Here in Northern Virginia, we think fall is one of the best
seasons to leave your windows open and let in the fresh, crisp air. But as you gear up
for winter, yard and house work usually top the to-do
list, and one of your tasks will inevitably be washing your windows and screens. Fall is also a good
time to decide whether you’d
like to take your window screens off
for the winter.
You’ve routinely read about how energy efficient windows are
important during the summer months for blocking heat
from sneaking in your home. But, energy efficiency
plays a huge role in the winter months, too. So, how do screens
impact energy efficiency? What are the added
bonuses to taking window screens off? Here are a
few points to think about:
- Better
solar heat gain. While double- and triple-pane glass helps keep the heat
inside your home in the winter, screens can actually prevent
the sun’s heat from getting in, too. After all, it may
be cold outside but sunlight will still help warm your home. In fact, a Midcoast
Green Collaborative study showed that screens left
on in the winter blocked about 30-40 percent of the heat (from the sun) that
otherwise would have gone in to the home.
- Prohibits
snow buildup. Winter winds can trap snow between a screen and window. Removing screens can help you avoid
this buildup.
- Allows in
more natural light. Conventional screens can keep
out much needed natural light in the gray winter
months. If you don’t already have high transparency screens, such as
Pella Windows and Doors’s Vivid View® and InView™ Screens, pulling
off your window screens can help let in as much light as you’d like.
As technology has developed, pulling off your window screens is becoming less of a necessity and
more of a style preference. In the past, taking off
your window’s screens was usually done for windows with
single-pane glass so storm windows could be added. Storm
windows help boost efficiency during the winter.
However, when homeowners change to double- or triple-pane glass,
they no longer need to take extra steps to ensure efficiency during extreme
weather.
To find out more about appropriate
window cleaning tips or low-maintenance, energy efficient replacement windows,
call one of our Pella professionals at 571-292-3519 or stop
by our showroom in Northern Virginia.