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The beginning of spring marks the point when we give the house a thorough cleaning, purge the house of things we no longer need, and tackle some home repairs or remodeling. This is the perfect time to focus on how to lower your energy bills through basic window maintenance. Here are some window tips that can help reduce your energy bills:

  1. Storm windows can reduce air leakage and improve the comfort of your home.
  2. Caulking and weatherstripping are easy, budget-friendly fixes that can help reduce air leakage around your windows. 
  3. Window treatments or coverings can help reduce heat loss in winter and heat gain in the summer.

In a lot of older homes, while replacing windows can be an expensive option, sometimes it’s actually cost-effective to replace them.  That's because the windows eventually will pay for themselves through lowered heating and cooling costs. When choosing energy-efficient storm windows, be sure to take a look at the labeling and consult the Energy Saver guide to understanding the energy performance rating of windows

Caulking and weatherstripping can be easy to tackle as a weekend project. Use caulk for stationary cracks, gaps, or joins less than one-quarter-inch wide. Weatherstripping should be used on components that are moveable, such as doors and operable windows.

Window treatments and coverings such as awnings, blinds, and draperies can help aesthetically improve your home while providing energy savings. While ineffective at reducing air leakage or infiltration, it’s often cheaper than replacing windows while reducing heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer. Check out some of Energy Saver's tips for window treatment options for your home.

Summer will be here before you know it, so follow these tips to help you make energy-efficient changes to your windows this spring!