Want Better Energy Savings in Your Home? Weatherize Your Windows

The Middletown region gets mighty cold in the winter. If your energy bill goes through the roof during the frigid months, it may be time to take some action to lower your heating costs.

Air leaks in your home allow conditioned air to escape and outdoor air to infiltrate, reducing your comfort level and increasing energy costs. Sealing air leaks is an easy and inexpensive way to stay cozy while reducing your energy bill, and the best place to start is with the windows.

Weatherizing Windows is Easy

Windows are notorious leaky, but weatherizing windows is a simple and inexpensive task that you can complete in an afternoon — all you need are a few supplies from the hardware store:

• Silicone caulk.
• Rope caulk.
• Expandable foam caulk for large cracks and gaps.
• Adhesive-backed weatherstripping.
• Window insulation kits.

Working with caulk is fairly simple, but if you’ve never done it, be sure to read the directions for use before you begin.

Start Outside

Weatherizing windows begins outside.

• Use silicone caulk to seal the seam between the window frame and the exterior wall of your home.
• Fill large gaps and cracks with expandable foam caulk.
• Install storm windows if you have them.

Move Inside

Once the exteriors of your windows are sealed, move inside. Just as you did outside, seal the seam between the window frame and the wall with caulk. Then:

• Open the windows and install the weatherstripping at the top and bottom to form an air-tight seal.
• Apply rope caulk to the movable parts of the window. This can be removed in the spring.
• Install window insulation kits if you don’t have storm windows or if your windows are particularly old or drafty.

Keep your window coverings open when the sun is shining to take advantage of solar heat gain.

Consider an Energy Audit

A home energy test can identify other leaky areas around the house for considerable energy savings. To learn more, or for more tips for weatherizing windows, please contact us at C. R. Wolfe Heating & Air Conditioning, proudly serving the Middletown area with a high level of customer satisfaction.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Middletown, New York about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about weatherizing windows and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 845-367-4482.

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