Your Guide on How to Keep Cold Air from Coming Through Your Windows

In Wisconsin and other parts of the country where the winters can be quite unforgiving, it can be difficult for homeowners to stop cold, outside air from permeating through their house windows. You could, of course, raise the thermostat and force your HVAC to compensate for the difference. However, that approach can lead to costly energy bills and doesn’t address the issue at its source. Let’s look at a few things you can do to improve insulation around your windows.

Apply Weather Strips to Your Windows

Weather strips are an inexpensive option for sealing the inside edges of windows. Compression, V-type, and foam are the three most popular types of weather strips. Compression weather strips are the most durable of the three and are generally used for sealing windows with swinging sashes, such as casement windows. V-type weather strips work by preventing cold air from entering through the window’s jam. Perhaps the simplest to install is foam weatherstripping, as it has an adhesive backing on one side for easy application.

Although weatherstripping is cost-effective, it should be considered a temporary solution to preventing cold air from coming through your windows, as it is notorious for deteriorating when exposed to moisture for an extended period of time.

Install Foam Tape

Gaps tend to form between windows and their openings when they have been warped by the sun or contracted by the cold. Installing foam tape in place of those gaps can help slow cold air from entering your home.

Place Draft Stoppers by Your Windows

Positioning draft stoppers at the base of your windows, both inside and out, can provide a barrier that helps reduce cold air sneaking past. Draft stoppers, also referred to as draft snakes, are made from tubular-shaped fabric that is stuffed and sewn shut. One downside to draft stoppers is the inconvenience of moving them each time you wish to open your windows or clean them.

Invest in Energy-Efficient Windows

If you’re looking for a more permanent solution to keeping cold air from coming through your windows, nothing beats replacing your existing house windows with energy-efficient products. Energy-efficient windows manufactured by Renewal by Andersen^®, for example, feature frames made from an exclusive composite material called Fibrex^® that doesn’t warp, rot, or corrode. Fibrex^® frames are also structurally sound which allows these replacement windows to maintain a weathertight seal year after year. And with Andersen’s High-Performance^™ Low-E4^® glass that keeps the heat where it’s supposed to be, and seamless weatherstripping, which prevents air leakage, these replacement windows will make the nightmares of drafty windows a distant afterthought.

Your Source for Energy-Efficient Windows in Greater Wisconsin

If you’re ready to experience the peace of mind that comes with having Andersen’s energy-efficient windows installed at your home, turn to RBA of Greater Wisconsin. We are the area’s exclusive provider of Renewal by Andersen replacement windows and patio doors, and we bring a high level of expertise to the table. We’ll be happy to help you arrive at the perfect solution for your home during your free, no-obligation consultation.

Contact RBA of Greater Wisconsin today to get started.