How Windows and Doors Impact Energy Efficiency
When you think of the energy efficiency of your indoor comfort system in Coral Springs, FL, you may think that all relevant considerations apply only to the HVAC system and its various parts. However, you need to know that this isn’t the case. Windows and doors can also have a significant impact on energy efficiency in your home, and we’ll explain how.
Good Habits That Can Save Energy
Having the proper habits with regard to your doors and windows can save you a surprising amount of energy, and the wrong ones will cost you. Whenever you want to cool down your home in the summer or warm it up in the winter, make sure that all of your doors and windows are tightly shut. If they’re not, the conditioned air will escape, and your HVAC system won’t be able to create the temperatures you desire as effectively.
If you have single-sash windows, it’s easy to prevent indoor air from escaping. On the other hand, double-sash windows offer more opportunities for air to escape, so you’ll have to be especially careful how you shut and lock them.
The same considerations apply to your doors. Any doors that you absentmindedly leave open or even slightly ajar will hamper your HVAC system’s energy efficiency. Buying door seals to close up the gaps between a door and the floor is a useful way to save a little energy.
Weather-stripping your doors and windows is an inexpensive and effective way to help insulate your home. Apply weather strips around any gaps between the frame and wall, and watch your electric bills decrease.
Impact Windows and Doors
In addition to how you treat your windows and doors, you need to consider the kinds of windows and doors you have. Not all doors and windows have the same insulating abilities. Some provide better energy efficiency than others.
Impact windows and doors protect your property against extreme weather and insulate it from outside heat and cold. This minimizes energy loss and enables your HVAC system to regulate the indoor climate more easily.
Specifically, glass impact doors and windows may come with low-emissivity (also known as Low-E) and UV protection coatings that prevent heat accumulation indoors. They also help to keep the furniture and paint on the walls of your home from fading due to UV damage.
The immediate effect of this is a more comfortable indoor environment. There is also an important long-term consequence that accompanies the use of impact doors or windows: lower HVAC repair costs. The less strain that your HVAC system experiences, the less likely it will be to break down, so you’ll likely wind up paying less for repairs in the long run.
Systems operating under a lower burden will be more likely to maintain their efficiency and functionality levels over an extended period of time. Although regularly scheduling professional maintenance on the system is still essential, lightening the load on your HVAC system will translate into significant savings after a few years.
Increasing Your Home’s Value
Good sets of windows and doors can indirectly increase your home’s efficiency value by increasing its overall market value. The energy management and storm protection that impact windows and doors can provide can also make your home more valuable. The fact that such windows and doors can also be excellent safeguards against thieves and intruders is another great reason to consider installing them.
Windows and doors can also be beautiful, and aesthetics contribute to the value of your home. South Florida Windows & Doors offers an extensive variety of exquisitely crafted architectural windows and doors to make your home something to marvel at.
In the quest to increase energy efficiency, protect the environment, and use resources wisely, doors and windows have a noteworthy but underappreciated role to play. Call our team at South Florida Windows & Doors today, and we’ll help you find the windows and doors that can improve your home’s energy efficiency and value.
Image provided by iStock