With temperatures averaging at around 73 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit, there is no doubt that summers in Seattle can get pretty warm. The sun’s heat infiltrating your house through your windows will raise the indoor temperature through a process known as heat transfer, causing your air conditioning system to work harder in regulating your home’s temperature.
As a result, your energy costs will go up, meaning you’ll have to spend more on your monthly bills. It can be a little too much when you consider that the annual electric bill for the average Seattleite is about $1,000, with that figure expected to rise by 15% come 2026.
Considering how living costs continue to rise, dedicating more income to paying bills can be overwhelming for Seattleites trying to relieve their pocketbooks.
The need to save even the slightest cash has given rise to a wide variety of products that play a part in making our homes energy-efficient, such as solar panels, LED lightbulbs, and foam insulation, among many others. However, one product that is constantly overlooked in the fight to cut down on energy bills is residential window tinting.
What is Residential Window Tinting
Simply put, residential window tinting refers to a process in which a transparent sheet of film is applied to the inside of a house’s windows. Many tints are available on the market, varying according to material and thickness. While many people tint their windows for various other reasons, such as privacy and aesthetics, the main objective of window tinting is climate control. Window tinting helps reduce the amount of heat and radiation from the sun that reaches the house’s interior by blocking the sun’s UV rays.
Continue reading to understand how window tinting can help save you money.
- Keep the House Warm During Winter
Not only can window tinting keep out the heat during the hotter days, but it can also help retain heat in the winter. Many people don’t know that we use about 30% of residential energy in winter due to heat loss through the windows. It essentially means that heat escaping from your windows accounts for a third of your home’s total energy bill.
However, window tinting will improve your home’s insulation by trapping the heat inside your house. That means you won’t use your heater as much in the winter, thus saving you a significant amount of money.
- Protects Your Furniture From Fading
Modern architectural designs are done to allow a lot of natural light indoors. However, as the sun’s harsh UV rays penetrate the house windows, they gradually cause damage to the rugs, carpet, and furniture inside. You’ll find that your furnishings will fade and lose their original color a lot faster than you’d like them to.
Fortunately, window films can block up to 99% of the sun’s UV rays, meaning your furniture and decor will maintain their color for much longer, and you won’t have to spend money on replacing a faded sofa every four years or so.
- Protects Your Items From Burglars
One of the most common ways intruders break into a home is by breaking the window glass using a heavy object and using the windows as an access point. However, tinted windows can help prevent the chances of that from happening.
For starters, depending on the thickness of your tint, any burglars trying to scrutinize your home won’t be able to see anything through the window tint film. That means they won’t know what and who is inside and are less likely to try breaking.
Secondly, security window tint can prevent burglars from breaking in by holding the broken glass in place. That will make it very hard for the burglar to use the window as an access point, thus protecting the valuable items inside your house. Imagine working your way to owning what you do now, only for someone to set you back by stealing what you rightfully earned. Tinting your windows will, therefore, prevent you from tinting having to spend money you didn’t intend on spending to replace valuable items lost through burglary.
- It’s a More Affordable Alternative to Installing Energy-Efficient Windows
Thanks to modern advancements in technology, energy efficiency is the newest trend in modern housing. Contractors and property owners understand that conventional windows cause a significant amount of heat loss and gain, increasing the energy consumption levels of a home, and are opting for energy-efficient home windows.
However, while energy-efficient windows are technically designed and manufactured to reflect solar radiation and retain heat, the truth is they can be very expensive to buy and install. The costs can be even higher for homes already built with conventional windows where the owner wants to do a replacement project.
However, window tinting provides the same benefits at a lesser cost. Window film can provide as much insulation as double or triple-pane windows.
Winding It Up
Window tinting is a fantastic energy-savings solution with a high ROI (Return on Investment). You’ll find that the cost of tinting your windows will pay for itself within two to three years from how much you’ll save on your energy bill. There’s nothing more satisfying than investing in something that pays for itself over time. It’s even better when the investment provides a host of extra benefits that you can enjoy for years.
If you’re looking to cut down on your energy costs without breaking the bank, look no further than Brower Tinting and Graphics. We are a professional window tinting solutions service that has been in business for over 50 years, providing our clients with high-quality residential and commercial window tinting solutions.
Give us a call today at (425) 251-6849 for a free quote on our professional window tint services or to schedule an appointment with one of our experts.