Winter is Coming: Winterize your Skylights & Windows

Prepare your skylights for winter to maximize light and minimize cold with these tips:

1. The best way to maximize light is to clean windows and skylights outside and in. Maximizing the light coming in during the day can help heat your home. Also while cleaning the outside is a good time to clear debris from on and around the skylight. Wipe down the inner frame and if you have a screen remove it and hose it down. Confirm that all moving parts are in good working order. Wipe things down, but don’t use cleaning supplies or lubrication on the moving parts. Check your care and maintenance guide for approved products or download it here.
2. If you don’t have blinds you might want to look into getting some. Blinds will help retain heat in cooler weather and can increase energy efficiency by as much as 37 percent. A blackout blind can increase that even more. This is especially important at night as the temperature drops. If the skylights aren’t shielded then you can lose heat as it comes into contact with the cold window surface.
3. Hiring a professional to come and look at your skylight before the temperatures drop is a good way to prevent potential problems that might not be immediately obvious.
   If you have older skylights or windows your might look into replacing them with newer models that are much more efficient in cutting down heat loss. A double glazed window loses only half the heat of a single glazed window. If the timing isn’t right you can look into covering them with window insulation film to get you through the winter.
4. If you’re trying to decide about installing skylights consider a tubular skylight instead. They are less susceptible to heat loss, but still fill your home with plenty of sunlight.

Winter is coming and any efforts in winterizing will save you money on your energy bill and keep you more comfortable while it’s cold outside.