weather sealing at your local hardware store. Then, cut strips of the sealing to fit your window’s dimensions and apply the adhesive to any drafty windows. This will help to close any gaps and keep out drafts of cold air.
Buy cellular shades for all the windows in your home
If you can’t find any noticeable leaks, consider buying cellular shades for all the windows in your home. Cellular shades help insulate your home without completely blocking out light during day time, which can help reduce your home’s energy costs during winter. You can order these custom shades to fit the windows in your home from a variety of retailers.
Make DIY draft snakes
If you can’t find any rubber weather sealing, a comparable option is making your own draft snake. A draft snake is a tube made of fabric stuffed with dried rice. You can place these on any drafty windowsill in your home to help keep heat in and cold air out.
Invest in new, energy-efficient windows with a low-E coating
The most foolproof way to get your home ready for winter is to replace any drafty windows with new, energy-efficient windows with a low-E coating. Low-E windows are windows with a special low thermal emissivity coating that reflects radiant infrared energy, which allows the window to still let in light while keeping the energy (heat) on the same side that it came from. Replacing drafty windows in your home with low-E windows will help save you money in the long run.
Your home’s energy bill doesn’t have to cost you your entire paycheck during winter. Lower your energy bill and get your windows ready for the cool season by trying out one of these insulation methods.