Why Window Caulking Is Important For Your Home

If you are concerned about energy costs in your home, one way that you can solve that problem is through window caulking. Windows are an integral part of your energy conservation system, impacting up to 30% of residential cooling and heating. This means that if you get your windows more energy efficient, you could potentially see a huge reduction in your energy use. Caulking works by preventing air from leaking, which means that the house stays warmer or cooler for longer. If you are not sure how caulking can help you have a more energy-efficient home, read on to find out.

Understanding Caulking

Caulk is any material that is used to seal gaps and cracks around windows. Caulk is made from many different materials such as spray foam, silicone, and butyl rubber among others. Depending on the compound in use, the methods of applying caulk vary. Most people, however, use an applicator gun to distribute the caulking compound evenly around such doors and windows.

Benefits of Applying Caulk

There are many reasons why you should consider applying caulk. Here are some of the top benefits of doing so.

• Improves Home’s Curb Appeal

When your windows have cracks and gaps on them, it may reduce the aesthetic appeal of your home. This, in turn, can have an effect on the value of your home. Caulking up your windows is an effective way of increasing the value of your home as it brings out your house’s best look.

• Reduces Energy Costs

Caulking your windows is an effective way of ensuring that your home is more energy efficient. Hot or cold air typically escapes through the cracks around the windows. This makes it harder for your air conditioning system to regulate the temperature in your home. In turn, this means higher energy consumption. With window caulking, you have the ability to regulate the flow of air in and out of your home. This leads to better insulation.

• Helps Waterproof Your Windows

Apart from letting air into your house, cracks on the windows have the effect of letting in water as well. Over time, this water may find its way into your walls, floors, and other structures. If they are not properly waterproofed, there is a danger that the moisture will eventually damage some of these concrete structures. Excess moisture can also lead to mold problems which can have an adverse effect on the health of your family. By caulking up your windows, you help to create a waterproof seal around it that keeps moisture away.

• Keeps Paint Work Intact

Apart from structural damage, letting water in through the cracks on the window can also damage your paint. In such cases, the water will cause the paint to bubble and peel off, leading to unsightly patches on the wall. To fix this, you will probably have to repaint the entire wall so that the room achieves a uniform look. All this could be avoided by caulking your window.

• Protects Window Panes

One way in which caulking helps to reduce maintenance costs is by protecting the glass panes on your window. The caulk acts as a cushion that prevents the glass from vibrating and thus is prone to breaking. Not only is this good for your home maintenance costs, but it also ensures that your window panes do not rattle when the window is closed or when the wind blows on the window.