Dealing With Drafts From Windows
During the winter many people notice drafts coming in through older windows. There are a number of remedies to keep windows draft-free such as ensuring they are closed as tightly as possible. If there is a storm window as well, with a screened portion to allow for air movement in summer, it is important to ensure that the glass portion is closed tightly.
Some home owners will place towels, or cloths, along the edges of the window to as a make-shift prevention against cold air seeping in. Other home owners will install plastic sheets which seal along the edges of the window to prevent drafts. These products might provide a temporary solution but they would not be the best permanent one.
These sealed-plastic window coverings are effective, perhaps for a basement window in a cold cellar which no one ever sees. Even when installed properly, they are unsightly and do not enhance the aesthetics of any room. Another disadvantage is that once windows are sealed, there will be no opportunity to get fresh air from those sources throughout the winter months unless the seal is broken.
Once the seal is broken, the plastic covering becomes ineffective causing the home-owner to install another one or to live, once again, with the drafty window. These coverings are pricey and relatively unattractive, but they are an efficient temporary measure, for instance, if a window is cracked or leaking.
The other disadvantage of sealed, plastic window coverings, is that mold and mildew can collect in the window area because of condensation. When fresh air does not help evaporate the condensation which occurs when cold air and warm air collide, mildew and mold have a nice habitat. Mildew and mold are damaging to property and dangerous for humans.
When windows are at a point where they are no longer effective in keeping the cold out, they are also causing money to fly out of your wallet with heating bills. This would be the time to consider energy-saving options. Window replacement is always the best choice. Window replacements are attractive, effective and will enhance the value of the home.
Having leaky windows replaced is only one way to make a home more energy efficient. There are several other options. There are many resources on line to find information about replacement windows and other tips on how to effectively reduce your gas bill. Regardless of the energy reducing measures a home owner takes, they must also ensure they deal only with reputable companies.
About the Author
Northern Gas Heating - the UK's local supplier of new Combi Boilers including the energy efficient Condensing boiler
Tell others about
this page:
Comments? Questions? Email Here