Summers in Utah typically mean hiding in your air-conditioned home, escaping to higher altitudes, or ensuring that you’re carrying around truckloads of water to help deal with the triple-digit temperatures. If your home isn’t as cool as it should be, you may think that your HVAC system may be to blame – but remember that your windows impact your HVAC efficiency, too.
Even if your HVAC system is in good condition, your windows can cause it not to be as effective as it otherwise would be. Here, we’ll get into why your windows can impact your HVAC efficiency, the consequences of ignoring your windows when they’re exhibiting such problems, and what you can do in order to help your windows keep your home at a comfortable temperature all year round. Let’s dive in.
Do Windows Affect How Your HVAC System Works?
Yes, your windows do indeed affect your HVAC efficiency. The significance of this is to the point where the Department of Energy states that windows are responsible for about 25-30% of residential heating and cooling energy usage. So, if your home isn’t maintaining a comfortable temperature and your energy bills are rising, your HVAC system may not be to blame. The issue could instead lie with your windows.
How Do Windows Affect HVAC Efficiency?
There are a few ways windows can impact HVAC efficiency.
Poor Insulation / Being Improperly Sealed
If your windows are poorly insulated or not sealed properly, this means that the air-conditioned air in the summer or heated air in the winter is escaping outside, and the outside air is making its way in. This can cause you to mess with your thermostat, making your HVAC system work harder, and increasing your energy bills. Plus, the increased strain can result in premature repairs for your HVAC system.
Heat Gain / Loss
Heat naturally travels through cold glass, which forces your HVAC system to work harder in the winter. Cold air falls while heated air rises, so the cold air sinking to the floors of your home sends your HVAC system into overdrive. Double- and triple-pane windows work to mitigate this issue.
Drafts
Gaps around your windows allow external air in, creating drafts. Not only does this affect the internal temperature of your home, it can result in other issues, like dust, dirt, and pollen being brought inside.
Improving HVAC Efficiency With Your Windows
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do in order to improve the energy-efficiency of your windows.
Energy-Efficient Window Replacement
Replacing your windows with high-performance, energy-efficient windows can greatly improve the energy efficiency and comfort of your home. You want to ensure that you’re choosing the most efficient windows for your location and needs. You’ll want to look for the ENERGY STAR ratings, as these will tell you that the windows will actually be energy-efficient and by how much.
An experienced window company, like the team here at Creekside Windows & Glass, will be able to help you select the ideal windows for your specific needs.
Window Placement
Energy-efficiency with your windows goes beyond the windows themselves. If you’re building a new construction home, you’ll also want to consider where you’re placing the windows. Ideally, your windows will be placed in such a way to promote solar heat gain in the cooler months and minimize it in the hotter months.
This makes your home more comfortable in general, and so that your HVAC system doesn’t have to work as hard. This benefits you in more ways than one, because the less wear and tear on your HVAC system, the fewer repair bills you’ll have, the lower your energy expenses will be, and your system will likely last longer.
Proper Installation / Insulation / Sealing
If your windows aren’t installed, insulated, or sealed correctly, they won’t be as efficient as they otherwise could be. Through working with experienced professionals to install your windows and ensuring that they’re properly sealed and insulated, you can greatly help the energy efficiency of your home.
Use Your Windows Wisely
How you use your windows also affects your HVAC efficiency. In the summer months, you’ll want to keep your windows closed and covered during the day in order to block out the sun. But in the winter months, the opposite is true.
Are You Looking For Energy-Efficient Windows In Northern Utah?
Creekside Windows & Glass is here to help! We provide low-e windows to help keep your home comfortable all year round. Our experienced professionals pay attention to the details, ensuring that you’re not only provided with a top-quality product, but also with top-quality installation and service.
To learn more about the services we can provide you with, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.
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