White and beige living room with white polywood shutters above a white couch.

Energy Efficiency And R-Value Of Window Treatments In Bluff City

June 23, 2022

Energy conservation should be a large want for your windows. With an inefficient covering, you might feel a good deal of heat loss, which may lead to bigger heating and cooling bills. To find the most energy-efficient window coverings, you should to see their R-values.

But which window treatments own the biggest R-value in Bluff City?

What Is A Window Treatment’s R-Value in Bluff City?

White polywood shutters in a white bedroom.

Everything in your house that plays a part with insulation -- from the walls to windows -- gets an R-value. Those digits tells you how well an item stops thermal energy from traveling through it. A larger R-value tells you that the item is a more effective insulator.

But why care about a window treatment’s R-value in Bluff City? Well, because windows are one of the most prevalent heat loss areas in the home. If you want to trap in the warm air during cooler months or keep your house cooler in the warm times, you have to have a window treatment with good insulation. A window treatment with a big R-value lets you keep your rooms at the set setting.

Window Covering R-value Comparison Table

Every window treatment is not created with the same care, which plays a large part in how they insulate. Though there might be a little variation with the materials and quality between makes and models, here’s what you’re likely to see when comparing window coverings.

Window Covering	Average R-Value
Only glass	0.75 - 1
Mini-blinds	1.5 - 2
Window shades	2.5
Draperies	2 - 3
Wood Shutters	3 - 4
Cell Shades	4.5
Polywood® Plantation Shutters	>6

Source: R-values from Energy.gov and HouseLogic.

Remember, the larger the R-value the more the window treatment helps insulate your home. It shouldn’t be a shock that cheap blinds, which are made with thin aluminum, give you almost no protection compared to a more weighty product, like Polywood shutters. That big span in R-value can result in a variance of several degrees – enough to feel an influence on if you dial up the thermostat and make your energy bills rise.

What Contributes To A Window Treatment’s R-Value In Bluff City?

Light gray cellular shades inside a white and rustic styled living room.

A few factors affect a window covering's R-value: construction and materials. First, coverings that have lots of ways for heat loss will not have a large R-value. For example, blinds and curtains dangle down, allowing heat to flow around the sides and bottom of the treatment. However, interior shutters are custom-crafted around the window opening, keeping heat against the window’s glass when you shut the louvers.

Then what the product is constructed with can also bring a big impact to insulation. Take cellular shades, which use overlapping layers of fabric designed to trap heat. As a result, they can hinder air disbursement more effectively than treatments like roller shades. Likewise, Polywood plantation shutters, built from a impenetrable faux wood material, can block heat loss more than more porous wood shutters. Polywood shutters also employs weatherstripping, which results in a air-tight seal on your window when the louvers are shut.

Increase Your House’s R-value In Bluff City

Does it feel like your home could be a little cozier? How about a change to durable Polywood shutters to increase your windows’ R-value? Contact us at Sunburst Shutters NW Tennessee by calling 276-685-5343 or complete the form below to book a free in-home consultation.

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