Why Wood Shutters Can Reduce What Your Spend on Cooling and Heating
Because wood shutters are natural insulators they can be used to lower your energy costs by keeping the elements out. That was their original purpose and why you almost never see a historic house that does not have shutters. Shutters are not just decorative any more than ceiling fans are only decorative. Many now use ceiling fans to reduce the costs of heating and cooling their homes and shutters are even more effective.
Shutters and ceiling fans became less essential because of the introduction of heating and air conditioning. Just as ceiling fans made a comeback to save energy, it would be wise to start using shutters again to save money by moderating temperatures in our homes.
When a cold wind blows on your windows the area near them will be colder. Try feeling a window that the sun is shining directly on. See how hot it is? Shutters can be used to block out that heat in the summer and keep out the cold wind in the winter.
When you have exterior shutters you can open and close them selectively. Just close the shutters during the winter on the window where the north wind howls the strongest. In the summer leave the shutter closed on the window where the sun shines the strongest as it rises or sets. Adjust your shutters daily, seasonally, or only when a storm is on the way.
Besides lowering the cost of heating and cooling your home, shutters also protect your draperies, furniture, flooring and carpeting from UV damage from sunlight. Did you know that three of the four most commonly used types of carpet (wool, nylon and olefin) have poor resistance to sunlight? Only polyester has good sunlight resistance and even it can be damaged.
In draperies, constant exposure to the rays of the sun is destructive to the fabric of your drapes. Dark and bright colors are especially affected by color fading and streaking. Over time, sunlight causes drapery fabric to deteriorate and dry rot. Cotton, rayon and acetate are more affected than acrylic or polyester.
The upholstery of your furniture is not the only thing affected. Leather furniture is especially susceptible to sun damage, colors fade and even wood dries out. Whenever possible, position furniture where direct sunlight does not fall on it. If that isn’t possible, shield it from the sun by closing your shutters.
Wood shutters benefit you by lowering your heating and cooling costs and protecting the money you spend on furniture, draperies, carpeting and flooring in your home. Did you know you can get better quality wood shutters by buying directly from the manufacturer? They can be challenging to find so we are sharing links to those we were able to locate in our Pricing Exterior Shutters Hubpage. There are some great photos of installed shutters identified by type in our photo slideshow there so you can see which shutter styles you prefer.
Save money and get better quality Wood Shutters by buying directly from the manufacturer. Manufacturing plants can be difficult to find so go to Frank Wright’s Hubpage for more details and where to buy Exterior Wooden Shutters. Don’t miss the beautiful photograph slideshow there.