Windows can allow excess heat to gather in your home—keep it cool with insulating methods like weather stripping, cellular shades, window films, or draft snakes.

The brilliant shine of the summer sun is enough to lift anyone’s spirits unless it’s beating down on your windows and turning your home into a giant oven. Then, you’re probably sweaty, in a bad mood, and unable to do anything but seek out an electric-bill-raising cooldown.

Rather than cranking the AC or switching on every fan you own, you can keep heat out of your home by insulating your windows! And here to give you some of the best ways to stay cool is

Jerry

, the

licensed broker

and insurance super app that works to save you money. We’ll detail window insulating methods, other ways to keep cool, and expert

home insurance

savings tips.

RECOMMENDED

Compare auto insurance policies

No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms

ZIP Code

Find insurance savings

10 ways to insulate windows to keep heat out

Having a lot of windows in a home is usually a major selling point, and all that access to natural light can add a lot of value. But they can also add a lot of heat.

Standard windows allow as much as 76% of the sun’s energy aimed at your home to infiltrate your rooms as heat. This typically leads to higher energy bills since you’re likely using more AC or electric-powered fans to keep you and your space cool.

If you’re looking for ways to fend off that sometimes sweltering summer heat from your home without skyrocketing your energy consumption, try insulating your windows with one or more of these methods!

MORE:

How to keep your car cool in scorching heat

1. Weatherstripping

It’s easy for cool air to leak out or hot air to leak in your home if your windows don’t have tight seals around them. Weatherstripping your windows will provide that seal and help to keep your home cool.

There are a variety of weatherstripping types, though, so be sure to select one that is compatible with your type of window!

2. Window films

Window films are found in different styles but are all essentially laminated plastic films that will reflect sunlight away from your home. They’re usually backed with a very sticky adhesive and can stay on your windows for extended periods, so they’re best in climates with warmer weather year-round.

And in addition to keeping your space cooler, reflecting the sun’s light will protect your belongings from UV ray damage. Plus, there are light refracting options that will throw rainbows all across your room as the sun comes in, so these can be extra awesome.

Let Jerry find you the best homeowners insurance policy for your needs

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

Shop Now

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

3. Blackout blinds

As the name suggests, blackout blinds are designed to block light in a space. Completely (or nearly) blocking out the sun’s light, especially at peak sunny hours, will do wonders for keeping your home cool.

4. Cellular shades

Cellular shades are a type of window shade with a honeycomb design of layered material. This design works to reduce the amount of heat energy your home takes from the sun. These are a convenient and year-round option since they can be opened when you want more heat and closed when you don’t.

5. Bubble wrap

Some may argue the bonus excitement of receiving a package is the bubble wrap. And even better, you can recycle this material to insulate your windows to keep heat out. The air bubbles in the bubble wrap reflect heat energy outside.

Some bubble wrap is even made specifically for windows and comes with its own adhesive methods. However, you can also cut regular bubble wrap sheets to fit your window size, thoroughly clean the window, then hang them by simply wetting them with water.

6. Insulating shutters

Shutters have been used to keep excess heat from the sun’s rays out of homes for a long time and are especially popular in areas that don’t have regular air conditioning access.

Another convenient option, insulating shutters can be closed when the sun is high and hot and reopened when it has cooled off. They come in a huge variety of styles, colors, and textures, so you can even fit them to your home’s aesthetic!

7. Draft snakes

Draft snakes are long tubes of fabric and insulating material that you can place in front of the gaps under your doors or windows to keep cool air from escaping and hot air from entering.

They are widely available for sale or a fun DIY project to try. Take the sleeve from an old sweater or funky material from a craft store (perhaps a snakeskin print), and stuff it with insulation like newspaper, rice, or cotton.

8. Window awnings

Shade is the name of the game with a window awning. Awnings typically hang off your home and cover specific areas with shade, so these are a great way to keep sunlight from beating through your windows.

Add them to south- and west-facing windows or to the windows on your top floors to block the most light.

Let Jerry find you the best homeowners insurance policy for your needs

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

Shop Now

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

9. Landscaping

Another great way to take advantage of shade is through your landscaping. Trees and shrubbery provide delicious shade in the summertime and helpfully shed their leaves and bushels by the wintertime to allow more sun to reach your home. Attractive landscaping also has the added benefit of increasing your home’s aesthetic value!

10. Energy-efficient windows

And finally, you could toss out the standard windows altogether and swap energy-efficient windows.

Windows are typically marked with a light-to-solar gain rating (LSG) that will tell you how energy-efficient their design is. The best energy-efficient windows will let light pass through but reflect much of the heat.

MORE:

Choosing vinyl vs aluminum windows

Other ways to stay cool

You can try one or all of the methods above to insulate your windows and keep heat out, but keep these other cool-down tips in mind for the rest of your home:

Let in the cool night air. Opening your windows at night will bring in cooler breezes—just be sure to close them again in the morning before the sun gets hot.

Turn on fans. Fans are an efficient way to circulate the air in your rooms, so you’re not just sitting in stale and muggy air. They’ll also help to cool off the top levels of your home by moving the cool air around.

Invest in a dehumidifier. Take excess moisture out of the air so your sweat can actually evaporate and cool you off more efficiently.

Take your cooking outside. If possible, grill or cook outside to avoid turning on your oven or stove as these kick out a lot of excess heat.

Nighttime chores. Wait to do your domestic duties like laundry and the dishes until the nighttime when it’s cooler. Your appliances may give off a lot of heat when in use.

Switch to LED lightbulbs. LED bulbs can run at much cooler temperatures than incandescent bulbs.

Cotton or linen fabrics. From your bedsheets to your clothes, cotton and linen are breathable fabrics that won’t trap your body heat so close to you.

Ask an HVAC specialist. If you’re trying cool-down method after method and nothing is working, schedule a service appointment with an HVAC company to ensure your heating and cooling systems are working properly.

Pro Tip Put a bowl of ice in front of your fan to blow extra cool air around your home!

Finding affordable home insurance

While a

home insurance

policy won’t cover insulating your windows, it can help if there’s an emergency or a covered peril damages them.

Want to update your insurance coverage but don’t have the time? Let

Jerry

do the hard work for you. Jerry contacts your home insurance company to get the details of your current coverage, so you don’t have to scale a mountain of questions. Then, they’ll use that information to find you new quotes—based on your current information.

You get all the best prices and coverage with none of the legwork. Better yet, Jerry will help you bundle your home and auto insurance for even bigger savings and less paperwork.

“
Jerry
was wonderful! I used it for my auto and renters policies. I trusted it so much that I signed up my homeowners insurance under Jerry as well. All of the agents are amazingly nice and knowledgeable.” —Mary Y.

RECOMMENDED

Thousands of customers saved on average $887/year on their car insurance with Jerry

This app is great, but the customer service is even better! Not to mention convenient! My husband and I got the lowest rate (much lower than the rates I was finding online through my own searches), quickly, and pretty much all through text message! Thank you so much for a hassle free experience👍

Gabriella R.

Find insurance savings

4.7/5 Rating on App Store

FAQ

How do I insulate my windows to keep heat out?

You can insulate your windows to keep heat out with weatherstripping, blackout blinds, window films, cellular shades, bubble wrap, insulating shutters, draft snakes, window awnings, strategic landscaping, and swapping your standard windows for energy-efficient designs.

Save an average of 18% by bundling your home and auto insurance

Bundle your home and auto insurance with Jerry and save!

Try Jerry