Thursday, December 29, 2011

You Too Should Reduce Your Carbon Foot Print With Sash Window Draught Proofing And More

By Malcolm Stephenson


Reduce your carbon foot print with sash window draught proofing this winter and next summer. Sash windows have been around since the thirteenth century. Often they are found in older homes that were built before the development of modern day insulation materials. The word sash refers to the wood casing that surrounds the glass. A single sash window is actually made up of two windows that slide horizontally or vertically to be in an open position. These windows are often characterized with each sash have two rows of three panes of glass, that is, six small panes of glass form the single sash.

Sash windows can provide an excellent source of ventilation and with proper weather stripping materials, they can also make your home draught (draft) proof. If you are handy with tools and not afraid to take on the task, there are several Websites where you can order the necessary material. In addition, these sites often have tutorials that teach everything you need to know about sash windows and how to restore and maintain their efficiency and beauty.

If you want to do it yourself (DIY), the draught proofing kits come with step-by-step illustrated manuals. A careful review of the Websites will show you that sash windows have many working parts. The Websites will tell you about the wood used, the tools used, the sash cord, the type of paint and more. Find out everything you need to know before deciding to do the job yourself.

Doing the work yourself will of course save you the cost of labor. But if you are not up to the task, most of the Websites provide referrals for expert craftsmen who can do the work for you. This is considered an art form, and most of these craftsmen take great pride in their work. However you choose to get the job done, draught proofing your windows will dramatically reduce the costs of heating and cooling your home.

Sash windows reduce the consumption of electricity for three reasons. First the design of the window was intended to provide a cross ventilation. When the window is in an open position, air flows in and out at the same time. This has the benefit of maintaining the temperature of the home and eliminating condensation of moisture, which adds to the safety of your home. Mold comes from condensation of moisture, and the ventilation of your sash windows will help prevent condensation.

Second, making sash windows double pane will provide a natural insulation that does not use any electricity. It will also add to the quiet of your home, but insulating it against all the noises from outside. The double panes of glass trap air in the space between the panes. This helps keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

The third factor is the weather stripping. With architects and builders becoming more conscious of the carbon foot print left by the use of a home, the materials used for weather stripping continue to improve. The stripping has the added benefit of allowing the windows to move back and forth without friction. If your windows are in a very old home, stripping will also eliminate the rattle of the windows. This is a project that will add to the beauty and life of your home. You can reduce your carbon foot print with sash window draught proofing this winter. It is great to be warm and comfortable inside, when the outside temperature drops.




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