Weatherizing Existing Windows Helps Improve Your Home's Energy Efficiency

With summer upon us, residents of Corpus Christi are preparing for the intense heat and hoping that their cooling bills won’t be any higher than they have to be. Thankfully, weatherizing existing windows in your home can help cut the cost of keeping your home comfortable and improve your home’s energy efficiency with just a few quick and inexpensive steps.

Simple Window Repairs

• Find the leaky culprits on a windy day. You will be able to hold something long and light, like a piece of fabric, near the window and see it gently sway. On very hot or cold days, you will be able to detect a temperature difference near the faulty windows.
• Older windows tend to leak because the caulk around the panes breaks down or shrinks over time. Replacing this caulk, or simply adding more where it is needed, will make a major difference in keeping your cold air in and the hot air out.
• Cracked windows can be temporarily sealed with clear nail polish. The polish will stabilize the glass until it can be replaced and can even diminish the appearance of the crack.
• You can purchase a shrink film that is applied over the windows with double sided tape, then shrinks to fit with heat from a hair dryer.
• Finally, a draft snake will stop air transfer from the window’s sash.

Insulated Curtains Add Beauty and Savings

Specially made curtains can act as insulation over drafty windows, as well. They have the added benefit of keeping sunlight out of a room when drawn, reducing the cost of conditioning the air in your home.

Most systems come with:

• A moisture blocking reflective barrier.
• An outer decorative curtain and a protective liner.
• A reflective film that directs heat back into the room in the winter.
• High density foam that helps reduce outside noise and heat exchange.

For more information on weatherizing existing windows, or other expert advice on heating, cooling and energy conservation in your South Texas home, contact us today. Mathews CCAC Air Conditioning and Heating has been “Constantly Concerned About Customers” in the Corpus Christi area since 1979.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about energy efficiency and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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