Transitioning Window Treatments from Summer to Winter

Transitioning your home through the seasons can help keep your home comfortable and help you save money on energy bills. Bloomin' Blinds shares how you can properly insulate your home for the changing seasons and how your window treatments can help with this transition.

How to Keep Heat in Your Home

We recommend using these methods to ensure you aren’t losing heat through the windows:

Re-caulk your windows and doors

By redoing the caulk of your windows and doors, you can help seal out drafts. If you’re not planning on opening the windows until the temperatures rise again, you can temporarily seal the windows shut with caulk and then peel it off in the spring.

Use weather strips

This simple DIY tactic helps close gaps in windows. They come in 3 main types: compression, V-type and foam.

Insulate with window insulation film

These cheap insulation methods don’t interfere with the look of your windows as they insulate your windows during the winter. You can heat the film with a blow dryer after applying it to the windows to help seal out drafts.

Use a door snake

These weighted fabric tubes are placed at the bottom of the door to prevent cold air from escaping. In a pinch, a rolled-up towel can also do the trick.

Check your HVAC filter

You could be paying more in heating bills than you need to if your HVAC filters haven’t been replaced in a long time.

Window treatments

Thermal or insulating fabrics are more energy-efficient than sheer, thinner fabrics. They can also add a sophisticated touch to the room at the same time as they block the outside light.

Best Window Treatments for Keeping Heat In

When it comes to window treatments, there is a spectrum in their energy efficiency. For example, sheer shades don’t offer nearly as much insulation compared to other window treatments, as the thin fabric allows light to penetrate the room more so than more substantial window coverings.

Insulated cellular shades

Also called honeycomb shades, insulated cellular shades help keep room temperatures stable and are excellent for preventing heat loss. They are insulating because they contain air pockets in the pleated fabric (the “honeycomb”),

which act as insulators. They can help reduce heat lost through the window by as much as 40% or more during colder months.

Roller shades & Roman shades

Roller shades and Roman shades are some of the most popular we sell at Bloomin’ Blinds. This reliable insulating option offers the best thermal performance with heavier fabrics. You can also control light by choosing light-filtering or blackout fabrics.

Draperies

Want to reduce heat loss effectively? Draperies are the way to go, and they can reduce heat loss by as much as 25% especially by installing a cornice at the top of your draperies. You can also seal drapery at either side and overlap it in the center to boost energy efficiency. Two draperies hung together are more effective at keeping the heat in than just one drape. Energy efficiency also varies depending on the fabric type and color of your draperies.

Tips for Energy-Efficient Window Coverings

When the temperatures drop, it can be more challenging to keep your home warm without spending a fortune on energy bills. This may leave you wondering how you can regulate the temperature in your home in an eco-friendly way. One technique to keep in heat during winter months is to install energy-efficient window coverings.

Your windows could be the culprit when it comes to letting the cold air in. That’s because about one-third of a home’s heating energy is lost through the windows, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Choosing the right window coverings is one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to make your home eco-friendly, as insulating window treatments reduce energy loss through windows.

Get your home prepared for the colder months and explore your options for insulating window coverings from Bloomin’ Blinds. We offer FREE in-home estimates where you can review digital and physical samples in the comfort of your own home.