Thermal curtains are an extra layer of insulation you can use to make your home more energy efficient. The best thermal curtains consist of multiple layers of fabric with thick padding that prevents air from circulating from your window into your home.
Thermal curtains create a dead-air space between the window and the room, which reduces the amount of air infiltration and transfer of heat. By installing an insulating curtain over a window, heat is kept inside during the winter. During the summer, heat from the sun is reflected back to the outside.
Insulated curtains are energy efficiency systems that help prevent heat transfer, block light and dampen noise. They're made up of four layers: A core layer of high-density foam that insulates your windows from heat and sound exchanges. A vapor barrier to keeps the foam from absorbing moisture.
Thermal curtains feature a layer of acrylic foam between the double or triple layers of fabric to provide insulation. The thermal lining prevents flow of air through the curtain, reducing cooling and heating cost.
While, yes, thermal curtains can reduce light by up to 90% and insulate against heat, it's important to note that not all thermal options are alike. For the best insulation, look for a thermal curtain that has at least two layers, triple-woven fabric, and blackout technology to eliminate light and even noise.
Thermal insulated curtains, also known as blackout curtains, are often used to optimise the levels of heat in any room of your home in which you choose to install these types of curtains. Due to the specific insulated fabric, these curtains help less heat to escape from your home windows, increasing energy efficiency.
Light can still filter through the window – if you need a solution to blackout your window, thermal curtains will not block out all the light. The lining colour is usually off white or cream.
The Benefits of a Little Extra Insulation
Greater comfort – Thermal curtains can reduce heat loss from your windows by as much as 25 percent, as well as block any chilly drafts coming from your windows, keeping your home cozier.
Thermal curtains are either double- or triple-layered heavy fabric with a thick backing of insulate material and often a polyester-film vapor barrier.
Thermal curtains feature a layer of acrylic foam between the double or triple layers of fabric to provide insulation, making these curtains ideal for winter months or drafty windows. Thermal curtains can also dampen sound, block out sunlight, and reduce energy bills.
Red, terracotta, orange or burgundy tones add instant heat and cosiness. Think about the texture of your fabrics too: Chenilles and velvet are soft and warming both to the touch and eye.
They also cause window condensations. You're probably wondering how curtains can possibly effect condensation. They trap heat against your windows forcing warmer temperatures to meet the freezing cold temperatures outside. You've already learned that reducing the temperature inside can help with condensation.
But do thermal curtains work during the summer months? Well the short answer is yes. In the same way that thermal curtains greatly reduce the amount of heat that may escape your room via your windows in the winter, they can also block heat from entering a room during the summer.
Measure curtains to fit one and one-half to three times the width of the window for fullness. Enhance thermal properties by hanging the curtains several inches above the top of the window, and well past the level of the sill. Ensure the curtains fit snugly to the window frame, using velcro or magnets if needed.
Thermal Curtains
Hand-wash thermal backed curtains in cold water, taking care not to let the thermal coating stick to itself. Don't rub or wring the curtains as you wash them.
The thermal back curtains keep cold air from entering your home via the windows while keeping the warm air from escaping. However, since windows naturally produce condensation, the thermal back curtains could develop mildew growth.
These Clever Velvet Curtains drape beautifully and are super soft to touch. These curtains also have thermal interlining making them energy efficient with thermal properties. Simple soft colours add style to your home.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, using curtains with thermal lining can reduce heat loss by up to 25 percent. Using curtains with white plastic backings can reduce heat gain by up to 33 percent.
Increasing the temperature in your room, particularly overnight and in the winter, will prevent the build-up of condensation on your windows and walls. This is because condensation occurs when water condenses on a cold surface.
Insulation cloth & fabric are textile materials used to reduce the rate of thermal transfer between two temperatures. Fabric & cloth insulation are used to limit conduction and convection, particularly in commercial and residential applications.
From our data shown above, cotton is the most effective insulator of the materials we tested and is therefore the best material to wear in the cold. This is because it is more effective at trapping heat than both polyester and wool.
| What is thermal knit? A knit or woven fabric with a waffle or honeycomb texture that's made to trap warm air between the yarns, making it the perfect fabric to wear during the cold winter months.
Wool offers the most insulation with the least amount of weight, and naturally retains its shape. It is light and naturally hygroscopic meaning it absorbs and evaporates moisture more effectively than most other textiles, making it a good temperature regulator.