Why Should I Worry About My Windows?

Windows can account for up to 25 percent of total house heat loss. This fact sheet describes affordable and effective options to improve the energy efficiency of the windows in your house.

• My heating bills are out of this world. What's the problem?
• Heat loss through and around your windows is costing you more money than you might think.
• Condensation and frost on my windows are creating mould and rotting the frames.
• Excessive condensation can be a sign that a window needs some work.
• I can't sit beside some of the windows in my home because of their cold surfaces and drafts.
• Cold air entering your house through cracks and crevices around windows can make for an uncomfortable living environment.

Windows allow natural light and fresh air to enter our houses, provide a view to the outdoors and can serve as vital emergency exits. But windows can also be responsible for unnecessary heat loss, high energy consumption and cold drafts, and can be subject to condensation problems.

This fact sheet explains how you can help ensure that these problems are kept to a minimum by improving the energy efficiency and performance of your windows using products that are available at your local hardware or building supply store. Improving the energy efficiency of your home's windows can substantially reduce your home's energy use, cut your heating and cooling costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.

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This article is from Natural Resources Canada web-site