Winterize Your Home To Save Money

Winterize Your Home To Save Money

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Winter brings with it not only cold air and the holiday season, but also bigger utility bills. This is especially true for homeowners whose houses are not properly winterized. Our  interior shutters go a long way in giving you a comfortable and safe indoor environment. They help maintain your desired temperature by preventing heat and air from escaping. Below are other practical steps you can take to both save money and enjoy a toasty and cozy home this winter season.

Control Your Thermostat

Set your thermostat at 68 degrees when you’re home. If you find this on the cold side, wear a thin sweater and socks. Keep in mind that for every degree that you lower the thermostat in your home, you can save up to 2 percent on your heating bill. Lower the thermostat when you go to bed or plan to be away during the day. You can save as much as 10 percent on your fuel bill every year by lowering your temperature settings 10 to 15 percent for eight hours each day.

Seal Your House

Caulk and weather strip all windows and doors. Make sure you have sufficient attic, basement and wall insulation, and reduce air leaks wherever you can. This would include places such as ducts, vents, floor boards and electrical outlets. Close the flue on your chimney when you don’t have a fire lit. If you have south-facing windows, keep window treatments open during the day to permit solar heating, then close them at night to retain heat.

HVAC Maintenance

Regularly clean or replace the filters in your furnace, and make sure you have your HVAC system professionally serviced at least once a year. A well-maintained system will function more efficiently and consume less energy to keep you comfortable. This will result in lower utility bills. Don’t place furniture in front of the radiators or heating vents in your house. This impedes heated air from circulating freely in the room. If you’re looking for both energy-efficient and stylish window treatments, consider installing shutters in your home. Our interior faux shutters are crafted to last and designed to please even the most discerning homeowner. Install our indoor faux shutters on your windows and see what a difference they make in the value of your home. Don’t go to just any shutter manufacturer. Come to Eclipse Shutters for friendly, helpful customer service and beautiful products.

Understand the Anatomy of Your Window

Understand the Anatomy of Your Window

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Windows are one of the most common elements in homes and buildings. Today, modern manufacturing technology allows for the production of a seemingly unlimited array of window sizes, styles and designs, including faux shutters and other specialty window coverings. Although customizing your windows has become a popular practice, each window is mostly comprised of the same set of parts, or components. Understanding what these are and how they work is essential when it comes to repair and replacement projects. All it takes is a bit of technical know-how to be able to handle most basic home improvement jobs, including those concerning windows. You can save yourself a lot of time and money by becoming familiar with the individual pieces of your window.

Windows 101

The vertically running side pieces on the frame that support the glass are called the stiles. The sash refers to the entire frame, including the stiles along with the top and the bottom-situated rails. The glass insert is held in place by the sash. Muntins are the grids that prevent the glass from falling out, and they range from simple snap-on inserts to decorative sections (also known as lights) that are designed in various patterns. This part can be found on the interior or exterior of the window, though oftentimes the muntins are situated on both sides for extra support. On high-end, thermally insulated window types, the grid is installed between the glass panes, making for easier cleaning and overall window maintenance. You are probably familiar with the term glazing, but what most people fail to understand is that this does not refer to a procedure, but rather the number of panes a window has. Double-glazed windows consist of two glass panes and triple-glazed have three. Understandably, the more glazing a window has, the higher its energy-efficiency and subsequent R-value (the ratio at which heat dissipates through the glass). Aprons are the horizontal boards that lie beneath the windowsill and are attached to the wall. The stool, or sill, is the window’s protruding shelf-like section located on the interior side. Other parts include the side casing, head casing, jambs (side pieces that hold the sash), rails (vertical and horizontal frame pieces), operator (cranking mechanism) and the latch (the locking device). Now that you know more about your home’s windows, you can knowledgeably shop for Atlanta shutters. Eclipse Shutters offers a number of interior shutters with multiple design options to enhance the look of your windows and the overall interior design of your home.