One way to lower your home's cooling bills is to reduce its heat gain, much of which occurs through your windows. While sunshine pouring in during cooler months is welcome, it's not so welcome in the summer -- when you have to pay to cool the air that the ultraviolet rays warm.
Here are some window-treatment tools you can use for reducing heat gain in your home:
- Reflective window films. This product can be installed on the inside of your windows to block the heat from entering. Its advantages include visibility outdoors and heat retention in the winter, so it serves you throughout the year. There may be a learning curve when you first start putting it on your windows, so it's advisable to buy a little extra and practice first. Some window cleaners can damage the surface, so you'll have to note what the product instructions say about safe cleaners to use.
- Insulated or lined drapes. These products also offer year-round protection from heat gain and heat loss, and they add a decorative touch to your home. Drapes that hang to the floor and close to the glass offer the most protection. Adding valances helps to keep heat from rising to your ceiling, also.
- Shades. Anything that shades your windows will lower the amount of heat coming in, but it also blocks your view. New materials, however, are available for shades that allow you to look outside and still block the heat.
- Shutters. These window coverings have significant mass that can absorb the heat coming indoors. You can tilt the slats to allow some light to enter the room without introducing a lot of heat. Shutters, like draperies, also make a decorative focus in the home.
- Blinds. Blinds can block the heat coming from windows while still providing adequate light inside your rooms.
Besides lowering heat gain in your home, you can also save on cooling bills by keeping your air conditioning system in top condition. If you haven't had it serviced this year, contact Rodenhiser Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning. We've provided HVAC services for the Route 495/128 area of Massachusetts for over 80 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Solutions Guide.
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