by MARSHALL BONE
Warm weather brings many wonderful things: beautiful blue skies, lush greenery, and cooling dips in pools or oceans. Yet, it can also bring scorching heat, the constant din of construction, nighttime parties, and other noise. If warmer months bring noise and heat to your home, it may be time to take a look at your windows.
While windows are an excellent way to bring in natural light, they can also let cool air escape and allow outside sounds inside. Some fairly simple tricks can help you keep your space cooler and quieter. Whether you’re planning a DIY or looking for a quality professional, keep these window renovation hacks in mind.
Window Hacks to Cool Your Home
While sunlight can create a relaxing, bright feeling in your space, it also brings solar heat. This solar heat gets trapped in your home and makes it feel warmer. Anything you can do to stop that heat from entering your house can make a difference. Especially if you live in an area where the summer heat hits hard, you’ll feel a change with these hacks.
- Replace old windows. If you have single pane windows, you need to make a change now. Single-pane windows allow heat to pour in while double- or triple-pane windows resist that heat.
- Seal gaps and cracks. Not everyone can afford new windows right away. If you can’t, you can start by sealing up cracks and gaps. Even the smallest gap lets in warm air and allows cool air to escape, negatively impacting your cooling efforts. You can hire someone to professionally seal your windows, or you can seal your windows yourself. Common methods include using weatherstripping, foam tape, or caulking.
- Add shades, blinds, or curtains. Anything you can put in front of your window will reduce the amount of solar heat entering your home. Shades, blinds, and curtains all create a barrier between solar heat hitting the window and entering your home.
- Window film. If you don’t want to block sunlight from entering rooms, even something as simple as window film can help. Window films allow rays to enter while dampening heat. They’re easy to install yourself and come in a variety of colors and styles. Consider adding frosted, mirrored, or stained glass window film to allow light to come in while damping the heat.
- Blackout curtains. Blackout curtains are the most effective window coverings to block heat. Consider using blackout curtains in bedrooms or offices that you may not be using during the day. For rooms where you want to allow some light in, light colored blinds or curtains are also effective as they reflect light.
Window Hacks to Make Your Home Quieter
Warm weather brings more people outside, which leads to more outside noise. While this noise may be tolerable in small amounts or at certain times of day, it can become disruptive as it ramps up during warmer months. If you’re looking to dampen outside noise, these window hacks can help.
- Triple-pane windows. As mentioned above, triple-pane windows can help keep cool air in and warm air out. They’re also highly effective at keeping out noise. The three layers of glass create insulation, blocking sound vibrations at a higher level than single- or double-pane windows.
- Soundproof inserts. Experts can install custom soundproof inserts to dampen noise without replacing your windows. These inserts are a great way to make your home quieter as you save the funds needed to replace windows.
- Caulking. Sealing up gaps in windows helps keep things cooler and quieter. Specialized acoustic caulk is designed to keep out sound vibrations. Silicone-based caulk can also have a similar effect.
- Curtains. Just as blackout curtains are designed to keep out sunlight, soundproof curtains are designed to dampen sound. They are usually quite thick and heavy but are effective at reducing noise vibrations.
- Replace weatherstripping. Windows come with weatherstripping on the bottom of the pane where it meets the windowsill. Replacing decayed or broken weatherstripping can help windows seal better, keeping noise and heat out.
Get Started on Your Renovations Today
While you may not be able to implement all these suggestions, any one of these hacks will help make your home cooler and quieter. Take a look at the possibilities and determine which are best for your space. When deciding, consider your home design, budget, and handiness before you get started. Once you find the solution that works for you, get to work! Ideally, you should work on your window projects in the Fall or Spring to avoid exacerbating any heating or cooling issues.
Marshall Bone is a writer, copy strategist and all-around stylish guy who has been following trends in GQ for more than two decades. Voted best-dressed both his junior and senior year, Bone has continued this legacy and can be found covering various topics from men’s fashion to self care and grooming. He enjoys reading and is based in the greater Los Angeles area.
