Many of us don’t think too hard about our window screens and their purpose; for most homes, they’re built right into the existing frames, and we tend not to notice them until something rips or breaks. If you live in a home without them already built-in, you might wonder why you should have window screens in the first place – do they really make a difference?
In fact, the benefits of window screens can impact your overall quality of life, from improving your health to keeping your energy bills low. Here, we’ll dissect some of these advantages and help you learn why investing in quality window screens is entirely worth it.
Air Circulation
Opening the windows is a perfect way to let light shine in and welcome a pleasant breeze. That fresh air does so much more than just cooling your house down and lowering your energy bills. One of the benefits of window screens is a drastic improvement in clean air circulation within the home.
Circulation and air quality are crucial to your comfort and health alike. While it’s helpful in making the room feel more pleasant by keeping things from getting stale and stuffy, there’s actually even more good work being done when fresh air is allowed to flow freely. It tempers the buildup of mold particles by preventing moisture from lingering, keeps odors and fumes from lingering, and can even keep you healthy by reducing airborne viral concentrations.
A well-constructed screen allows homeowners to open their windows without fear, fostering healthy airflow and ventilation while letting in the breeze and keeping out dust, pollen, and bugs.
Energy Efficiency
Across the board, everyone loves to save a little bit of money where they can. Utility bills are an unavoidable part of life, but there are a few things you can do to keep them manageable. Anyone living in a warmer part of the country knows that running the air conditioner will surely make the power bill rise when summer hits. One of the many benefits of window screens is their energy efficiency.
Window screens, especially solar screens, reduce solar heat gain, meaning your house stays cooler. When your home isn’t as swelteringly hot, you’ll be more likely to keep the HVAC system turned off. Not only is that better for the environment, but it’s also better for your wallet. Solar screens can even reduce your exposure to harmful UV rays.
Want an extra layer of sun protection? A retractable awning can also keep the heat from pouring in.
Protection from the Elements
Year-round, window screens effectively filter against water, allergens, and other debris – it can even keep bugs at bay. Here are just a few of the ways window screens can keep the outdoors from coming in.
Allergens
While there are tons of reasons to leave your windows open, as discussed above, some may feel these will be totally negated when sniffling, sneezing, and itchy-eyed allergy season rolls around. That’s where one of the benefits of window screens comes in: window screens can act as an effective barrier against some common allergens.
Pollen is one of the most significant sources of seasonal allergic reactions. Most outdoor plants produce it, and you can always expect that at any time of year, there is pollen afoot in the air. The peak seasons are spring and fall. Fine-meshed window screens have holes too tiny for pollen to creep through.
Dust behaves similarly, acting as another extremely common but avoidable irritant. When the wind kicks up dust and dirt, one of the advantages of window screens is their ability to keep it, and the dust mites that can come with it, at bay.
Water
During seasons of heavier rainfall, window screens are a preventative measure that helps deflect water damage, mildew, and mold. Mold and mildew are unsightly at best and damaging to your health and home at worst. Water protection will not only aid in the lifespan of your windows but also keep them easier to clean.
Animal and Bug Protection
Opening your windows to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature should not involve inviting nature itself into your living room. Anything from a housefly to a bird could easily swoop in through an open window. A window screen creates a bug-and-bird-proof barrier, while still enabling you to enjoy the sights and sounds of the outside world.
While enjoying the fresh air from an open window, you should also remember the safety of your household pets. Curious cats and playful dogs frequently find windows to provide an exciting viewpoint to the outside world. This can be an enjoyable and enriching experience for them. However, typical window screens are not intended to keep pets indoors or prevent them from escaping. Pet owners should supervise their pets near open windows or take further precautions. Pet-resistant screens, which are meant to be more durable, can withstand damage from claws and teeth, but they should not be relied completely on to keep pets in.
Curb Appeal
The curb appeal of window screens is undeniable. Clean, well-maintained window screens make an excellent first impression when showing, selling, or even just driving past a home. They protect windows from debris or even a stray golf ball and can create a uniform look throughout the home’s exterior.
Quality Window Screens Matter
We’ve covered most of the benefits of window screens, but one thing can make or break the impact of these advantages: quality.
Lower-quality window screens may have a less costly upfront expense, but they’ll quickly deteriorate. The benefits of installing window screens in your home will be rapidly negated when a cheap one breaks, bends, tears, or simply doesn’t do its job to the standards it could.
When it comes to screening windows, quality counts. Screenmobile offers a wide variety of high-performance, well-made window screens that are installed by experienced hands and measured on-site to fit your windows exactly.
Contact Screenmobile to learn more about having window screens installed throughout your home. We’ll help you find the perfect screen for your needs, constructed with care and quality in mind.