Why Would You Winterize Your House's Skylights Plus Your Other Lumination Sources?

Sunshine and summer go together like coconut and pineapple. Yet when winter time rolls in with short days and colder temperatures, the amount of sunshine that enters your home can be much more important than at any other time of year.

Not enough sunshine can influence seasonal mood changes, vitamin D deficiency and even your utility bills. It is extremely important to prepare for winter time by taking care of the portals that let natural sunlight into your house: windows and skylights.

Caulking and weather stripping are the two most popular methods to prepare windows, and the tasks are easily within the capabilities of most do-it-yourselfers. Washing windows ought to also be part of your winter-preparedness efforts; clean windows will allow the maximum amount of room-warming sunshine into your home.

Winterizing skylights is also important. Skylight manufacturer Velux, offers these tips for preparing your skylights for colder months, as well as for year-round care and maintenance.

Have your fixed or venting skylights checked by a certified specialist. While issues such as broken claddings or flashings would be visible, other troubles might only be diagnosed through a professional inspection.

Remove all particles that may have gathered around the exterior of the skylight. Take appropriate caution when climbing on the roof and look into hiring a professional if you're not positive of your safety skills.

Completely clean the glass part of your skylight, inside and out. You'll most likely require a ladder to get to it, so be certain to take procedures to prevent a fall. Use a mild, non-abrasive glass cleaning solution and a soft brush or other non-abrasive applicator to wash the glass, and quickly remove the cleaner with a squeegee or lint-free cloth. Never use steel scrapers, knives or razors of any kind to clean large sections of glass.

Wash inner frames - often pre-painted wood or plastic - with a damp towel or mild, soapy water for tougher gunk. Take out bug screens in venting skylights, spray with a water hose and allow them to dry fully before replacing them.

If your skylight's pre-finished hardwood frame needs refinishing, completely remove the factory finish coat. Make sure the area is clean, then apply a layer of water-based acrylic varnish or paint, following the manufacturer's directions for application. Be certain to keep all varnish and paint away from the skylight gaskets and glass. Velux doesn't suggest painting over top of plastic frames and sashes.

Care for the mechanics of your skylights. Open venting skylights (turn off the electricity if they're electric) and wipe off the chain with a clean, dry towel and no cleaner or solvent of any type. For manual skylights, examine the loop or crank handle to make sure it's safe and secure. Do not add lubrication to your skylight's moving parts; the inner workings of manual and electric operators are viewed as maintenance-free, and are actually pre-lubed, so they should need no additional greasing.

Put in blinds. A must-have visual component readily available in more than 100 colors and patterns, blinds also give additional insulation and allow you to control the amount of sunshine that comes in through your skylights. They are also particularly effective at holding heat during cool weather; studies prove that including a blind to make a complete skylight unit can raise energy efficiency by 37 percent. That boost in efficiency jumps to as much as 45 percent with a blackout blind used on a fixed skylight, according to Velux. Plus, you may be eligible for a 30 percent federal tax credit for solar blinds.

Consider an inexpensive update from fixed skylights to venting styles. Venting skylights may help you enjoy fresh autumn air by providing passive air flow in addition to more natural light. If you happen to be upgrading your roofing system, there is no better moment to improve skylights, since most roofers will charge up to double to come back and replace units versus doing the job while upgrading the roof. By upgrading, you can also receive the benefits of a "No-Leak" guarantee, plus greater energy efficiency with superior glass coatings. Lastly, if you happen to be upgrading a plastic bubble skylight with an Energy Star-qualified glass model, you could possibly save up to $194 per year on your air conditioning expenses.

Winterizing your windows and skylights can help ensure they supply you with the highest quantity of healthful, natural light through the dark, cold months of winter time.

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