DRAUGHT-PROOFING AND VENTILATION
Draught-proofing your home is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to save energy and money. There should be some controlled ventilation to help reduce condensation and damp, letting fresh air in when required. Sealing off any unwanted gaps that let the warm air out and the cold air in will help you use less energy to heat your home.
Your home does need some form of ventilation – Westcoast composite windows can be fitted with Trickle Vents which let fresh air trickle in when needed. Other forms of ventilation that shouldn’t be blocked or sealed include extractor fans in kitchens, bathrooms and utility rooms, under-floor grilles or air bricks and wall vents.
Window and doors can be draught-proofed with self-adhesive foam strips or metal or plastic stripes with brushes or wipers. Although these are cost-effective and a ‘quick fix’ they are not as effective as fitting energy efficient windows and doors…
ENERGY EFFICIENT COMPOSITE WINDOWS
Energy efficient glazing reduces heat loss through windows, resulting in fewer cold spots and draughts in your home. Energy efficient windows such as Westcoast true bonded Swedish composite windows can help reduce your energy bills, whether it’s double or triple-glazing. Effective glazing can also help insulate your home against external noise – particularly important if you live close to a busy road, railway or flight path.
Westcoast Windows’ energy efficient windows are a unique composite system consisting of an outer part of powder-coated aluminium, which is resistant to harsh weather conditions, bonded to an inner part of wood for a warmer, authentic feel indoors. The timber element acts as a thermal break, enabling the frame to offer very high levels of insulation. All window seals are housed into grooves within the sash, creating exceptional air and weather prevention.
Energy efficient glazing also reduces the build-up of condensation on your windows in the winter…
HOW TO REDUCE CONDENSATION WITH COMPOSITE WINDOWS
Condensation can be a huge problem during the colder months, when the warm air inside your house condenses on the cold windows. In some cases it can damage your windows, rotting wood and erode the surrounding plaster. It’s even more annoying when it’s between the glazing panels, where you can’t access it, indicating a broken seal.
Moisture, and therefore condensation, can be reduced in your home by using a dehumidifier and increasing ventilation in concentrated warm air areas such as the kitchen, bathroom and utility room. You may even be tempted to open your windows – not such a great solution for energy efficiency! The ideal solution is to raise the temperature of your windows, which can be achieved with curtains or more effectively by installing energy efficient windows.
Our factory assembled double or triple glazed sealed units incorporate the latest ‘warm edge’ technology, insulated super spacers and argon gas filling as standard, achieving the ideal energy efficient solution, reducing the chance of condensation and creating a warm feel in your home.
Westcoast composite windows also feature extrusions in the aluminium frame, allowing the window to be fully drained and ventilated, preventing harmful moisture and rot from damaging the timber.
For more information about Westcoast Swedish aluminium timber composite windows visit our MADE IN SWEDEN and STYLES & OPTIONS pages.
