Sadly, the summer is coming to an end and this means that we don’t have too much longer until the colder weather slides in. To make sure that your house is ready to keep the heat in and the cold out, start with your windows.Increasing Your Window’s Insulation With going into the colder months you won’t be having your windows open as often, so you probably won’t need your screens until next spring. Now, is the time to remove your screens and replace them with storm windows.Storm windows provide an extra layer of insulation to keep the heat in your home and the cold out. If you don’t have storm windows and would prefer not to have windows you have to remove and put back in, there are other options.You can replace your old windows with energy-efficient windows. This will give you better insulation all year round, instead of just when the storm windows are in. Putting in new, energy-efficient windows will also fix most of the other issues you have with your old windows.You can also purchase a window insulating kit at the store. These kits are simple to use and are relatively cheap. They consist of double-stick tape that is used to attach a plastic sheet to the edges of a window on the inside. The only other thing you will need is a hair dryer to shrink the plastic in place.The insulating kit has to be done every winter and looks bad, but if you can’t afford to replace your windows with energy efficient ones, they are effective.Checking Vinyl Windows for WarpingAfter the sun of the summer has heated up your vinyl windows over and over, it is time to check for any damage. Because the heat makes the vinyl go soft, it has a tendency to warp out of shape. The warping will cause separations and leaks in the windows. If you find leaks, do your best to fill them in with caulking. Other than that, there is no other way to fix vinyl windows; you have to replace them. Renewal by Andersen has many replacement options available. Schedule a free in-home consultation with an RbA team member today!Finding Leaks and Fixing ThemYou can find if there are any leaks in your windows, by using a candle stick. Simply light the candle and very slowly move it around the edges of your windows. If the flame flickers, take a close look at that specific area of your window; more than likely you will find a leak you need to put caulking in.