Spring cleaning is upon us. One of your most important – and often neglected – tasks is to wash your windows. Not only does it make them look nicer, and help you see out of them better, but dirty windows can damage your home’s energy efficiency. Here’s how.
Clean Windows and Sunlight
You may joke that your windows are so dirty, they block out the sunlight, but believe it or not, it’s true. As dirt, dust, and other particles build up on the glass, they ultimately get into the pores of the window pane, where they obstruct UV rays. When that happens, the warmth those rays carry with them is reflected back out, instead of being allowed through and into your home.
When natural warmth is restricted, your home needs to rely more on its HVAC system instead. Not only does this drive your energy bill up, it also increases your carbon footprint. Additionally, that dirt buildup makes the glass structurally weaker, making it more likely to crack or shatter. However, by cleaning your home’s windows regularly, you can increase your energy efficiency, reduce the strain on your heating system, and help both the system and the windows to last longer.
Other Window Efficiency Tips
Cleaning your windows is a good start, but there are other ways your windows can help improve energy efficiency. A set of blinds allows you to control the amount of light you let into your home. Choose how wide you want them open, to let more light and warmth in on cold days, or less on warm days.
But light isn’t the only thing coming in through your windows. You should also check them for air leaks. By weatherizing your windows and sealing up any leaks, you prevent cold air from coming into your house uninvited and undermining your heating system. This way, your system can work more efficiently, keeping your home warmer without wasting energy and driving up your bill.
For more tips on improving your home’s energy efficiency, contact us at Ace Hardware Home Services today. We’re Dayton’s trusted source for quality heating and cooling solutions.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
