Cold Season Savings Tip: Windows

Are your windows winter ready? Windows give you a look out, but also cold a chance to creep in. With more on how to save money this heating season, here's Kelsey Soby's Cold Season Savings. 10 percent of the heat you pay for is lost right here.

“That can be a significant loss in a home.”

Carl Pedersen with NDSU Extension Service says part of the reason is cracks and leaks in window framing due to years of fluxing with weather changes.

“The older the home and the older the window is, the more potential savings you have by sealing some of those areas.”

Sometimes you can feel a draft. Condensation is also a dead giveaway.

“Moisture between the glass means it definitely leaks. That’s what is causing that condensation and air leak in between.”

And speaking of giving away.

“If I’m constantly cooling inside air out, that's costing me more money to make that house comfortable because 'm going to turn the heat up higher.”

To get back some of those lost dollars. You can run some caulk around window frames or put a layer of clear shrink film over the window.

“It actually creates a buffer between outside and inside air.”

Something as simple as curtains can also make a difference. They decrease cold drafts near windows and provide insulation. Pedersen says the more textured and tighter, the better.

“Some people take magnets, pulls right up tight.”

But you don't always want to have your blinds closed. During the day you want to let sunlight in, and then at night, you close them again to retain the heat. So you can watch winter come and go without watching your money go.