It’s February in Iowa, which guarantees two things: potholes and skyrocketing heating bills. But as your furnace works overtime to keep your home at a comfortable 68-72 degrees, your windows may be inviting winter to come on in and stay a while.
Like the drafty bedroom window you just walked by.
“You might not think of the chilly breeze sneaking past your doors and windows as a big deal, but its impact on your bank account is another story,” Capital Improvements’ Sarah Kessler writes (The Real Cost of Drafty Windows and Doors – Door Replacement Cost – Energy Efficient Doors Cost). “When cold winter air finds its way inside, your heating system has to kick into high gear to keep your home comfortable.”
Expensive Snow Globe
When the thermostat gets the chills, so do our windows – our homes’ first line of defense against the average 17-35-degree temperatures that chill Eastern Iowa during February.
While frosted or frozen windows during the heart of polar plunge give your home a snow globe feeling straight out of a Hallmark holiday movie, they also turn it into an ice box. Frosted or frozen windows make your home uncomfortable, increase energy costs and damage window frames over time.
“Ignoring drafty windows can lead to various hidden costs that extend well beyond a little extra discomfort during the winter months,” The Architect’s Diary.com advises (https://thearchitectsdiary.com/the-hidden-costs-of-ignoring-drafty-windows).
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates drafts can spike home energy use 5 to 30 percent. That’s a costly tap on an already pricey energy bill. The National Energy Assistance Directors Association pegs the average U.S. monthly home energy bill this winter at $941.
Here’s how that increased energy use can burn your wallet when your heating bill comes due:
- A 5% energy use increase equals an extra $21 per month and $253 per year
- A 30% energy use spike equals an extra $127 per month and $1,524 per year
“Most estimates suggest that people with drafty windows and doors can lose roughly 20 to 30% in heating costs,” Gilbert Michaud, a professor at Loyola University Chicago who studies renewable energy and energy efficiency, tells the New York Post. (Cold temps could cost homeowners $300 extra — how to fix drafty rooms and save money).
And just wrapping yourself in a blanket while you enjoy a cup of hot cocoa won’t be able to warm you up when the bills come due.
Living in a house with numerous drafty spots could be draining your wallet, as the heat is escaping just as quickly as you’re trying to warm it up,” The Post’s Julie Taylor writes.
The Solution
Tell winter to take its cold show back outside.
Seal any gaps to ice out drafts. Utilize fresh caulking around window frames. Use weatherstripping tape to create tighter seals.
For aging windows beyond repair, replace them with energy efficient windows better designed to take on winter’s unpredictable fury. While the average cost of a window replacement projects at $1,000 to $1,300, new windows will begin saving you money on your energy bills immediately upon installation.
Plus, they are great tax rebates. The Internal Revenue Service offers Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credits. Ask your tax professional about them when you file this year.
The best bet for any window or door replacement is Energy Star-rated models with low emissivity (low-E) coatings, square-fit doors, and insulation and weatherstripping features.
The Return on Investment of drafty window replacement is three-fold: energy savings, comfort and aesthetics.
How Do I Know if I Have Drafty Windows?
If you find yourself wearing your winter jacket inside anytime this month or hear the wind seemingly whistling into your house, you have a drafty window problem.
There is also the time tested and true candle test. Light a candle and move it along the edges of your windows. If the flame flickers, it signals a draft.
Aging windows ill prepared to handle the cold February heart of winter can adversely impact your home’s long-term health, comfortability and livability. It’s one headache of winter you don’t want chilling your family every year.
“Saying goodbye to your drafty door or windows and welcoming a new, energy-efficient model isn’t just a financially sound decision—it’s a move that improves your quality of life,” Kessler stresses. “It’s about being smart with your money, but it’s also about creating a comfortable, appealing, and energy-smart home.”
