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Drafty windows can make a home inefficient as well as uncomfortable. You know that using drapes helps block the draft while you’re waiting for window replacements; however, what is the best way to hang them? Here are some tips that will help you get the most out of your drapes.
Thermal Drapes – Thin, lightweight drapes and curtains are cheap and great for summer, but they have no place in an energy-conscious home. If you want to block a draft, the best thing to do is hang thick, thermal drapes over your windows. How do you know if drapes are thermal? Easy… They say so right on the packaging. Thermal drapes will be more costly than lighter drapes, but trust us when we say they’ll also save you more money on your home heating and cooling.
Do Your Drapes Hang Low – The lower your curtain or drapes hang, the better. If it doesn’t bother you, let them hang all the way down to the floor. By letting them touch the floor, the drapes will form a pocket. This pocket will trap infiltrating air between the window and the wall. If you don’t want your drapes touching the floor, go ahead and hem them. Even though some air will be escaping down the wall, most will still stay between the window and curtain.
Day Versus Night – During the day, when its warm out, go ahead and open up those heavy drapes. Doing so will let in the light and help warm the house. Just make sure you close the drapes before the sun goes down; as soon as the sun stops shining in, you’ll start to notice the draft. Open the curtains to let in the sunlight and then close them to trap the warmth.