Renovations
Windows
Are your windows cold and drafty in the winter? Are condensation and frost leading to unwanted mould & rotting your frames? It may be time to repair, retrofit, reglaze, or replace the windows in your home. While this may seem costly up front, did you know that windows can account for up to 25 percent of your home's total heat loss?
The following are basic options for upgrading the energy efficiency of your home:
Repair
Perhaps your windows are in good enough shape that it makes good sense to hold on to them; if this is the case, then you should consider implementing some minor repairs that can help to further improve their air tightness.
- Adjust or replace the sash locks, or add more locks to large windows
- Repair or replace hinges on casement windows
- Ensure that caulking, weatherstripping and paint are not interfering with the operation (opening and closing) of the window
- Ensure that weatherstripping is fully functional (i.e., it should be flexible, be properly located and make full contact between the sash and the frame).
Retrofit
One of the quickest, easiest, and lowest-cost ways to reduce heat loss through windows is to seal air leaks through caulking and weatherstripping. Caulking is used at fixed joints (such as where the interior window trim meets the wall, or where the sash and frame come together in a fixed window). Weatherstripping is used to prevent air leakage at the parts of an operable window that move. Although good quality weatherstripping costs more, it will pay for itself by performing better and lasting longer.
Glaze
While it's difficult to go wrong with caulking and weatherstripping as a first step in upgrading your windows, it is important to remember that these measures only help to eliminate air leakage and drafts - they do not improve the overall thermal resistance of the window. To accomplish this, you need additional layers of glazing. Effective window glazing can lead to lower heat loss, less air leakage, and warmer window surfaces, improved comfort and minimized condensation. Some high-performance windows feature double or triple glazing, specialized transparent coatings, insulating gas sandwiched between panes, and improved frames.
Replace
When it comes time to replace the windows in your home, you should certainly consider replacing them with energy efficient models.
Energy-efficient windows will:
- Increase your comfort by reducing cold drafts
- Help control condensation
- Save you money by minimizing air leakage and improving the thermal performance of your windows
- Improve indoor air quality by preventing mould growth
- By reducing condensation, energy-efficient windows help prevent mould growth.
- Reduce energy consumption and its impact on the environment
- Last longer
Doors
Although doors have less of an impact than windows on the total energy consumption of a home (this is just because there are fewer of them) - ill-fitting doors and those made out of weaker materials can contribute to significant heat escape, making your home drafty and uncomfortable.
When it comes time to replace your doors, here are some of the features you should look out for:
- cores of materials that maintain high insulating values;
- wood, vinyl, or thermally broken metal frames;
- weatherstripping fabricated from high-performance, durable materials;
- low air leakage rates (for pre-hung door systems);
- maintenance-free framing materials; and
- a high Energy Rating (ER) or a minimum of double glazing with a 12 mm half inch) or greater air space.
Sky Lights
Skylights can bring added light to a home and make it more attractive; however, if not designed or installed properly, they can lose far more heat than a standard roof and window, and can present special problems including water leakage, condensation, and summer overheating. Low-E, gas-filled, insulated glazing units are a good choice of skylight. Whatever type you choose should be as resistant to heat loss as possible.
If a skylight is badly deteriorated but necessary for daylighting, a replacement unit should be purchased, and it should have the same features as high-performance windows, including a tightly sealing closure mechanism.
