The reason we lose so much heat out windows is because glass is a poor insulator. It’s well accepted that a good way to reduce heat loss out your windows during the colder months is to invest in good quality curtains and blinds. Some would claim that curtains have an advantage over blinds because you can opt for thick fabrics, but if blinds are your choice based on aesthetics you’re in luck; blinds can still act to insulate against the cold.
First, a little bit of simple science
When temperatures are colder outside than inside, glass conducts the heat from inside the house to the outside where it disappears. The air next to the glass inside, having lost its heat, becomes cold and dense and falls to the floor drawing in new warm air from above. This cycle continues until you lose all your warm air outside.
The perfect fit
To provide good insulation, your blinds need to fit snugly with the window frame to seal any gaps and trap the air in between the blind and the window. Any gap and the thermal effects of the blind, even if it’s well lined, will be negated. Should you choose Russells for your blinds, we make sure you get the perfect fit firstly by taking expert and precise measurements, and then once your blinds are delivered, our professional team installs them for you.
Fabric choice
Blind fabrics are often backed by either block out lining to reduce light filtering through, or thermal lining to help insulate the room; at Russells we have a comprehensive range of blind fabrics and our in-home style consultants will help you choose the right option for what you want your blinds to achieve.
Honeycomb blinds
Increasing in popularity, honeycomb blinds have air pockets in them for increased insulation and energy efficiency. For keeping your home warm they’re up there as one of the best options.
Roman blinds
Thermal lined roman blinds are also an excellent choice. They cover the entire window space leaving little room for heat to escape. You have a choice of fabrics to suit your aesthetic and insulating needs, and they can be constructed with a number of different linings to ensure you get the insulation and block out properties appropriate for your room. Just remember they need to fit snugly against the wall to create that seal and stop cold air leaking through.
Roller blinds
With roller blinds you have a choice of either a forward roll or reverse roll; this refers to the direction the fabric comes off the roll. If insulation is a major goal go for the reverse roll where the fabric comes off the roll backwards. This means when the blind unrolls it sits snug against the window (as opposed to slightly out from the wall as with a forward roll) to help stop cold air getting in.
Venetian and vertical blinds
These options are not as energy efficient. The small gaps in between each slat in Venetian blinds and vertical blinds allow warm air to escape, reducing insulation capabilities. Don’t write them off completely however, insulation requirements vary throughout the home so they may still be appropriate for rooms that need less insulation such as the bathroom, kitchen or laundry.
To find out even more ways to reduce heat loss through windows, check out our blog.
If you need help choosing the right blinds for your home, you’ll love our free guide. Download it now.
