Deconovo says thermal curtains create a dead-air space between the window and the room, reducing the amount of air infiltration and heat transfer. In layman's terms, these curtains have a layer that prevents warm air from escaping out your window!
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.
How Curtains Provide Insulation. Good curtains stop cold air from entering your home by creating an air gap between the room and the window. Ideally, they also prevent any flow of hot and cold air which would create a draft.
There's a lot to love about blackout curtains: They keep the light out so you get a great night's rest, they help keep your home cool in summer and warm in winter (saving you money and helping the environment), and they can even reduce noise if you live in a busy area.
A Vacuum. A vacuum is by far the best known insulator for keeping things cold. Wikipedia gives it an R-value of 14-66 per inch. Compare this to white styrofoam with an R value of 3.6-4.7 and you can see just how incredible a vacuum is at keeping things cold.
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.
Exterior doors: Install a door sweep along exterior doors to help keep cold air from entering your house. Curtains: Put up extra thick curtains. Consider buying ones with thermal lining for extra insulation. Weather stripping: Seal gaps between doors and side jambs with long pieces of weather stripping.
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.
Blackout curtains and shades will reduce the amount of heat which is transferred via your windows by as much as 24 percent, keeping the rooms where they're installed cooler in summer and warmer in winter. This will allow you to use your heating and cooling system more efficiently and save energy.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Choose thick curtains in heavyweight, tightly woven textiles -- velvet, tapestry, tweed, denim, suede -- to provide a dense barrier against chilly outdoor air. Medium-weight fabrics, such as cotton blends and canvas, offer limited protection for your windows against wintry air.
The clever use of blinds, curtains, and other window treatments can help keep your house cool and your bills in check. The Department of Energy says the smart management of window coverings can reduce heat gain by up to 77 percent. (And, as a bonus, these same practices can reduce heat loss in the 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.
Thermal lined curtains are curtains that have a thermal lining. Thermal lining has heat retention properties and will also help keep out the drafts from windows keeping you cosy on a cold night. Thermal curtains will also keep the heat out of a room.
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.
It's important to try to use as much natural - and free - heat (in the form of sunlight) as possible. Window shades and curtains should be kept open during the day, advise Age UK. Closing your curtains as soon as dusk falls will maximise your house's potential to retain that heat.
The benefits are significant. Honeycomb shades can block heat about as well as a 1/8 inch sheet of insulated foam. Their R-value (or, their ability to insulate against heat flow) ranges between 2 and 5. In comparison, a typical double pane window has an R-value of 1.8.
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.