Tips To Reduce Your Energy Costs By Draught Proofing Your Sash Windows
Friday, December 30th, 2011You can reduce your energy costs by draught proofing your sash windows, and you will make your home more comfortable at the same time. If your windows are letting your heat out and cold air in, you need to decide which remedy will fix the problem in a manner suited to your home and your budget.
Sash windows are the kind with a frame, usually wood but maybe metal or plastic, and with a top and a bottom section, one or both of which moves up or down to open the house to the outside air. These windows have been used since the 17th century at least, and in America are found in historic homes from the Colonial and Victorian eras. Many newer homes have used this style as well, as it is attractive and traditional.
Once the windows get loose in their frames, the putty around the individual panes of glass loosens, and the caulking underneath the exterior trim no longer holds fast to the wall of the house, draughts begin to be felt. The insulating effect of the window is lost to a great extent, and heating bills rise.
Replacing windows is an expensive and extreme reaction to this situation, which can be corrected by temporary weatherstripping or by long lasting structural repairs. Many homeowners would rather keep old windows for their historic value, their suitability to the character of the house, and as a less costly solution.
Draughts may be blocked with anything that will stop the flow of air. This can include heavy curtains, which act as a layer of insulation and can block the sun’s heat as well as winter cold. Strips of adhesive-backed felt or foam, or cords made of clay-like putty, can be pressed against the cracks and spaces around windows, and new putty can stop leaks around the individual panes.
If the trim is removed and care is taken, weatherstripping can be invisible, but many times appearances give way to the seasonal need for draught proofing. Some homeowners use plastic sheets that seal the whole window on the inside, using heat to make them fit tightly, or inserts of glass that do the same thing.
Real repair involves dismantling the windows and removing all old caulk, putty, and outworn parts like the sash cords and the ‘beads’ that seal the channels and the joins where two pieces of wood meet. Removing the outside and inside trim boards can let you see if the caulking 0between the window frame and the wall needs to be redone. Stiff brush strips can be added to the inner parts of the sashes to let them move easily while still being air tight.
Reduce your energy costs by draught proofing your sash windows, either by do it yourself stop gaps, or your own extensive repair and replacement of caulking, putty, and parts. You may choose to call a professional draught proofing company to do this complicated job for you.
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