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Spring may mean milder weather than summer and winter, but it’s still important to prevent air leaks and heat transfer through your windows. Older, leaky windows may make it necessary to turn on your heat or air conditioning more often, increasing the energy bills.
If your Dayton home has windows that are aging, leaky, or inefficient, follow these money saving tips for your home’s windows this spring.
When the sun shines directly on the side of your home, it heats up your siding and windows, and the heat is ultimately transferred into your home. Planting bushes or shrubs along the sunny side of your home can reduce this heat transfer and keep your home cooler, reducing the amount of energy your HVAC system uses.
If you choose to follow this tip, be sure to choose bushes and shrubs that tolerate some shade, since they will likely only be exposed to sunlight for part of the day. Hydrangeas and rhododendrons are both good choices for planting directly against the side of a home, and they tend to do well in the moderate Dayton climate.
You can also plant a medium-sized tree, like a crabapple, a few feet from a window on the side of your home. When the tree matures, it will reduce the amount of sunlight that comes through the window.
Another way to block hot sunshine is to install exterior awnings over your windows. This will keep the sunshine from permeating directly into your home, but it won’t block indirect light–so your home won’t feel too dim. As an added bonus, awnings add character to the outside of your home. If you want to keep costs down, consider installing awnings only on the sunniest sides of your Dayton home. This money saving tip for your home’s windows may keep you from having to turn on the air conditioning on warmer spring days.
Insulating curtains are not just for winter. They also come in handy on chilly spring days and during the hot summer months. There are several types of insulating window treatments to consider for your Dayton home. Thick curtains made from suede or fleece are one option. Another solution is shades made with individual, waffle-like cells. These cells trap air and work as an insulator, slowing heat transfer into and out of your home.
Regardless of which type of window treatment you choose, make sure you use it to your advantage. Open the treatments on a cool, but sunny day. The warm sun will increase your home’s temperature and reduce strain on your heater. Keep the treatments closed on a hot day; less heat will come into the home so you don’t have to turn on the AC as much.
Of course, the best way to deal with leaking, inefficient windows is to replace them with new, energy-efficient windows. Spring is the perfect time for window replacement since the nice weather makes it easy for contractors to work. Schedule a free, in-home consultation with Renewal by Andersen, and we’ll help you find windows that will keep the heat out of your Dayton home during the summer, and the cold out during the chilly Ohio winter.
Topics: Dayton home, Money saving tips for your home’s windows