If you’re a Wenatchee homeowner, you know how much of your life relies on the weather. The hot season here has temperatures averaging 78°F, spiking into the 100s with ease. Come winter, our weather swings to the other extreme, with three months of icy weather averaging in the low 40s. Hot or cold, how homeowners implement their window treatments will drastically affect their home comfort and energy costs throughout the year. We at the Blind Guy of Tri-Cities are a trusted provider of custom window solutions tailored for Wenatchee homes. That’s why, today, we will go over the top seasonal window treatments Wenatchee homeowners should take advantage of to enhance comfort, energy efficiency, and style.
Winter Window Treatment Wenatchee Home Tips:
During the harsh winter weather in Wenatchee, homeowners must prioritize keeping the heat inside their homes. Take December as an example; it is known to fall steadily in the mid-20s with the chance of dipping into the single digits! To prevent your home from turning into an ice box, here are window treatments Wenatchee homeowners should consider implementing into their homes.
1. Insulating Shades and Blinds:
Insulating shades and blinds provide an easy way for homeowners to minimize heat transfer and energy costs. For example, Honeycomb shades (also known as cellular shades) are one of the best insulating window treatment options. The unique honeycomb design traps air in the cells, acting as an insulating barrier that reduces cold transfer and heat loss.
2. Layering with Drapes:
An alternative to insulating shades or blinds would be to use drapes. Thick, heavy drapes help to block cold drafts from coming off the windows and keep your home warmer. Fabrics such as wool or velvet make an ideal choice due to the tightly woven quality. Additionally, you could layer multiple thinner drapes to achieve that protective goal without the heavy aesthetic of thick drapes.
3. Motorized Window Treatments:
One of our favorite recommendations for seasonal window treatments Wenatchee homeowners can take advantage of all year long is motorized window treatments. Motorized window treatments can be utilized efficiently with shades or blinds to create an automated seasonal system right from your phone. For example, in the winter, you can set the motorized window treatments to open mid-morning on windows where sunlight pours in for additional natural home heating and then have all the windows close once the sun sets to prevent heat loss. You, then, never have to worry about opening and closing blinds throughout the day, and you can create a perfect system for your home.
Summer Window Treatment Wenatchee Home Tips:
Come summer, Wenatchee homeowners face the opposite problem as winter – trying to keep their homes cool without paying atrocious energy bills. Unfortunately, Energy.Gov reports, “In cooling seasons, about 76% of sunlight that falls on standard double-pane windows enters to become heat.” Therefore, seasonal window treatments Wenatchee homeowners should focus on are ones that prevent sunlight, such as the following:
1. Solar Shades:
Solar shades are a light-filtering window treatment designed to block heat while maintaining your view and preferred aesthetics. For example, Graber offers a solar shade with various degrees of opacity: 1%, 3%, 5%, and 10%. These shades lower home cooling costs while coming with various control types and can be paired with dual shades or drapery for an even more significant effect.
2. Reflective-Backed Blinds:
Reflective-backed blinds can repel the heat from your home for an alternative to light-filtering window treatments. Aptly named, reflective-backed blinds have a reflective coating, like a mirror, that bounces the sunlight off the blind, rather than letting it seep into the home. This, in turn, prevents much sun-related heat transfer from occurring.
3. Exterior Screens or Awnings:
Another great way to reduce the heat in your home is from the outside. Exterior screens or awnings protect your home, preventing those harsh summer rays from hitting your windows in the first place. Plus, if you choose to invest in an awning, not only will you benefit from limited sun exposure, but it can enhance the curb appeal of your home and provide additional comfort when enjoying your outdoor spaces.
Energy Efficiency Benefits in Wenatchee:
How effective seasonal window treatments Wenatchee homeowners implement will depend on their unique circumstances. For example, the type of window treatment, the size of their home, their sun exposure, and their diligence in opening and closing their window treatments if they don’t have automated ones will greatly affect how much they can benefit.
You will be impressed at the results when looking at an average. A study from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory found the following results:
- Insulated cellular shades over clear glass double-pane windows compared to uncovered windows and windows covered with vinyl Venetian style blinds led to 10-14% cooling savings and 11-18% heating savings.
- Exterior shades over west- and south-facing clear glass double-pane windows compared to uncovered windows and windows covered with Venetian blinds led to 12-25% cooling HVAC savings
Say you fall in the average energy use that results in the average electric bill of other Washington residents of $121.34 a month; you could easily save hundreds of dollars a year just by having these proper window treatments in place!
Custom Window Treatment Solutions from Blind Guy of Tri-Cities:
As locals of the area, we at the Blind Guy of the Tri-Cities recognize how window treatments Wenatchee homeowners choose will not only affect their energy bills but it will play a role in their home’s aesthetic, functionality, and comfortability.
We offer a wide range of products designed for Wenatchee homeowners, such as motorized blinds, custom designs, and energy-efficient options. By working with us, you can take advantage of our local expertise and experience to create a solution suited to not only Wenatchee’s unique seasonal needs but also your family’s preferences. Together, we will find the ideal window treatment you will love for years to come.
Get your Wenatchee home ready for every season with expert window treatment solutions from Blind Guy of Tri-Cities. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation!