Windows are an essential part of every home. Not only are they an excellent source of letting natural light into your home, but they also keep the space ventilated. This goes a long way toward making your home cosy and comfortable.
Besides letting in sunshine, light, and fresh air, windows can also do the opposite and let in rain, wind, and cold air. To avoid this, experts recommend opting for the caulking Melbourne residents use to keep their homes safe and comfortable.
What Exactly is Window Caulking?
Typically, caulking is the process of adding insulation to spaces in your home where you’ll commonly find gaps and crevices. Caulk is typically added around doors, windows, plumbing pipes, bathtubs, and showers. The primary goal is to prevent moisture from developing in the gaps and joints of your home.
As a sealant, caulk is applied using an applicator gun with a pointed end and can be done by professionals or as a DIY job. The only real criteria to opt for is a quality caulking product that’s waterproof and in some instances, fireproof.
Caulking is a Must for All Windows
Many homeowners neglect window caulking and may not realise that worn caulking can be responsible for heat loss and cool air getting in. If you’re not convinced that your windows need to be caulked, then we urge you to keep reading. Our experts highlight a few key ways that window caulking can benefit your home.
1. Optimises Energy Efficiency
If you associate winter with a cold home, it may be because your window caulking needs to be replaced. Over time, caulking wears off and as a result, your windows don’t have the right insulation to keep cold wind out. The heat that’s already in your home also has an easier way of escaping.
When this happens, homeowners tend to crank up their heating and air conditioning. Ultimately this leads to high energy consumption and inflated energy bills. Ensuring that your caulking is routinely checked and redone will go a long way toward cold air outside where it belongs. Experts have estimated that ensuring your caulking is up to date can potentially reduce your energy bill by at least 30%.
2. Reduces the Growth of Mould and Mildew
Every homeowner dreads finding mould or mildew spores in their homes. This is because mould spores can have serious effects on your health. Not only can mould trigger nasal congestion, coughing, sneezing, wheezing and even respiratory illnesses.
Rain, humidity, and melting snow can easily create moisture to enter the home through the gaps where there’s no caulking. If left untreated, this moisture results in bacteria which eventually grows mould and mildew spores. These then fly around your home and make people sick. Keep in mind that it’s extremely difficult to get rid of mould, so it’s advisable to avoid it at all costs.
Caulking your window with a quality product will ensure that the gaps and joints are closed and reduce the likelihood of moisture forming on the inside of your home. Always opt for a caulking product that’s not only waterproof but also mould-resistant.
3. An Excellent Way to Keep Insects Out
Cold air and rain aren’t the only things that sneak in through the gaps in your windows. Australia is well known for its crazy summer pests, and they have no qualms about getting into your home through the gaps in your windows. Caulking will keep bugs from getting into your home and also means that you don’t have to resort to pesticides to keep them at bay.
4. Improves Indoor Air Quality
No matter how hard you try to keep your home as clean as possible, dust, pollen, and dirt will always find a way in. In many instances, these pollutants make their way in through the gaps in your windows and doors. This can dramatically affect the quality of your indoor air.
Adding caulking to your windows and doors will help to keep pollen and dust out of your home. This can also reduce the need for allergy medication and humidifiers.
5. Can Enhance Your Property Value
Whether or not you have any intention of selling your home in the immediate future, you’ll always want to keep it looking at its best. If you do have long-term selling aspirations, it’s essential to perform regular maintenance tasks to keep your home up to par.
Gaps around your windows can look unappealing and may even affect your property value negatively. Re-caulking when necessary is an excellent way to keep your windows and doors looking neat and secure.
Final Thoughts
There are many reasons why you shouldn’t neglect the caulking around your home’s windows. This is especially important if you’re living in an old house, you’ve never applied caulk to your windows, or your house is bitterly cold in the winter.
The good news is that you don’t have to do it yourself. It’s a good idea to speak to the professionals for an assessment of the caulking you currently have on your windows and doors. They will be able to recommend the best treatment to keep your windows perfectly insulated for years to come!