As the cold months start to draw in, keeping your windows up to scratch is vital. Poor insulation or wear and tear can lead to draughts blowing into your home – driving up energy costs, and making it impossible to get comfortable as the temperature plummets.
Rather than cranking up the heating and burning through money, here are some handy tips for preparing your windows for winter, to keep your home nice and cosy throughout the season.
Window insulation might sound like a big undertaking, but it doesn’t need to be complicated. With just a few tweaks and a proactive approach, you can keep your windows insulated against the winds and rain that stick around during the winter months.
The first thing to do is check the condition of your windows. This includes taking a look around the seals to make sure that there aren’t any breaks or damages, as well as inspecting the frames themselves for signs of decay.
Most windows are built to last decades, particularly those made of uPVC and aluminium. However, if you’ve recently moved into an older home, or if you live in a conservation area, it’s possible that your windows are in need of some light repairs.
Next, you want to look into window insulation. This can be as simple as buying some sealant tape and carefully sticking it around the window panes where the seal is formed. If your windows are performing well and you just want to amplify their insulation, this kind of quick fix can be a cost-effective way of solving the problem.
For a slightly more permanent solution, caulking is your best bet. Interior caulk can be used between interior window trim and your walls, whereas exterior caulk is used on the outside perimeter of the window.
When applying caulk externally, be sure not to fill in weep holes. These small holes allow moisture to escape window frames, and filling them in could cause rot or mould to build up inside your windows – reducing their lifespan considerably.
Over time, your windows can lose their compression, which allows cold, draughty air to flow into your home. One of the best ways to combat this is to adjust the locking mechanism (or cams) that keeps the window secure within the frame.
This is a fairly simple task that just requires an Allen key and some precision. Once you’ve identified the locking mechanism with the window open, you can fit an Allen key into it and turn clockwise. This moves the rubber seal contained within, tightening the mechanism.
Once you’ve taken steps to improve your external window insulation, it’s time to turn your focus inwards.
One of the most surprisingly effective features that impacts your home’s insulation are your curtains. By opening them during the day, you’ll let in sunlight which will naturally warm the air within your home. Then, when the evening draws in, close your curtains to keep in the warmer air and keep out colder draughts.
It may also be worth looking into specialised thermal curtains. These amplify the benefits you’ll receive from closing them at night, and when paired with proper window insulation, you’d be surprised by the warmth you can generate.
Even if you seal your windows for winter, you might still encounter one of the most annoying weather-based burdens for homeowners: condensation.
Condensation can lead to damp throughout your home. It’s also just unsightly, and something that you need to try and prepare for as the winter months approach.
Some of the most common methods of stopping condensation on your windows in winter include:
Improving ventilation. It’s important to open your windows and let out humidity where possible, as this will cause condensation to form where the warm air inside your home meets the colder glass of the windowpane. This is particularly important in bedrooms, as your breath throughout the night will collect on the window in the morning. In Germany, there’s even a word for ventilating your home in this way: lüften!
Drying clothes suitably. In cold weather, it’s not realistic to dry your clothes outside. If you need to dry washing indoors, try to do so in a bathroom. These rooms are designed to deal with a high amount of moisture, and by keeping the door closed, you can prevent damp air from infiltrating the rest of your home.
Limiting indoor plantlife. As plants photosynthesise, they can release water vapour through their leaves. If you want a quick fix to lower the amount of condensation in a particular room, removing plants may be the first step. If you’re especially greenfingered and don’t want to limit plantlife, paying particular attention to ventilating green spaces is the next best thing.
Moving your furniture. If heavy sofas or bookshelves are pressed up against your walls, it can limit air circulation and lead to warm, stagnant air. This will cause condensation faster than when air flows freely, so organising your furniture in a way that promotes circulation should keep water vapour to a minimum.
If you need more guidance on preparing your windows for winter or want to discover which window upgrades might work for your home, we’re here to help. Give our helpful team a call with our helpful team on 020 8653 2200, or submit a contact form and we’ll be in touch soon.
