How to Prepare Windows for Winter | Home Inspector Albuquerque

Winter season is just around the corner and with it blustery cold winds and drafty cold conditions. If your home’s windows are not properly sealed then energy efficency suffers and uncomfortable conditions inside your home near the windows may exist. Some of your local home inspection companies can perform energy audits on your home’s current energy performance. What is detailed in the audit report is where throughout the home energy loss is identified and what steps you can take to improve and remedy the situation. Today we are going to focus on what you can do if you know your windows are in need of some energy efficiency upgrades without the hefty costs of replacing windows.

The following are some tips from your local Home Inspector Albuquerque of one of the frequently often asked questions by our customers. How do I protect my windows from cold weather? Did you know that a properly insulated window can save you up to 15% on your annual energy usage? It will typically cost you 5 to 7 dollars per window to properly insulate for winter.

First, we will go over what you can do to inspect the outside of your windows. You will want to check where the window trim meets the wall around the whole perimeter. If there are any gaps present you are going to want to seal the gaps with a silicone based outdoor caulk around the window trim and wall. If you have storm windows in front of your normal windows you will want to check the integrity of the weather stripping on the bottom and top sills. If the stripping is brittle or torn in any place we recommend replacing that as well. Once the weather stripping is replaced shut the storm windows for the season. When both of these outdoor issues are completed we will then address the interior window.

Inside the house we will want to check again where the window trim meets the interior wall. If you feel any drafts or you see open gaps you will want to seal those areas as well. You can find paintable or clear silicone caulk for the interior of your home at the hardware store, if you you do not want to see the actual caulk. Next, we will want to check the weather stripping on the indoor sills and make sure that it’s integrity is in good shape. If not, we will want to replace that interior weather stripping as well. There are a variety of weather stripping products out there that can be used, some last longer than others and some are more resilient. Most Albuquerque Home Inspectors have a general knowledge of which products may best serve your need and budget, all you got to do is just ask. Once the weather stripping has been replaced on the interior window sills then we shut the window and feel for any drafts that may still be coming from the sides of the windows where the windows meet the window frame. If so, then we recommend using a rope removable caulk that can be placed on the length of sides of the windows where they meet the window frame. Having taken these steps you should have a pretty well sealed window from any outdoor cold drafts.

There is one more step you can take to really lock in some energy efficiency. You can get a weather window kit also at your local hardware store that is inexpensive and easy to install over the whole interior window. Once this clear see through plastic covering is installed correctly over the window it creates a dead air space between it and your newly insulated windows providing the insulation protection and energy efficiency that will help save you money and keep you warm and cozy throughout the cold weather months.

​For a more elegant and old school approach you can always purchase some designer drapes and insulated curtains to help with keeping the draft and cool air out of the living space. For more energy saving tips you may want to check out www.energystar.gov

​Call 505-333-4041 to Schedule your home inspection TODAY! Or visit http://www.homeinspectoralbuquerque.com/contact.html