Yes! Thermal curtains work effectively during both winter and summer. Medium- to light-colored curtains with a white, thermally reflective backing can reduce heat gain during the summer by as much as 33% by reflecting solar radiation. The orientation of the window also affects energy efficiency.
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.
Do thermal curtains keep cold out? While thermal curtains may not entirely keep cold out, they do raise the insulation level of windows, trapping cold air between the window and the curtain, preventing it from entering the room.
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.
What you might not know about thermal insulated curtains is that they're also effective at preventing outside heat from entering your home through your windows. This means your curtains will help to keep your home cool and comfortable in summer, too, rather than only keeping those heat levels pleasant in winter!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Thus, thermal curtains do not just keep heating costs down, but they also save energy by keeping air conditioning costs down as well! Recommended: Take a look at some of the top energy efficient blinds and curtains available now.
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.
Curtains help with heat retention by limiting the flow of air between the warm and cold areas of a room. Even double-glazed windows will afford heat with a chance to escape, but a set of heavy curtains will form a barrier that'll limit the flow of air from the main room to the window.
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.
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.
To help with clearing the condensation away, you can make a simple, home-made solution by mixing two cups of water with two cups of white vinegar and a couple drops of washing up liquid. Pour this mixture into a spray bottle if you have one and spray the solution straight onto your window.
They can be worth it, especially if your window faces the sun. I bought a relatively cheap pair on Ikea ($30 for 2 big curtains), and have felt a huge difference this summer.
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.
Thermal drapes -- specialty window coverings with an insulated backing -- help cut down on winter heating costs by reducing the amount of heat loss around the window area. The same properties that keep cool air outside and warm air in on a cold day allow the drapes to insulate during hot weather as well.
Blackout curtains can trap heat in during the winter and keep light and heat out during the summer. 10-25% of thermal energy loss goes out the windows. Blackout curtains can curtail this loss by a 25%, reducing your utility bills and greenhouse gases.
Ideally, you should use both types of curtains and change them from the cold to the warm season. Blackout curtains will keep your house cooler during the sizzling hot summer days, while thermal curtains will keep warmth from escaping out of the windows.
Thermal drapes are specialized curtains that act as the first defense against drafts and the indoor/outdoor heat exchange around windows. Constructed of two, three or four layers of material, they're designed to inhibit the amount of heat that passes through windows and glass-paned doors.