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.
For many, opting for a set of thermal curtains can help you keep out the cold and heat—all without adding more money to your electric bill.
In contrast, thermal curtains are a relatively inexpensive way to control drafts, reduce heat loss by up to 25% in the winter and reduce solar gain by 33% in the summer. Here are the facts about types of thermal curtains, their energy-saving qualities and how to install them for maximum benefit.
But what's the difference between blackout and thermal curtains? In short, blackout curtains are primarily designed to blackout a room by reducing the amount of light that can enter through the window. Thermal curtains, on the other hand, are primarily designed to reduce heat loss from a room's windows.
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.
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 are thermal blinds any good in summer? Yes, very much so. Thermal blinds are a great pick for rooms that get horribly hot in summer, whether or not they also get overly cold in winter.
Even though thermal curtains also filter out unwanted natural light, they function first as a way to insulate the home. Thermal curtains are either double- or triple-layered heavy fabric with a thick backing of insulate material and often a polyester-film vapor barrier.
Drapes, curtains and blinds enable you to control the amount of sunlight that enters the room. If you keep them closed completely, you can block the light and heat coming from the sun. You might want to consider window treatments with a light-colored or reflective backing as they are known to work best.
First, check for these common problems: Dirty air filter—A dirty filter restricts airflow, not letting your home get enough cool air. Closed vents—Closed vents in rooms can cause them to be hotter than other rooms. Open windows—Your conditioned air can flow out of open windows, leaving uneven temperatures in your home.
What are thermal blinds? Thermal window blinds are window dressings that help to prevent cold draughts coming into your home. They can also effectively lock in heat within each room to keep your environment comfortable at all times.
The simple answer to whether roller blinds cause condensation is this: no. This is because the roller blind is excluded on a pedantic technicality. The technicality is this: a roller blind can't cause condensation because it doesn't produce moisture or heat.
When blinds are measured and fitted properly they insulate your home by trapping a layer of air between the blinds fabric and the window. This effectively seals of your windows so that air can't escape from the windows. For the best effect you should pull up blinds during the day to allow sunlight in to warm the home.
Curtains with insulated linings can have R-values as high as R-6. Using insulating window treatments can save as much as 7 percent on utility bills each year. Thermal window treatments not only reduce heat loss and solar gain.
It will let the space between the curtain and windows air out. The warmth inside + cold air outside = condensation. It gets trapped between the curtains and window and makes mold.
Keep the thermostat at the same temperature in every room, and if there's a room in your home that you don't use often, keep the door closed. You should also try to open the windows in that room for a couple of hours each day to prevent condensation and damp from forming.
Here's Why. Recently, the federal government released new recommendations for energy efficiency. According to these federal guidelines, during the summer you should set your thermostat at 85F during the day when no one is home.
During the night, your house emits radiation, but more than outside, since it is hotter (Stefan-Boltzmann equation). Your roof/ceiling emits radiation both inside and outside the house. This keeps the radiation "trapped" inside the house.
Your AC Is the Wrong Size
It makes sense that if your air conditioner's cooling capacity isn't enough for the space it needs to cool, you'd experience discomfort. So if you're cranking up the AC and still feeling warm and sticky, the AC might be too small to properly cool the size of your home.