Oh, the beauty of the summer sun. It provides light but it also produces heat. But who wants to swelter at home in the summer heat? No one, of course. The answer isn’t just wearing shorts and consuming lots of cold drinks. For most people, the primary relief solution is air conditioning but that can raise a home’s monthly energy bill dramatically. Instead of cranking up the AC, consider some less costly ways to help beat the heat.
How to Upgrade Your Windows to Beat the Heat
Use these ideas to achieve more comfortable temperatures inside your home:
- Window shades. Heat blocking window shades can help block the heat and they are easy to install. The best window shade insulation is provided by honeycomb or cellular shades which help to trap the air. They should be installed as close as possible to the window glass.
- Roller shades, which have a roller bar at the top of the window, and Roman shades, which are built of fabric and assembled with a series of folds, are also effective in reducing the effects of the hot summer sun.
- Blackout blinds. These block both light and heat, so the use of them will result in a loss of light in a room. Learn more: http://blog.thermawood.com.au/how-to-block-sunlight-heat-from-windows
- Window inserts. Install inserts inside the interior window frame to block heat while allowing natural light to penetrate. This “storm window” approach also can significantly block noise.
- Low-E windows. Upgrade windows with a low-emissivity window film which not only reduces heat gain in the summer but also cuts down heat loss in the winter. These come in two versions: a hard coat produced during window glass manufacturing, and a soft coat which requires a thin film to be applied after the window is manufactured.
- Double pane or double-glazed windows. This approach requires replacing existing windows with double-pane windows that have an insulating gas between the two panes. Learn more: https://www.aaawindows4less.com/window-heat-blocking-solutions-summers-sizzle/
- Window film. An inexpensive DIY approach to helping lower the heating effects of the sun is to install heat-reducing plastic film. When attached to the glass, it creates a small air space that offers minor heat prevention benefits.
- Two additional inexpensive and modestly beneficial approaches to block the summer heat are to install bubble wrap on the windows and to install foil on the windows. Learn more: https://homedecorbliss.com/how-to-block-heat-from-windows-4-easy-ways/
Combine these approaches to achieve a greater heat-reducing effect.
Outside the Home Heat-Blocking Ideas
In addition to the window upgrades, secure heat-blocking benefits by creating shade outside of your windows using trees and plants outside the windows. However, as the angle of the sun changes in its rotation during the day, there will likely be parts of the day that the sun is not blocked. Additional ways to block the sun are to install exterior awnings or exterior shutters, which can be made of wood, steel, aluminum, or vinyl.
Closing Thoughts
Don’t continue to struggle with the summer heat. Use these ideas to be more comfortable inside your home. Consider the costs versus the benefits of each solution.