How To Block Heat From Windows [4 EASY ways]

Fans and cooling systems are not enough to block the sun's heat from your windows. For your information, there are far better, cost-effective ways to combat the heat. We've researched to find you the best possible ideas you can use to counter the heat and harmful radiation this summer.

There are tons of mechanisms you can put in place to block heat from your windows. Here are our top picks:

  • Bubble Wrap
  • Close the Blinds
  • Cover your windows with foil
  • Install an awning

Combining two or more of these methods will have an even stronger impact than a single one. They're all DIY-friendly, so you won't have to spend more on professional help!

The fun doesn't end there; we're just getting started. Read through this detailed post, and thank us later for the cool living space and slashed energy bills.

Gap in open blind of window, How To Block Heat From Windows [4 EASY ways]

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. 

Bubble Wrap

Use bubble wrap to increase your window's isolative value. Bubble wraps help to prevent heat loss during winter and block heat during the summer.

Close the Blinds

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Adjustments room lighting range through the blinds

Keeping the blinds closed helps to lower unnecessary solar heat gain by offering insulation to your windows. Stick around and find out some of the best blinds to get for your windows.

Cover Your Windows With Foil

Using aluminum foil is another way to block out the sun's radiant heat. Simply secure the foil over your glass window panes from the inside and seal it securely with tape.

Install an Awning

Window awnings are also worth trying out. They can lower solar heat gain by 77 and 65 percent on west-facing and south-facing windows, respectively. 

How 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 edges of your windows by adding some self-adhesive foam strips.
  • Purchase a chimney balloon for your chimney. The unique laminate in the balloon will limit the amount of heat that goes up through the stack.
  • Don't place anything in front of your radiator. Furniture such as sofas absorbs the heat without you knowing it. 

How Do You Reflect Heat Away From Windows? 

A hand opens a window to air the room

Fast fact: 40 percent of unwanted heat in your rooms gets in through the windows. Use reflective window coatings to throw back the extra heat off of your apertures. The liners are plastic sheets that have been enhanced with thin metal layers and dyes. 

These reflective coatings do more than just keeping the sun's heat at bay. They also lower the glare and prevent your carpeting, draperies, and furniture from fading. Apply these coatings to your window's interior surface. If you can't do it yourself, it wouldn't hurt to get it professionally done instead.

Keep reading for more accessible and affordable ways of keeping your home cooler.  

What Happens If  You Never Open Your Windows? 

This should be your last solution to countering the sun's intense temperatures. Don't consider it at all. When your windows are shut continuously, you negatively affect 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. 

Despite the heat, the warm weather comes with a ton of good stuff: cool breeze, fresh air, and attractive scents from wisteria, roses, jasmine, etc. 

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

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. 

Dark room with closed off-white Venetian blinds

What Are The Best Blinds To Keep Heat Out? 

Venetial slat-type window blinds are highly efficient at keeping out summer heat gain. These window coverings are highly reflective when completely shut and draped on a sunny window. 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. It helps to surround every corner of your humble abode with a few deciduous plants. 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.

Young woman drinking coffee in a cozy living room with house plants

2 Comments

  1. Amazing write-up, Thank you so much for sharing all this wonderful information with the how to us. You have always have good language in you blogs and easy to read and understand. Curtains give better light control but blinds may be more practical in a smaller space.

  2. Wow! This is brilliant. I love staying at home to stay calm, especially during the summer. Thanks for giving us these ideas!

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