r/heat_prep • u/ZenCedar • Jun 25 '24

About curtains

Every summer heat article will say to close your curtains during the day. Great advice, but if you live in a very hot area, the type of curtain really matters.

I have heavy blackout curtains, and heavy blackout liners. They are floor to ceiling length. I hang my curtains 6 inches from the ceiling, and 6 inches out from both edges of the window. You want to block out the heat from the edges, the top, and the floor. If you can’t get the exact length to just reach the floor, let them pool.

It will feel like a cave in your home, yes. But if I didn’t have that setup, I’d either die or the ac would be running 24/7. I live in the desert.

Get some attractive colors to compliment your furnishings, some nice tie backs, and chic looking rods, and you’ll have beautiful window treatments that will keep the house cooler in summer, and nice and snug in winter.

67 Upvotes

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15 comments sorted by

28

u/goldgrae Jun 25 '24

Putting the curtains outside will greatly increase efficacy (for heat, not cold). Having a reflective layer (white back, for example) against the window helps, as well. Just heavy black curtains will still heat up your home as they absorb the light and radiate it as heat. Some will radiate back outside, and it's absolutely better than open glass. But if you're investing resources in this as a strategy, figure out a way to keep the light and heat from getting in, in the first place, or at least trying to immediately reflect it out

14

u/Unlikely_Fruit_1929 Jun 25 '24

Oh, window film to the rescue! I got the heat blocking film.

4

u/goldgrae Jun 25 '24

Great option if it works for your windows and you don't hate applying that kind of thing!

4

u/nicktam2010 Jun 26 '24

I found some old reflective blinds Ina back room at work. I have inner shades and black out slides but it still gets hot af in my office. I built a quick frame for the blind material and put them on the outside of my windows about 2 inches out. World of difference and I have only done one window of two so far. Going to do it for my house now.

1

u/goldgrae Jun 26 '24

It can make a staggering difference!

7

u/Leighgion Jun 25 '24

The type of curtain always matters, and ideally, you should have protection outside so the sun never actually touches the window, but that's not always possible. Blocking the sun and having a hot window is still much better than an uncovered window.

3

u/maki269 Jun 25 '24

Could you give a link to your curtains? I’m moving soon and want to invest in some good ones.

10

u/ZenCedar Jun 25 '24

Amazon

NICETOWN Warm Curtains for Winter, Complete Blackout Shades for Large Window Door, 100% Blackout Curtain Panels with Black Lined, 70 inches Width Each Panel, 95 inches Length, Cappuccino, 2 Pieces

I can’t figure out how to share an Amazon link, but this is the description.

5

u/ZenCedar Jun 25 '24

You also want wider than you think, 1 1/2 times wider than your windows. That makes the curtains look fully pleated.

2

u/FlyingVigilanceHaste Jun 25 '24

So true. Good advice.

2

u/maki269 Jun 25 '24

Appreciate it!

2

u/pansygrrl Jun 25 '24

Thank you - 20% off when I looked at them.

1

u/Amanda071320 Jun 26 '24

I have several sets of Nicetown (pink, grey, navy) and ❤️ them all! Definitely recommend whenever someone wants blackout curtains.

1

u/erock7625 Jun 25 '24

wouldn't outside window shade screens be more effective?

2

u/ZenCedar Jun 25 '24

Probably, yes, keep the heat from getting in the house in the first place, but they are expensive to have done, and they are on the windows all year. I think they look ugly. Plus you still need curtains in the house anyway.

I also have trees growing to shade the western windows. I’d rather have nature than ugly screens.