Midwestern summer nights can be downright uncomfortable. High humidity and temperatures, plus longer exposure to sunshine can dramatically raise the temperature inside your home. If you have air conditioning, the energy required to maintain a constant, cooler temperature increases under these conditions. If you don’t have AC, you may be wondering how you’ll ever get relief from the heat. Jack’s Glass offers some tips for keeping your home cooler during summer months, beginning with an inspection of the windows in your home. You may be surprised at the role your windows play in keeping your home cooler in summer and warmer in the winter.
Ditch Your Single Pane Windows
Single pane windows – those with a single pane of glass – are the least energy efficient windows you can have in your home. Whether in summer or winter, the single pane of glass provides a medium through which the air in your home can easily be heated or cooled. In the winter time, the warm air in your home is easily lost through the surface of the glass, while in summer, the cold air in your home is heated directly from the sun.
Double pane windows, on the other hand, consist of two panes of glass with air sealed in between. It’s surprising how well this thin layer of air insulates the window and thus, your home. Simply switching to energy-efficient windows can save you as much as 70% on heating and cooling costs throughout the year. Manufacturers can also add glazing to double pane windows, such as tints and low-emissivity (low-E) to further increase insulation capabilities.
Replacing single pane windows throughout your home may require a significant financial investment. However, the energy savings will eclipse those costs over time. Plus, as a homeowner, you may be eligible for federal tax credits depending on the type of replacement windows you purchase. You don’t need to replace all of the windows at the same time; work within your budget and replace windows as you can, beginning with the ones what will bring the greatest energy savings. Typically, windows along southern or western exposures are less efficient because they are exposed to the sun for the longest periods of time and during the hottest parts of the day.
Mitigate the Effects of Single Pane Windows
If replacing windows is not an option, consider applying a window film to block some of the heat transfer in your single pane windows. Also, check around the window frame for gaps that can be sealed with caulk. As for window treatments, consider quilted or black-out shades to block the sun’s rays and reduce surface heating.
Strategies for a Cooler House
Here are a couple of simple tips for keeping your home cooler in summer. First, if you don’t have AC, use fans and open windows at night to cool your home. Keep windows open during early morning when the air temperatures remain cool, and close windows and curtains late in the morning before temperatures begin to rise substantially. Keeping your home closed up during the middle of the day will make a significant difference in overall room temperature. After sunset, reopen windows and use fans to begin cooling the interior once again. Lastly, if you have AC, be sure to perform regular inspections and maintenance to ensure proper function and to save energy.
If you’d like to learn more about cooling your home or energy savings from replacing single pane windows in your home, call Jack’s Glass today. Our Residential Solutions Team will provide an in-home consultation and recommendations for replacing the windows in your home to improve safety, energy efficiency and design, while keeping your budget in mind.
Jack’s Glass has excelled in glass repair, replacement and design for more than 65 years. Jack’s Glass provides repair and replacement for auto glass, and custom solutions forshower and tub enclosures as well as many other residential glass items. We also do custom glasswork for businesses, and proudly serve Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky with locations in Elsmere, Covington, Alexandria and Dry Ridge.
