Options To Reduce Your Energy Costs By Draught Proofing Your Sash Windows

You can reduce your energy costs by draught proofing your sash windows, and you will make your home more comfortable at the same time. If your windows are letting your heat out and cold air in, you need to decide which remedy will fix the problem in a manner suited to your home and your budget.

Sash windows, usually made of wood, are the kind found in older homes, and in many newer ones, too, since this style appeals to many homeowners. There is usually a top section and a lower one, either equal in size or with a stylish difference. The lower sash, or both, can be raised and lowered to allow the breeze to blow in.

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.

Replacing windows is an expensive and extreme reaction to this situation, which can be corrected by temporary weatherstripping or by long lasting structural repairs. Many homeowners would rather keep old windows for their historic value, their suitability to the character of the house, and as a less costly solution.

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.

Weatherstripping can be hidden from view if the trim is removed from around the window, but this is beyond many homeowners, who sacrifice appearance for heat retention during the winter months. There are also kits that contain air tight plastic sheets, that homeowners can tape to the inside of windows and then shrink to fit, using a hair dryer or other heat source. Even heavy curtains can block draughts in a similar mechanical manner.

Another way is to dismantle the window, put new caulk around the outside and each individual pane, and then replace the inner seals of the window frames with new beads or, ideally, reinforce them with stiff brush strips that block the passage of air while still allowing the sashes to be raised and lowered. These extensive repairs will retain the architectural integrity of the house and make it energy efficient for years to come.

Reduce your energy costs by draught proofing your sash windows, a common sense solution which can be done yourself or by a professional draught proofing specialist.

Get the inside scoop on how to reduce your energy costs by draught proofing your sash windows in our comprehensive secondary glazing london and top sash window insulation company review.

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