With summer here, many homeowners are expected to utilize their air conditioning units to keep their indoors comfortable. Even so, many still resort to opening their windows during hot days to achieve a cooler home. Some, however, firmly believe in closing them instead. Which option is better, then?

Advantage of Leaving Your Windows Open

Turning off your air conditioner as often as you can will save more energy in the long run, especially if you live in a climate that experiences “cooler” summer temperatures. If you are worried about letting the heat from outside into your home, many homeowners found it smart to open your windows with strategy and/or to place fans on high shelves around larger rooms.

There are also many health benefits to opening your windows. It can increase oxygen levels, which can decrease and prevent cancer growth. People should also be wary of indoor air pollution, which comes from chemical off-gassing spores from paint, carpet, new furniture and cleaning products. This can cause allergy-like reactions, such as coughing, sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, and troubled breathing, so you may opt for some air exchange flow.

Disadvantage of Leaving Your Windows Open

If you live in a hot and humid climate, it is best to turn on the air conditioning in the beginning of the summer and leave it on in your tightly sealed home until the first signs of fall. Leaving them open will just let in too much moisture and humidity from the stifling outside temperatures, which will create an uncomfortable atmosphere for your family.

A lot of people still think they will save money if they only open their windows at night, but even if you choose this form of nighttime ventilation, it can still increase the amount of moisture. You may think that bit of moisture is fine as long as you are saving money on energy costs, which will drop about 30% if you turn off the unit. But that added moisture from open windows will cause the unit’s power to actually increase by about 21% during the rest of the next day. This results in more money spent in the long run.

Whether you plan to leave your windows open or closed during hot weather, it’s best to make sure that you’ve got the most durable and dependable windows to protect your home and make it comfortable. Renewal by Andersen® is a window company known from coast to coast for manufacturing beautiful, energy-efficient casement windows and doors.

Call us at (858) 877-5172, or fill out our contact form for a free, no-obligation estimate and consultation on our windows and doors. We serve clients in San Diego, CA.