Reduce your energy costs by draught proofing your sash windows, have lower utility bills, and be more comfortable in your home. If you have draughts, don't despair. Repairing heat losing windows is very possible, with methods that can fit any need and any budget.
Sash windows move up and down in a frame, and are usually made of wood, though they may be metal or even hard plastic. This type of window is typical of older homes and houses built in traditional styles. The windows have two sections, one or both moving up and down to admit the outside air, or shut it out. They are attractive and pleasant to live with, until they lose their sealing power.
The problem arises when these windows become older, loose in their settings, worn by the friction of opening and closing, or stiffened by age and old paint. The caulking around the outer frame can lose its seal or fall out, the inner seals of the window casings may become worn, and the putty around individual panes of glass can fail. Once any seal allows air to seep through, the insulating value of the window is compromised.
Don't think replacing the windows with modern ones is the only, or the best, option. This is an expensive remedy and one which may destroy the historic integrity of the house. Fixing the existing windows is possible, with either seasonal, temporary means like weatherstripping, or with structural repairs that can leave the windows as good as new.
Temporary solutions may be simply blocking the air coming in from outside, or escaping from the warm interior to the outdoors, with weatherstripping. A common kind is felt strips with adhesive on one side. You simply press the strips in place, closing the gap between a window and its surrounding frame. This can reduce draughts and heat loss, though it may not be completely effective. Weatherstripping can also be made of foam or the plastic, pliable cord that comes in rolls and is pressed into place like clay.
If the trim is removed and care is taken, weatherstripping can be invisible, but many times appearances give way to the seasonal need for draught proofing. Some homeowners use plastic sheets that seal the whole window on the inside, using heat to make them fit tightly, or inserts of glass that do the same thing.
Real repair involves dismantling the windows and removing all old caulk, putty, and outworn parts like the sash cords and the 'beads' that seal the channels and the joins where two pieces of wood meet. Removing the outside and inside trim boards can let you see if the caulking 0between the window frame and the wall needs to be redone. Stiff brush strips can be added to the inner parts of the sashes to let them move easily while still being air tight.
Reduce your energy costs by draught proofing your sash windows, either yourself or by getting professional help, and reap the rewards of comfort and energy savings.
Sash windows move up and down in a frame, and are usually made of wood, though they may be metal or even hard plastic. This type of window is typical of older homes and houses built in traditional styles. The windows have two sections, one or both moving up and down to admit the outside air, or shut it out. They are attractive and pleasant to live with, until they lose their sealing power.
The problem arises when these windows become older, loose in their settings, worn by the friction of opening and closing, or stiffened by age and old paint. The caulking around the outer frame can lose its seal or fall out, the inner seals of the window casings may become worn, and the putty around individual panes of glass can fail. Once any seal allows air to seep through, the insulating value of the window is compromised.
Don't think replacing the windows with modern ones is the only, or the best, option. This is an expensive remedy and one which may destroy the historic integrity of the house. Fixing the existing windows is possible, with either seasonal, temporary means like weatherstripping, or with structural repairs that can leave the windows as good as new.
Temporary solutions may be simply blocking the air coming in from outside, or escaping from the warm interior to the outdoors, with weatherstripping. A common kind is felt strips with adhesive on one side. You simply press the strips in place, closing the gap between a window and its surrounding frame. This can reduce draughts and heat loss, though it may not be completely effective. Weatherstripping can also be made of foam or the plastic, pliable cord that comes in rolls and is pressed into place like clay.
If the trim is removed and care is taken, weatherstripping can be invisible, but many times appearances give way to the seasonal need for draught proofing. Some homeowners use plastic sheets that seal the whole window on the inside, using heat to make them fit tightly, or inserts of glass that do the same thing.
Real repair involves dismantling the windows and removing all old caulk, putty, and outworn parts like the sash cords and the 'beads' that seal the channels and the joins where two pieces of wood meet. Removing the outside and inside trim boards can let you see if the caulking 0between the window frame and the wall needs to be redone. Stiff brush strips can be added to the inner parts of the sashes to let them move easily while still being air tight.
Reduce your energy costs by draught proofing your sash windows, either yourself or by getting professional help, and reap the rewards of comfort and energy savings.
About the Author:
Get the inside scoop on how to reduce your energy costs by draught proofing your sash windows in our secondary glazing london and top sash window insulation company review.
No comments:
Post a Comment