Are Energy Star Windows Worth It?

If you have any questions about Energy Star Windows for your home, call Lynnrich Siding today.

Seal Drafts to Save Money

Seal drafts to save money, we’ve all heard this. Almost everyone’s home has a draft; it doesn’t matter if the home is newly-built or if it has been standing since our state’s inception, there are likely air gaps around windows, doors, electrical outlets, attic hatches, dryer vents, etc. And these air gaps can be a problem for even the most efficient furnace this winter. But there are a few simple methods to close up these air gaps. Here’s how…

Weather stripping is hands-down one of the simplest and most inexpensive methods to seal air gaps around doors and windows. Around the perimeter of a door, check for strips of light. If you can see light, then there’s an air gap.

Check the exterior weatherstripping first, because oftentimes it’s the culprit. Weatherstripping can age and break down. And if it appears broken down, it’s fairly simple to replace. Simply remove the old by pulling it free from its track and, assuming the old piece was the perfect length, lay the old piece alongside the new, mark the length, and then cut the new piece to size.

Then simply put the new piece into the track and, again, check for any sign of light. If light appears at the bottom of the door, your door sweep may be misaligned with the door. Some door sweeps can be corrected, and if your door sweep will not allow adjustment, consider replacing the old door sweep for one that can be adjusted.

When you have all the windows and doors sealed, then consider hanging heavier, insulated curtains. Insulated curtains will do a lot to keep out the chill. Yes, insulated curtains are more expensive, but they are going to increase the efficiency of your furnace, and those savings will eventually recoup the initial cost.

And remember, with the cold weather upon us, it’s time to replace your furnace’s filter and have your furnace cleaned and serviced for the winter season. You don’t want to have your furnace go out on a cold night this winter. If you have any questions, or would like to replace your windows and not have to worry about weather stripping, contact Lynnrich today!

Infinity Windows Are An Investment

New windows are an investment, an investment both for the long-term beauty of your home and also for the energy efficiency of your home. Thankfully, Infinity windows do both. Infinity windows have the traditional beauty of wood windows with modern features.

Quality windows work as great insulators of your home. One way that quality windows, like the Infinity windows, accomplish this is by allowing less heat to escape through the glass. Another way to think about the qualities of well-insulated windows is to consider the draft you feel when you’re standing next to a poorly efficient window. The draft you feel isn’t a draft of air at all, but the cold from the outside pulling your body heat through the window.

Obviously to replace inefficient windows throughout your home would be very beneficial. The trouble areas, however, are where there is warm, humid air (think rooms near or inside bathrooms), or kitchen areas, or areas where there is a woodstove or a fireplace constantly at work. The warm, wet air will come into contact with the colder surface of inefficient windows and cause condensation problems. Condensation can freeze windows shut, or drip down into window trim and soak in, grow mold, etc. Oftentimes today’s modern construction is built with a bathroom included within the master suite, and, oftentimes in these master suites, there isn’t enough ventilation in the bathroom to adequately clear the humid air from the shower. Oftentimes a high efficiency window will help to control the amount of condensation on the window pane, because the inside of the window pane will in fact be warmer than a lower efficiency window.

A higher efficiency window can have as much as a ten-degree greater temperature on the inside of the glass panel than a lower efficiency window. Conversely, in the summer time, this translates to less transferred in through the window, and therefore cooler temperatures.

Infinity Windows at Lynnrich can be purchased in most any size and shape, with numerous trim packages and colors, hardware packages ranging from quiet and sophisticated to antiqued brass.