How Efficient Are Your Windows? Three Ways To Check

In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates heat gain and loss through windows are responsible for 25% to 30% of residential heating and cooling energy use.

Knowing whether your windows are performing optimally, therefore, is critical for your home’s comfortability and energy efficiency.

Here are three ways to check your windows’ efficiency:

1. Look for gaps between the window frames and your home’s siding. Any cracks or dryness in your window’s glazing – the hard, putty-like substance holding the individual glass panes in place – also offers a chance for moisture or heat to transfer.

2. Use (or hire someone to use) Infrared laser thermometers and U-Value kits for a more high-tech testing option. If a window is leaking, it should register a colder temperature than the rest of the room.

3. Tape a small piece of plastic wrap on a pen and then hold it next to your windows. If the plastic wrap moves, your windows are drafty and non-efficient.

Don’t toss money straight out the window, so to speak. Give our Retex team a call at 804-258-6300 to tell us more about your window needs.