Insulating your home’s windows is a simple and affordable way to save energy and create a comfortable indoor space. Our guide describes common window insulation pitfalls and gives you tips on how to avoid them.
Insulation is a critical component of any house. It maintains a comfortable indoor environment while reducing energy consumption.
Despite its importance, many homeowners make common mistakes when insulating around windows.
Read on for a detailed guide on the common window insulation mistakes to avoid. We cover everything from choosing the wrong type of insulation to using poor insulation techniques. Use this information to ensure your home’s windows are properly insulated and enjoy a more energy-efficient and comfortable home.
How do you know if your home’s windows are properly insulated?
- Drafts: Do you feel a breeze every time you pass by your home’s windows, even when they are closed? If so, your insulation may have been poorly installed or is failing. In older houses, the insulation materials around windows may have started to warp, or the seals may be worn out.
You can easily test for air leaks around windows by holding a flame next to the window and seeing if it flickers. - Outside noise: Insulation is not just useful when it comes to regulating your home’s indoor temperature. Proper window insulation also helps block outside noise. Perfectly sealed windows help keep noise out. Your windows may be leaking air if you can hear conversations, motor vehicles, and dogs barking outside your home.
- Dust and pests: Insulating windows doesn’t just keep out air. It also acts as a barrier for pests and dust. Insects, pollen, and dust can enter your home through the tiny cracks and gaps around poorly insulated windows. Consider inspecting and replacing the insulation around your windows if you keep having to clean off a layer of dust on your furniture.
- Visual signs of wear and tear: Are your window frames peeling, warping, or cracking? All these problems point toward poorly insulated windows. In addition to air leakage, these issues may lead to moisture infiltration around your home. Take the time to inspect your home’s windows, keeping an eye out for these signs of poor insulation.
- High energy costs: Window insulation issues can lead to higher energy consumption. If your windows have insulation problems, your HVAC system is forced to work harder to maintain a comfortable indoor environment. Properly insulating your windows will reduce the strain on your HVAC system and lead to significant energy savings over time.
Have you discovered any signs of poorly insulated windows around your house? Here is a list of common insulation mistakes, accompanied by useful window insulation tips to help you avoid them.
1. Using the wrong window insulation products: The wrong insulation materials can significantly compromise a window’s ability to prevent air leakage. Using quick fixes like covering gaps and cracks with duct tape may not be as effective as you think. Duct tape and felt weather stripping do provide some level of insulation. However, they fall apart quickly, creating the need for regular repairs.
Invest in top-quality products specifically designed for insulating windows to avoid wasting your time and money on ineffective solutions. Consider using professional-grade weather stripping and insulation kits instead. Even though these products may cost more, they are likely to provide effective and long-lasting insulation.
2. Failure to seal all gaps and cracks around windows: Do not install insulation around windows before sealing all the cracks around the edges. It is common for people to ignore the small cracks and gaps around windows when installing insulation. Broken weather stripping, caulk, and regular wear and tear are some of the main causes of cracks around windows.
When left unsealed, these gaps can lead to significant heat loss or gain, especially during extreme weather conditions. To avoid this, inspect your windows and seal all cracks and gaps before insulating.
3. Not cleaning surfaces before application of insulation: Air sealing windows is a multi-step process. Failing to clean dust, dirt, and debris from window surfaces before installing insulation products can have devastating effects. Moisture, dust, and dirt can significantly decrease the effectiveness of adhesives. Moisture accumulation can also lead to mold issues and structural damage.
Avoid all this by preparing the area to be sealed. Clean off dirt and debris and ensure the surfaces are completely dry before applying any insulation products.
4. Improper use of spray foam: Spray foam is commonly used to seal windows. However, to achieve the desired results, it is important to use the right product and application technique. It is common for people to use the wrong type of foam or too much product when filling gaps and cracks along window frames.
For optimum results, always use low-pressure expanding foam to seal gaps around windows. This foam expands to fill the gaps without applying too much pressure to the jambs. This prevents unnecessary jamming and warping of a window’s moving components. All spray foams, including Loctite products, must be held upside down to work. Follow the provided instructions when applying foam to ensure you create a deep, continuous seal along gaps and avoid wastage.
Start your window sealing job right by getting the correct products for the job. Loctite TITE FOAM Window & Door is specifically designed for sealing gaps and cracks around windows. The no-bowing formulation expands to fill gaps around windows without applying excessive pressure on window jambs.
If you are installing new windows or replacing old ones, use Loctite Window & Door Pro Foam. This high-yield product can seal up to 19 windows.
Both products are designed for use with various building materials, including PVC, stone, concrete, metal, brick, and wood. Since they withstand direct exposure to harsh UV rays, you can enjoy long-lasting results.