Thermal curtains: what are they and what are they for?
Curtains, in addition to decorating your home, also fulfill functions such as managing sunlight and controlling the temperature regime in your home. The appearance of the curtains is also important and should be harmonious to complement the decoration of your home.
Thermal curtains are also very useful in this sense. They provide insulation, have temperature regulation properties and are thicker in structure. Thermal curtains, which preserve the heat in your home during the winter months and prevent hot air from entering your home during the summer months, increase the energy efficiency and comfort of your home.
Because they are thick, many people believe that they are only effective in the winter to prevent cold outside temperatures from entering your home. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Thermal curtains are equally effective in the summer months as they prevent outside heat from entering your home. They do not provide heat or cold on their own. They simply act as insulators against outside heat.
Thermal curtains reduce energy consumption
They are an effective way to reduce energy consumption, as they can reduce your heating bill by up to 40% or lower the temperature by up to 5 degrees in the summer.
For these to work properly, they must be wide and long enough to perfectly cover the window and even the shutter box, as cold or heat can leak through the slits.
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They are usually three-layered, but in some cases they can have up to four. However, they normally consist of a surface layer made of cotton, linen, wool, silk or polyester, which decorates the room. An intermediate layer, usually made of thick cotton, foam, felt or flannel. And an outer layer, usually made of cotton, vinyl, reflective film or other material that protects from sunlight and acts as a condensation barrier, facing the window or balcony.
Its design, as well as the way it falls, usually creates folds to be more effective in retaining heat, as cold or heat is trapped in these gaps created by the waves.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Its effectiveness depends on its thickness. The thicker it is, the more insulating it is. Aside from the material it is made from, some fabrics are more insulating than others.
The advantage of these systems is that, in addition to insulating your home, they block out sunlight and harmful UV rays, and also help reduce noise from outside. Therefore, they are perfect for bedrooms, as they isolate you from the cold, the heat and the annoying noises of some neighbors.
Its price is higher than a traditional curtain, but its advantages are so many that it is worth it. The only disadvantage they may have is aesthetic, since they must be thick to insulate properly, which can reduce their fluidity and fineness. Ideally, they should be combined with other more elegant tulles and thermal curtains should be used only when necessary.
Its effectiveness is well proven, but if you are not convinced, you can choose to use thicker traditional curtains made of wool, fabric or flannel. They will not be nearly as insulating, but they can help a little. Of course, you will have to replace them when summer comes, if you do not want to die of heat with all that wool. With thermal curtains, you will not have to do this, as they are perfectly insulated from both cold and heat.
So if you are thinking of changing the curtains in your home, do not ignore the possibility of purchasing thermal curtains. You will save on heating bills in the winter and air conditioning bills in the summer, you will prevent the sun's rays from damaging furniture and decorative fabrics, you will be protected from prying eyes and you will not hear the entertainment of your fifth-floor neighbor. What more could you ask for from an element as simple as curtains?
