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

The R-Value Of Shutters And Other Window Treatments In Hartford

June 23, 2022

Energy efficiency can be a large need for your Hartford window treatments. With the wrong treatment, your windows could fall victim to damaging heat loss, which leads to higher heating and cooling costs. To get the most energy-efficient window treatments, you should to see their R-values.

But what window treatments own the best R-value in Hartford?

What’s A Window Treatment’s R-Value in Hartford?

White polywood shutters in a white bedroom.

Everything in your residence that promotes insulation -- from the walls to windows -- is assigned an R-value. That rating represents how well the item hinders thermal energy from traveling through it. A higher R-value indicates a more efficient insulator.

So why should you worry about a window treatment’s R-value in Hartford? Well, because windows are one of the biggest energy wasters in the house. If you have to trap in the hot air during cooler months or keep your rooms cooler in summer, you will need a window treatment with more insulation. A window covering with a big R-value lets you keep your home at your preferred temperature.

Window Covering R-value Chart

Every window treatment is not created equally, and therefore different window treatments get different r-values. Though there might be a little variation from the materials and craftsmanship between makes and models, below is what you’re going to see when looking at different window coverings.

Window Covering	Average R-Value
No window treatment	0.75 - 1
Aluminum blinds	1.5 - 2
Shades	2.5
Draperies	2 - 3
Hardwood Shutters	3 - 4
Honeycomb Shades	4.5
Polywood® Plantation Shutters	>6

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

Keep in mind, the bigger the R-value number the more the window covering insulates your home. It shouldn’t be a shock that cheap blinds, which use flimsy aluminum, give you almost no insulation when put up against a more solid covering, like durable faux-wood shutters. That large gap in R-value can result in a variance of several degrees – enough to make an influence on if you crank up the thermostat and waste money or not.

What Contributes To A Window Covering’s R-Value In Hartford?

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

A couple of things affect a window covering's R-value: build and substance. To start with, treatments that have multiple avenues for heat loss won’t own a large R-value. For example, blinds and curtains dangle down, allowing hot air to flow around the bottom and sides of the covering itself. On the other hand, interior shutters are custom-made snuggly around the window pane, keeping air against the window’s glass when the louvers are completely shut.

Secondly, the materials the product is made out of can have a significant bump in R-value. Take cellular shades, which are made with overlapping layers of fabric that create “cells” to trap air. As a result, they can block air disbursement more efficiently than products like Roman shades. Likewise, Polywood plantation shutters, made from a impenetrable faux wood material, can trap heat loss more than natural wood shutters. Polywood shutters also use seamless weatherstripping, which results in a tight seal on your window when the louvers are shut.

Up Your House’s R-value In Hartford

Does it seem like your home could be a little cozier? How about installing quality faux-wood shutters to up your R-value? Contact us at Sunburst Shutters Connecticut by calling 860-266-5459 or submit the form below to get your no-cost in-home consultation.

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