Cut Window Heat Loss With A Few Simple Steps

Morning frost blankets the front porch, and the stairs glare with ice. Icicles hang frozen in midair from the eaves, and that annoying chilly draft from doors and windows has returned. Winter is in full swing, and perhaps the most obvious sign of the season is a higher utility bill.

This is the time of the year when folks began to see a dramatic increase in their power bills. Besides Mother Nature, one culprit in this increase may be your windows.

Windows have less resistance to heat loss than other parts of the house. In fact, in some homes, as much as one-third or more of the heat loss can be through windows. This means that one-third of your heating bill could be going out your windows. You can cut this loss with a few simple low- or no-cost steps.

No cost: During the winter months, close blinds, shades and drapes on all windows at night and on north-facing windows during the day. On sunny days uncover eastern-facing windows in the morning, western-facing windows in the late afternoon, and windows with a southern exposure during all daylight hours. This helps your house receive warming sunlight.

Low-cost storm windows: A number of manufacturers market low-priced do-it-yourself storm window kits. They contain a plastic film and a mechanism of some type to attach the film to the window frame. Some plastic windows are stretched tight using the heat from a hairdryer. For maximum effectiveness, the seal between the window frame and the plastic must be airtight. You want your window to be airtight, easy to put up and take down and, if possible, reusable. Some of the typical methods of attachment on the market are double-sticking tape, interlocking plastic channels (like a zip-lock bag), wood strips and nails, and magnetic strips. Kits range from $2 to $25.

For more information on low-cost or no-cost home weatherization tips, contact the Washington State Energy Office at (800) 962-9731 or 324-7980.

Jason DeLeon assisted in the writing of this column.

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