Now that the days are getting shorter, gloomier and colder, everyone in the city will inevitably be spending more time indoors. During the cold season, your home becomes an oasis of warmth and comfort. However, as we prepare for another Ontario winter, we should make sure that our homes are not only sufficiently warm but adequately bright in the coming months.
Insufficient exposure to daylight during the cold months can make many people feel tired, sluggish and even depressed. Research shows that a lack of sunlight can also negatively impact our blood pressure, immune functions and even raise the risk of diabetes and obesity. But a little more sunlight in the wintertime can go a long way towards improving your health and mood.
So, what can you do to let more daylight into your home?
Remove Screens From Windows And Doors:
Before we discuss how to remove the screens from your windows, we just want to point out that’s it’s important to keep safety in mind! Make sure the windows are closed if you walk away to clean them, make sure the windows are closed so nothing inside gets out.
Mesh screens on your windows and glass doors can keep winter daylight from adequately reaching the rooms in your house. Since mesh screens aren’t necessary during the cold months, consider removing them for the season. You may be surprised to find how much brighter your rooms will become. Removing internal screens during the winter months will also reduce the forming of condensation on the glass surface.
Clean Your Windows:
Do yourself and your windows a favour: clean them regularly! Cleaning your windows will improve how effective they are at letting daylight into the rooms of your home. Dirty windows not only contribute to a gloomy atmosphere but can also reduce your home’s energy efficiency, because dirt and debris can damage the seal on your windows and lead to air leaks.
Do not clean glass or finished surfaces with coarse materials or harsh cleaners. Use mild soap or vinegar and a soft, non-abrasive cloth.
If you find that even after cleaning, the glass still appears dirty, or still appears blurry or warped, this likely means that the quality of the glass has degraded, and the window needs to be replaced.
Upgrade Your Doors And Windows:
If your home does not receive adequate sunlight, that fact will never be as apparent as it is in the late fall and winter months. Though now may not be the time for major renovations, like adding additional windows to your home, you can quickly and significantly improve the amount of daylight your home receives by replacing your existing doors and windows.
If you’re in need of door or window installation services this fall or winter, we’d be happy to recommend options that would provide your home with more access to sunlight.
Replacing older windows that have thick frames and mullions with bright, new casement windows can do wonders for improving the natural lighting in your home. Adding transoms or sidelights to a front entrance can help effectively banish the gloom from a home’s front hall. And swapping solid back entrance doors for garden or patio doors can entirely transform the amount of daylight in your home’s back rooms. At Casa Bella, we ensure that all our windows and doors are durable, secure and follow the highest standards of energy efficiency.
If you’ve been considering having your patio doors replaced in Toronto but are hesitant about off-season installation, we understand your concern. However, window and door installation during the cold months do not have to be as onerous as some people fear. In all cases of winter service, our installation experts ensure that installation is finished within minutes of the old window or door being removed, and your home is never significantly exposed to the cold.
If you’re considering replacement windows and doors in Toronto this winter, remember that off-season installation is not only fast but cost-effective. If you’d like to learn more about the cost benefits of winter installation, contact us to discuss your options.
Remove Obstructions, Indoors and Out:
Determine if there are any tree limbs, bushes or branches that could be blocking the sun from shining into your windows. According to research done by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, even leafless winter trees can obstruct as much as 40% of the sunlight before it has a chance to pass through your windows. So, remember to trim any tree branches, bushes, and shrubbery that may be keeping daylight from entering your home.
Indoors, make sure that heavy drapes, blinds and furniture are not keeping daylight from adequately accessing the rooms. Heavier winter drapes are a good insulator for your windows during the cold months but consider parting them on your south-facing windows on sunny days.
Everyone in Toronto will be spending more and more time indoors in the coming months. But as we button up our homes for the cold season ahead, it’s important to remember to let the sunshine through our windows. Fall and winter months in Toronto are certainly cold, but they do not have to be dreary. If you’d like to discuss how Casa Bella Windows & Doors can help make your home a brighter place this winter, call us today.
