5 Hacks For Blocking Heat From Windows

Fans and cooling systems are not enough to block the sun’s heat from your windows.

There are far better, cost-effective ways to combat the heat. We’ve researched to find you the best ideas for countering the heat and harmful radiation this summer.

How To Block Heat From Windows

Windows can intensify the sun’s rays and heat your home. Try one of the following techniques to keep your temperature down. 

1. Use Reflective Window Film

Reflective window film is an affordable and straightforward solution to reduce the heat entering your home. It works by reflecting a significant portion of the sun’s rays away from your windows.

This not only lowers the temperature inside but also reduces glare, making it easier to see screens and enjoy natural light without discomfort.

Installation is usually simple. It involves cutting the film to size, applying it to the window, and smoothing it out to remove bubbles.

Reflective window film offers additional benefits besides cooling your home, like UV protection. Blocking harmful ultraviolet rays helps prevent the fading of furniture, carpets, and other interior items.

The film also provides a measure of privacy during the daytime, as it makes it harder for people outside to see inside, all while maintaining your view from the inside out.

2. Install Blackout Curtains

Blackout curtains are highly effective in blocking sunlight and reducing heat in your home. They are made of thick, tightly woven fabric that prevents light from passing through.

By blocking out the sun, blackout curtains help keep rooms cooler and more comfortable, especially during the hottest parts of the day.

Installing blackout curtains is simple: They hang on standard curtain rods, making them an easy addition to any room.

In addition to their heat-blocking capabilities, blackout curtains can also enhance your home’s energy efficiency.

They add an extra layer of insulation to your windows, helping to keep warm air inside during the winter and cool air inside during the summer.

This can lead to lower energy bills, as your heating and cooling systems don’t have to work as hard to maintain a comfortable temperature.

Furthermore, blackout curtains are available in various styles and colors, allowing you to choose options that match your décor while providing functional benefits.

3. Apply Heat-Blocking Shades

Heat-blocking shades, such as cellular or honeycomb shades, are designed to trap air within their cells, creating an insulating barrier between your window and your room.

These shades are particularly effective at reducing heat transfer, making your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

Cellular shades’ unique design makes them not only practical but also stylish. They come in a range of colors and patterns to complement your interior design.

Installing heat-blocking shades is straightforward and can be customized to fit any window size.

Once in place, they provide an easy way to control the amount of sunlight and heat that enters your room.

In addition to their insulating properties, these shades can improve your home’s energy efficiency by reducing artificial cooling and heating. This can help lower utility bills and create a more sustainable living environment.

4. Use External Awnings

External awnings are a practical and stylish way to block heat from your windows.

Awnings provide shade, preventing direct sunlight from hitting windows, which can significantly reduce the amount of heat entering your home.

Awnings come in various styles, such as retractable or fixed, and materials like canvas, metal, or acrylic, allowing you to choose an option that fits your aesthetic and functional needs.

Installing external awnings can also protect your windows and exterior walls from the elements, extending their lifespan.

Additionally, by blocking the sun’s rays before they reach your windows, awnings can help keep your interior cooler, reducing the need for air conditioning and potentially lowering your energy bills.

They also offer the benefit of creating shaded outdoor spaces, making your patio or deck more comfortable during hot weather.

5. Install Window Insulation Kits

Window insulation kits are an inexpensive and efficient way to improve the thermal performance of your windows.

These kits typically include a clear plastic film that you can apply to the interior of your windows. This film creates an insulating barrier that helps to keep heat out during the summer and retain warmth during the winter.

The film is easy to install: simply cut it to size, attach it to the window frame with double-sided tape, and shrink it with a hair dryer to create a tight seal.

Using window insulation kits can lead to noticeable improvements in your home’s comfort and energy efficiency.

By reducing heat transfer through your windows, these kits help to maintain a more consistent indoor temperature, which can reduce the workload on your heating and cooling systems and lower your energy bills.

Additionally, the clear film is almost invisible once installed, so it won’t obstruct your view or impact the appearance of your windows.

How Else Can You Prevent Heat Loss Through Windows? 

Don’t splurge insane amounts of cash on fancy heat-loss prevention tactics. Instead, use these fast and cheap methods to maintain the warmth of your living space:

• Put up some reflective aluminum foil at the back of your radiator.
• Place heavy curtains that have a thermal lining on your windows and front door.
• Seal any gaps on the edges of your windows by adding some self-adhesive foam strips.
• Purchase a chimney balloon for your chimney. The balloon’s unique laminate will limit the amount of heat that rises through the stack.
• Don’t place anything in front of your radiator. Furniture such as sofas absorbs the heat without you knowing it. 

What Happens If  You Never Open Your Windows? 

