Here at Affordable Blinds, we can appreciate the differences of each season. There’s some beauty to be found at any time of the year — from the sweltering, sun-filled days of summer to the freezing, polar-vortexes of winter. Fall is no exception, and we have a feeling our regular readers will agree with us, for its crisp mornings yet sunny afternoons create the perfect atmosphere to enjoy the changing colours of the trees. It’s also an ideal time to escape the city and walk the many trails around Toronto and the GTA. But after a long day spent hiking in the brisk autumn air, it’s nice to escape the outdoors for a warm and cosy home. This is especially true when we can only expect the mercury to keep dropping.
While many of us will think to turn up the heat, we think there’s another way to battle the deep-freeze of winter without putting strain on your utilities. By inspecting your windows and performing essential late-fall maintenance, you can increase the temperature of your home without touching your thermostat. We’ve accumulated a few tried and true methods of winterizing your windows this fall to help you keep warm.
Eliminate Draughts
There’s no faster way for your windows to zap the warmth from your living spaces than when there are leaks in the weather stripping. Take the time to examine the seal around the window both inside and out, making sure to look for cracks around the frame. Use caulking to fill in any gaps between the trim and the siding. You can also use self-adhesive weather sealing strips to fill these gaps.
Another way to stop draughts from turning your living room into an ice box is to employ draught snakes along the sill of your windows. You can make these items yourself if you know your way around a sewing machine, but they’re also available to buy online. They’re simply tubes of fabric filled with uncooked rice that stop draughts in their tracks.
Insulate with Shades
Once you’ve eliminated as many draughts as possible, it’s time to think about insulating the actual panes of glass that make up your windows. How well the glass stands up against the wind-chill depends upon their age, quality, and thickness, but our honeycomb or cellular shades will increase any window’s ability to retain heat by creating a barrier between the cold glass and your warm room. They’ve been specially constructed to trap the cold air given off by your windows in their cells. Combine these with multiple layers of heavy fabric curtains, and you’ll successfully keep the cold air out.
While you can eliminate draughts on your own with only a few tools, be sure to leave the installation of your honeycomb shades to us — the experts. We can mount these treatments into any frame properly, ensuring a tight fit and safe operation. Give us a call when you’re ready to look through our catalogue of amazing shades. We’ll tailor-make them so they fit. Take the time this fall to examine your windows. Sealing draughts and installing shades can help you prepare for the worst of winter.