Save money on heating bills with DIY sash window insulation and make your house more comfortable as well. The estimates of lost energy because of leaky windows are large enough to make all of us aware of this problem.
Many older windows are single-glazed, which is not very much insulation from heat or cold. Their frames may be loose, which lets air through, and the sash weight channels may also be a source of leakage. Often these older, wooden windows are replaced with new windows, made of vinyl or metal. The fact that new windows units may have double or triple glazing and factory-installed weather stripping generally makes them more energy efficient.
Further restoration methods can be simple or complex, although all of them are within the scope of a dedicated DIY homeowner. Sometimes all that is needed is a new latch on each window that will hold the sashes tightly together, preventing the outside air from sneaking in. Making sure that all individual panes are tight, with sound putty, will prevent leaks in that quarter.
Weatherstripping can also be put around the frames and in the sash channels. To put new weatherstripping around the frames, the molding or trim around the window must be removed. This will expose the area where the window meets the wall. The joins may be sealed with one of the many forms of weatherproofing, pressed, nailed, or taped into place and with the corners sealed with spray-on foam.
However, it may be that the whole window unit leaks air between the walls and the frames, as well as through the frames themselves. Heat may be transferring quickly through single sheets of glass. Newer techniques using vinyl frames ( vinyl is not a good heat conductor, like metal is, and the frames are often hollow, with air spaces that slow heat loss as well), layers of glass with air or argon gas in between, and springs instead of sash weight and cords minimize energy losses.
Other ideas are applying a transparent insulating film to the glass, encasing the whole window in a shrink wrap that lets in light but not air, or hanging heavy curtains. These are more temporary fixes and not as effective as weatherstripping. Of course, replacement windows can be installed, with high factor vinyl frames or metal ones that hold multiple sheets of insulated glass. Tax credits and rebates can offset part of the cost of replacement windows even if the homeowner installs them.
To really weatherproof a window, you will have to remove the trim both inside and out, and take the sashes out of their frames as well. The channels where the sash weights and cords are concealed are often sources of drafts and can be sealed with weatherstripping. Save money on heating bills with DIY sash window insulation and really make a difference in the comfort and value of your home.
Looking for more info on how to save money on heating bills with sash window draught proofing? Get the exclusive low down now in our sash window refurbishment overview.