This should be your last solution to countering the sun’s intense temperatures. Continuously shutting your windows negatively affects your indoor air quality.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), stale air is among the top environmental concerns. Closed windows leave you vulnerable to the harmful effects of air fresheners, cleaning products, tobacco smoke, mold, stoves, and heaters. 

Simply put, the air from modern heating/cooling systems is nothing compared to the simple air that windows provide. 

Read more: How Often Should You Air Out Your House?

What Is The Best Window Treatment To Block Sun And Heat? 

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) recommends using window shades as the easiest and most effective way to keep out the sun. Shades only serve their purpose when they’re installed the right way.

Mount them pretty close to the glass. Create a tight seal by installing it against the adjacent wall to minimize both heat gain and heat loss. 

Add an extra level of functionality to your shades by putting up shades with a bright shade on one side and a darker on the other.

Reverse your shades depending on the season. The bright side will block the heat in summer, and the dark one takes in the heat in winter. 

What Can I Put On My Windows To Block The Heat?

We recommend three necessary materials: blankets, blackout curtains, and shutters/awnings. These are all eco-friendly and don’t take a toll on your finances.

Your choice of blanket should ideally be thick and dark to block out the sun effectively. Secure each side of your blanket on each side of the window frame for reliable coverage.

Blackout curtains are a better, more tailored alternative to blankets. A pair of these can lower your energy costs by up to 20 percent.

Shutters and awnings work hand in hand to provide unbeatable heat protection. It’s best to use shutters on the outside as well as the inside for windows that receive insane amounts of sunlight.  

Does Keeping Blinds Closed Keep Heat Out? 

It does, but not such an impressive amount of heat. The highest kind of reflective blinds can keep up to 45 percent of unwanted heat from getting inside. 

Blinds have vertical and horizontal sections that you can rotate manually to control the amount of heat that gets in. Keeping them closed only traps out the sunlight, but not the heat.  

However, blinds have varying levels of effectiveness based on a few circumstances. This includes the direction of your room from the window, how warm or hot it is outside, and the kind of blind you’re using. 

Certain blinds perform significantly better than others when it comes to maintaining a cool atmosphere. 

What Are The Best Blinds To Keep Heat Out? 

Venetial slat-type window blinds are highly efficient at keeping out summer heat gain.

When completely shut and draped on a sunny window, these window coverings are highly reflective. They have slats with an impressive number of openings that provide flexibility in regards to heat control.

The slats make it easy to adjust the amount of solar heat gain, light, and glare. They can also be tweaked to keep out intense heat and reflect direct sunlight onto a bright-toned ceiling. 

Bright ceilings will, in turn, break down the light without much glare or heat. This allows you to take full advantage of the heat-free atmosphere and natural lighting from the sun. 

Which Way Do You Turn Blinds To Keep The Heat Out? 

Blinds should be tilted upwards with the rounded side facing out. This position will naturally direct the heat towards the ceiling and reduce heat gain. The rest of the space in your room will be kept relatively cooler, with very minimal glare from the sun. 

When you have your blinds facing downwards, you leave more significant gaps for more heat and sunlight to get in. More heat gets in and is pushed towards the floor, thereby leaving very little room for fresh air.

The sun will directly heat the back of the blind. Once it gets too hot, the blinds will start heating the air that gets into your home.  

Will Aluminum Foil Block Heat From Windows? 

Yes, it will. Aluminum foil – or tin foil – has two significant properties that make it suitable for various applications: its ability to block heat and light. While most people use it as a means to preserve food, very few are aware of how effective it is in blocking out radiant heat.

Aluminum foil is really easy to use and very cost-effective. Simply place it over your interior glass windowpane and seal the edges with tape. Its resistance to heat helps prevent most of the sun’s heat and glare from getting into your house.

The atmosphere inside your house stays cool and dark despite the bright, scorching heat outside. 

Does Bubble Wrap On Your Windows Keep Heat Out?

Bubble wrap provides an innovative way to increase the isolative value of your window. You can use it in winter to trap the heat in your home, and in summer to keep out the heat.

It essentially gives out a budget-friendly double-glazed-type effect through the layers of air in its bubbles. 

To insulate your windows using bubble wrap: spray some water on your window, then push the bubble side against the glass. Don’t worry – it won’t stain your windows. Finish off by sealing the edges with some tape and get rid of any excess wrap for a clean finish. 

Bubble wrap insulations can last a maximum of seven years. Pretty impressive, right?

Adding A Few Deciduous Plants Around Your Home Helps Too!

So you’ve blocked the heat from the windows. Sealing all your internal window dressings with bubble wrap or aluminum foil is good, but it’s not enough. Deciduous plants help surround every corner of your home, not to mention how perfectly they blend with tropical bedroom design.

Plants are a pretty cheap way to add that much-needed cooling effect to any room in your home. You’ll feel much cooler by adopting a stylish, mini-botanical garden right at the comfort of your home.