Winterizing Windows And Doors Mississauga
As the weather outside gets colder, ensuring your home stays warm enough to be comfortable is important. During the cold winter, windows and doors Mississauga are one of the main places where heat can escape. The best way to stop cold air from coming in is to ensure that your windows and doors have enough insulation.
During the winter, many homes have to deal with high energy bills and a chill that won’t go away because they don’t know how to keep cold drafts from coming in through their windows. Read on to find out how to properly prepare your windows and doors Mississauga for winter so that you can stay warm.
Sealing And Caulking
The first step in ensuring your windows and doors Mississauga work well is checking the frames and seals daily. Most window manufacturers suggest that all windows be inspected and maintained once a year, especially if you want to keep your warranty coverage.
Any signs of dryness, brittleness, or cracks in the glue should be fixed quickly. These are the places where cold air is most likely to get into your home during the coldest months of the year.
Also, if the seals on your windows are broken; water can get in and cause many problems, like mold growth and mildew. Simple preventive steps, like re-caulking, help lower your energy bills and keep you from paying for expensive window repairs.
To caulk properly, you have to start with a clean area. Use a sharp tool, such as a utility or putty knife, to remove the old, crumbling caulking around the windows. You can put on the new glue once the surface is clean and dry.
It’s important to ensure the weather is warm and dry enough for the caulking to set and create a strong seal around your window frames.
Consider Replacing The Weatherstripping
After you’ve checked that the seal around your window frames is still good, you should look at the weatherstripping. Weatherstripping, which can be made of different materials, keeps air from getting between the glass and the window sill.
Most weatherstripping comprises adhesive-backed foam, vinyl or rubber tubing, felt, or spring-loaded V-seals. Foam weatherstripping is cheap and easy to install, so it’s a popular and effective choice for all kinds of windows.
Most of the time, it’s easy to tell what kind of weatherstripping is on your windows. After a full inspection to determine which parts need to be replaced, you can easily remove the damaged parts and snap in the new ones.
Installing high-quality weatherstripping correctly saves between 10% and 30% of your energy costs during the winter. These savings add up to a lot.
Regularly Inspect Handles And Locks
Surprisingly, the state of your window locks and handles is one of the less obvious things that can cause heat loss. If either the locks or the bars are broken, your window won’t close properly when it’s shut.
Wear and tear on these parts is normal over time because they are used often. It’s important to carefully check each window in your home by opening, closing, locking, releasing; and reopening it to ensure nothing is stuck or catching.
Also, it’s a good idea to check with the manufacturer for tips on cleaning and keeping the mechanisms that lock and open your windows. You may also need to call your local window provider if any parts are broken or if you need to consider Mississauga windows replacement.
Once you’ve checked that all of the locks and keys work; you can ensure that your home’s windows are locked tight before winter. This proactive step helps stop heat loss that isn’t necessary.
Installing Thermal Curtains
Even if you seal around your windows and doors Mississauga and try to stop cold drafts; you may still feel cold air coming through the window glass; especially if you have older windows with only one pane.
The best way to fix this problem is to install easy thermal curtains, which don’t cost much. They will help insulate your windows and make your home more energy-efficient.
As an extra bonus, these insulated curtains also cut down on noise and make the room darker.
