Windows

Windows contribute to energy efficiency in a number of ways. Older or poorly installed windows can allow air to leak around the frame. You can test this by holding a piece of tissue paper in different spots around the frame and watching to see if it moves. You can do the same thing with a lit candle or a lighter. If air is coming in, carefully remove the moldings and fill the space around the frame with expanding polyurethane foam. Take the time to check the seals around the window tracks as well. Make sure that the rubber isn’t dried out, cracked or otherwise damaged. The window panes themselves are also a potential source of trouble. Glass has a lower R-value than properly insulated walls. Modern window panes are made from two pieces of glass separated by a space. That space is filled with argon gas, which acts as an insulator. This is known as “Low-E”. If your windows get foggy or covered in condensation on cold days, it’s probably time to change them.