Weatherproofing Your Home

Although some might argue that’s it’s more important during our hot summer months, really, in the greater Phoenix area, anytime is a good time to weatherproof and improve your home’s energy efficiency. It can last all year! At Altra Home Décor, we have a few suggestions for ways to make your home less susceptible to outside influences, which could, in turn, reduce your energy bill, no matter the season. Check them out below!

Check Cracks and Gaps

Doors and windows are the biggest culprits for letting outside air in. Check all of the spaces to determine if you have drafty cracks and gaps, and use weather stripping or caulk to seal the openings. This will help ensure that the air that’s inside stays inside and the air that’s outside stays outside—which means your home will be closer to the temperature you want.

Upgrade Insulation

Proper insulation is a big key to comfortable home temperatures. Be sure your attic, walls, and crawl spaces are insulated with quality products to help lower your energy costs (by some estimates, potentially even by up to 20%).

Check Your Roof

At least once or twice a year, inspect your roof (or have a professional do it) for missing or cracked shingles. Your roof is the gateway to the sky, and anytime we get rain, you could suffer leaks. Or if it’s windy, more shingles can get loosened and removed, leading to a domino effect.

Manage Your Windows

If you have older windows (especially if they’re older than 20 or 25 years old), you could be doing your home (and your energy bill) a disservice. However, new windows can also be a pricey investment. Another protective option is window fashions. Hunter Douglas offers some of the best options on the market, including:

Duette® Honeycomb Shades. Duette Honeycomb shades offer a simple, sleek look for modern spaces, but also work well in traditional settings. The ultimate benefit, of course, is that they almost pay for themselves with the energy savings you’ll enjoy
Applause® Honeycomb Shades. Unlike some other brands of cellular shades, Applause is created with a double cell, which offers increased insulation over regular single-cell construction.
Sonnette™ Cellular Roller Shades. The new, round, sculptured construction of the Sonnette cellular roller shade is being called “the new shape of light.” These beautiful rolling cells gently diffuse sunlight throughout the room while creating a sense of privacy.

And if none of that is in your budget right now, you can still be window-smart with the treatments you already have in our summer and warm climate: Keep the solar heat away during the day by keeping your treatment closed. Keep it closed at night as well to keep the insulating property at the window so the cool air stays in.

Weatherproofing Your Home in the Greater Phoenix Area

Altra Home Decor is your source for window treatments, custom drapery, flooring, and more! We serve the greater Phoenix area, including Peoria, Sun City West, Glendale, and Scottsdale, with a showroom in Surprise. Stop by our locally owned store to view our full-size window treatment displays and sample books. Contact us today to schedule an in-home design consultation!