I've been trying something lately to save a bit on heating bills, and I'm not totally sure if it's actually effective or if I'm just fooling myself, haha. Basically, on sunny winter days, I leave my curtains wide open to let the sunlight stream in. My thinking is, sunlight equals warmth, right? So here's what I've been doing step-by-step:
1. First thing in the morning, I open all the curtains on the sunny side of the house.
2. I make sure windows are clean (well, mostly clean, you know how it is) to let in maximum sunlight.
3. Around mid-afternoon, when the sun starts going down, I close the curtains again to trap whatever warmth came in.
It seems logical, but I'm not totally convinced it's making a noticeable difference. My place feels warmer during the day, but maybe it's just psychological? Or maybe I'm losing more heat than I'm gaining somehow?
Does anyone else do this or have a better method? Maybe I'm missing something obvious here...
You're definitely onto something here. I've been doing pretty much the same thing for years, and it does help—at least in my experience. The key is timing, like you mentioned. Opening curtains early to let sunlight in and closing them before sunset traps that warmth inside. It's called passive solar heating, and it's a legit method to save energy.
One thing you might want to check is your window insulation. If your windows are drafty or poorly insulated, you could be losing heat faster than you're gaining it. I had this issue at my old place—felt like I was heating the outdoors sometimes. Adding weather stripping or even those plastic window insulation kits can make a noticeable difference.
Also, heavy curtains or thermal blinds really help trap heat once the sun goes down. I switched to thicker curtains last winter, and it made evenings way cozier.
So yeah, you're not imagining things—it's a solid strategy. Just make sure your windows aren't sabotaging your efforts...
Passive solar heating definitely has its merits, but honestly, it depends a lot on your home's layout and orientation. At my place, the south-facing rooms get nice and toasty when the sun's out, but the north side barely sees any sunlight at all. Opening curtains there doesn't do much except let heat escape through the glass, even with decent insulation.
Also, I've noticed that on really cold days, even sunny ones, the heat gain isn't always enough to offset the chill coming off the windows. I tried the plastic insulation kits you mentioned, and while they helped a bit, they weren't exactly game-changers. Eventually, I ended up investing in double-glazed windows, and that made a huge difference—though obviously that's a bigger expense.
So yeah, curtains and timing help, but they're not always enough on their own. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and upgrade your windows or insulation if you really want to see noticeable savings.
"Eventually, I ended up investing in double-glazed windows, and that made a huge difference—though obviously that's a bigger expense."
Yeah, I totally get this. Just moved into my first home last year, and the previous owners had single-pane windows everywhere. Tried the curtain trick too, but it only helped in the rooms facing directly south. Upgrading to double-glazed windows was pricey, but honestly, it's been worth it. Less drafty, quieter, and my heating bills dropped noticeably. Curtains alone just weren't cutting it for me either...
Just moved into my first home last year, and the previous owners had single-pane windows everywhere. Tried the curtain trick too, but it only helped in the rooms facing directly south.
I tried the curtain thing too, and honestly, it only made a noticeable difference in rooms that got direct sunlight most of the day. If your windows aren't facing south or southwest, you're probably not getting enough sun to offset the heat loss through the glass. I agree with the others—single-pane windows are a nightmare for heat retention. Upgrading to double-glazed windows was one of the best decisions I made after moving into my place. Yeah, it's pricey upfront, but the comfort and savings on heating bills are worth it in the long run. Curtains alone just didn't cut it for me either, especially on cloudy days or at night when the cold really seeps in.
Had a client last winter who insisted curtains would solve their heat loss issues...until we did a thermal imaging test. Single-pane windows were practically glowing blue from cold spots. Curtains help a bit, sure, but they're no substitute for proper insulation or double glazing.