WINDOW SEALS

Guide to Draught Proofing Windows

Looking into Windows

Like doors, windows play an essential role in any home. More and more home owners are acknowledging the immense importance of windows and the overall look and feel they generate in their home.

We don’t always think of all the benefits windows provide us with, such as:

1. Offer cross ventilation throughout your home and allow you to control that ventilation
2. Bring natural light into your home
3. Enjoy the view of the locality
4. Prevent a home from looking gloomy
5. Prevent a home from being stuffy
6. Enhance the visual appeal of the home
7. Increase the value of your home.

Window Problems – Air Leakage

Air leakage occurs when gaps and cracks start to appear around the frame of your windows, around the sealing and locking mechanisms, and from general aging.

This means you lose control of ventilation in your home. The higher the air leakage the more difficult it is to control the inside temperature of your home which results in high energy bills.

5 reasons why air leakage and controlling ventilation through windows matters:

1. They are often the highest driver of energy loss – between 25% – 70% depending on the type of windows and their condition.
2. Can be a major factor in draughts in both hot and cold temperatures.
3. Can lead to moisture problems creating mold and mildew inside your home.
4. Dust, smoke, and other air pollutants will enter, leading to poor quality, unhealthy air in your home. 
5. An invitation for insects, rodents, and other pesties to enter your home again contributing to unhealthy conditions. 

How to find window draughts – air leakage

How to find draughts and air leakage around windows:

• Look for obvious gaps – Visible light under and around the windows is a good clue
• Feel for moving air –  Feel around the windows for cold air in the wintertime and hot air in the summertime 
• Look for curtain movement – When the windows are closed and it’s a windy day look for the curtains moving – this will be a key indicator.
  
• Listen for rattles or whistles – when it’s very windy listen for rattles and whistling around your windows
• Listen for noise –  external noise entering your home can also a good indicator of windows that leak air (along with other weak building elements). 

Different types of Windows:

• Double Hung or Sash Windows
• Awning or Wind Out Windows
• Aluminium Sliding window
• Shugg Frameless Windows

How to work out which draught proofing solutions seal different types of windows?

Other Window Insulation Solutions

Invisible Pelmets

Invisible Pelmets are a great solution to minimise cold and hot air transfer from your windows.  Pelmets interrupt the normal convection current where warm air rises, goes to the edges of your room, and cools as it falls.  If that air travels passed cold windows, it cools much, much faster.   Invisible pelmets stop that “super cooling” of air as they prevent the air from sneaking between the window glass and your curtains.  Pelmets can be visually unappealing – so Invisible Pelmets improve the energy efficiency of your home without affecting the aesthetic appeal of your windows.

Renshade Reflective Foil

The secret to sweltering summer comfort.  

It’s the quickest, easiest, cheapest, and highest-performing product available for reducing summer heat.  And it’s not bad at reducing the heat leaving your home in winter either!

Renshade significantly reduces summer heat radiating through your windows and glass doors.  Renshade is also highly effective at diminishing the heat load being transmitted through your pergolas that are covered with clear Alsynite or Polycarbonate.  It is also perfect for caravans and boats.  You can put it up in summer to provide you with a cool haven during the scorching summers, then roll it up and put it away for winter.  Ready for next year!