With winter just around the corner, it is important to make sure your home is sealed up tight. Before running to the store to buy a bunch of materials, you should first to a home inspection. You don’t need to hire a contractor do the job, so long as you have a bit of background knowledge. The best place to start is your windows. Aside from letting natural light in and taking up wall space, windows also let air and heat out, if they are not properly sealed. Here are some helpful ways to determine whether your windows servicing.
The Draft Test
This is one of the most common ways to determine whether your windows are losing heat. A leaky window will almost always produce a draft. Does one side of your home feel cooler than the other? Can you notice a noticeable decrease in temperature in a particular area? If so, then a bad window may be the culprit. An adequately insulated home will maintain a constant temperature. There should be no major fluctuations throughout the space, so if there is; you know you have a problem. Not to worry though. Unless you have energy efficient windows (even if you do in some cases), you will likely encounter this situation at some point in time. Simply placing your hand around the edges of the window can help pinpoint the trouble area. You may even notice the draft on a breezy day. If you are unable to locate exactly where the window is leaking, light a match and see if the flame goes out. Carefully hold the match a couple of inches from window and trace your way around the frame. If there is a draft, the flame is bound to go out.
No Draft? No Worries
If you are unable to locate find a draft, this does not mean your window is not losing heat. A good way to tell if there is a leak is to observe the window through the seasons, or at least do your best to remember if the glass pane frosted up in the winter or steamed up in the summer. If your windows have done this, it means that outside air has gotten in somewhere around the frame. The ultimate way to test whether there is a leak is to buy a testing tool that will do the job for you. These devices range in price, but will pay certainly pay themselves off once used. Many will tell you how the temperature of the air around the window as well. This can be very helpful when you go to insulate your home. You will be able to tell precisely how effective your efforts are when you can visibly see the temperature increase. If you notice a draft or moisture inside your home, then you can be sure of one thing. Somewhere there is a leak, so knowing how to locate the source of the problem is the first step towards resolving it. A leaking window can lead to high utility bills and other problems, and should be addressed immediately.
Comments
The draft test is always the way to go! I replaced my windows after feeling a noticeable difference in coolness in my bedroom. The rest of the house was nice and cozy, but then my bedroom would be really cold and would get colder as the temperatures outside would drop. Not to mention, when it was hot outside, my bedroom was hotter! Anybody that feels a draft should check their windows first thing. It is almost always the cause for a temperature drop. And the thing is, you are losing money every minute you don’t do something about it. The draft test is a sure thing. It only takes a couple of seconds to check and will make all the difference in the world.