Keeping out the cold

Energy efficiency is fast becoming an important issue for many people. As summer turns to fall, and your furnace kicks on to take off that morning chill, you might want to start thinking about how you can reduce those high winter energy bills — while maintaining a comfortable temperature inside.

Poor performing windows might be causing that furnace to run all the time. Deteriorated weatherstripping or sealant around windows allows cold air to seep into your house.

“Many sealants have a maximum 20-year lifetime,” said Josh Seek, sales manager of Centennial Glass Company in Mukilteo. If you have single-pane windows, they are probably more than 20 years old.

For a short-term, inexpensive fix, you can reseal or replace the weatherstripping around your windows. However, the energy efficiency of a single-pane window is far below today’s standards, he said.

Single-pane windows also create drafty spaces around the home. If you touch a single-pane window in the winter, it will be cold because it is the same temperature as outside. Unlike a double-paned window, a single pane cannot keep your home’s heat from passing through the glass. The warm air hitting the cold glass causes the draft, said John T. Kartak of Cutting Edge Windows in Snohomish.

Installing thermally efficient windows can help reduce your year-round energy costs in a big way. If you are wondering about the value of replacing your windows, most real estate professionals estimate that you will get 90 percent of the cost back in the resale of your home, Seek said.

Window technology has improved greatly since the days of single-pane windows.

Many choices and options are available and they come with a lot more benefits than reduction of heat loss and air infiltration, Kartak said.

“Installing insulated windows made of vinyl or wood makes the most sense,” Seek said. These windows have a coating that is applied to the inside of a double-paned window designed to reflect heat back into the house. According to Seek, installing this type of glass will improve heating efficiency and reduce approximately 86 percent of ultraviolet rays that cause fading. These windows lower solar heat gain in the summer and hold in the heat in the winter, he said. They require minimal maintenance and their contemporary designs can offer an instant upgrade to the look of your house. As an added benefit, you may even be able to use a smaller heating system.

If you decide to get new windows, Kartak advises you to shop around and educate yourself about all kinds of windows and options. “You may want to compare prices of different sized companies,” he said. “Drive by their jobs and check out their work,” he added.

Consider our temperate climate, too, when making your decision. Some types of insulated windows might be over-the-top for this area. For example, you may not need triple-paned windows, Seek said.

If you think you might want to replace your windows, call for a professional estimate. Generally, turnaround time is three to four weeks for custom-built windows like the glass sold at Centennial Glass. The amount of time the window is actually out of your home is one or two days.

Seek advises against replacing one window at a time. Overall, the labor and travel time will be higher. It will cost less to install several or all of your windows at once.

If you already have insulated windows, you will want to make sure the seals are intact. If moisture or condensation is in between the two panes, this means it has a poor seal. “The slightest indication dramatically lowers the effect of the glass,” Seek said. Based on his experience, he recommends replacing the glass because it is very difficult to reseal.

Although upgrading to insulated windows is the best way to improve energy efficiency, you can do other less expensive things to help ward off those high costs.

If you have storm windows, you can use those. If you are thinking about buying them, you might want to research and compare their efficiency with insulated windows. “It’s never an option that I recommend,” Seek said. “If you have them, then by all means use them,” he said.

If you have old, drafty windows from the 1930s with wood sashes, you can use plastic window sheathing. “It’s a good draft stop,” Seek said. It is better than doing nothing, and is money well spent.

Your sliding glass door is really an oversized window. It has the same weatherstripping issue, so check for leaks and reseal or replace the weatherstripping.

The glass in French doors or other doors has weatherstripping that could wear out.

If you don’t use a door during the winter, you can run tape sealant around the entire door.

Weatherproofing your doors can go a long way toward helping offset energy costs, as well. Most likely, you will not need to replace your door, so some simple, inexpensive fixes can help improve insulation.

“Check to see if any daylight is coming through them,” said Collin Keefover, owner of On the Level Construction in Lynnwood.

“If you see light around the edge, that’s a bad sign,” he said. If light is seeping in, so is cold air.

To fix this, replace the weatherstripping. You can buy self-adhesive weather stripping at any home improvement store. Apply the stripping to the outside of the door. “It’s where the door buts against the jam,” he said.

Heat can escape through your fireplace, too. If you have an old fireplace that is not fully functional, chances are that a lot of heat is escaping through the chimney.

Keefover says you can reduce heat loss by closing it off with a board covered with fabric or some other type of cover. This simple fix will go a long way in keeping your house warmer for the winter.