Older homes with old style windows can become a problem over time. As these charming windows begin to age, they become damaged and do not function as well as before. Homeowners need not worry, as it is possible to reduce your carbon foot print with sash window draught proofing this winter.
Many companies are available to replace these windows with E-models, gas-filled, thermal paned or the plastic framed variety. That said, experts suggest rather repairing them than replacing them. Repairing can be much more costly and will also cause the home to lose some of its charm. With a little tender loving care one can easily have these windows looking as they once were.
The big attraction of sashes is that they are made of wood. This makes them suitable to new homes as well as older homes. They usually have upper and lower panes. Raising the sashes will let air to come into the room. After time windows may become loose fitting as the putty begins to disintegrate.
This will cause the cold to come in, as insulation is lost. Panes will rattle as the wind blows, letting a cold breeze in. This will need more heating and an increase in the utility bills. This is not good for the carbon footprint.
Scraping away a few layers of paint or replacing the sash cords or balancing the counter-weights may do the trick. Draught proofing may be the best thing you can do. If the job is done properly, it will reduce the carbon footprint of the home.
Another way to block the flow of air around each window is to weather-strip the area. Felt, putty, cord, metal or foam is used to create strips. These strips are placed between the window and the frame. Alternatively they can be placed between the wall and the frame. There are other ways in which it can be done so that it is not obvious to people. The bottom line is that the cold is kept out.
Apart from being able to reduce your carbon foot print with sash window draught proofing this winter, there are many other benefits to having this done. The cold air will be blocked out during the colder months and the hot air will stay out during summer. Furthermore, dust and noise will be reduced significantly. In order for this to work the putty and caulk should be removed. Additionally, the worn out beads and cords need to be removed once the sashes have been dissembled.
Reduce the level of energy that you consume by contacting a sash window draught proofing company to review your window condition. Sash window specialists are trained to supply modern techniques to historic windows for lower prices to the utility companies.