The "Wasatch Window Seal" (Beating the Radiant Heat)
- Realtor Annie
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Good day, Salt Lake City! Welcome back to another edition of Hump Day Home Hacks. If you stepped outside yesterday afternoon, you already know that the July heat has officially settled into the valley. With temperatures routinely tracking toward the upper 90s, our homes are taking a relentless beating from the sun—especially those west-facing properties looking out toward the Oquirrh Mountains.
When that intense, high-altitude afternoon sun hits your windows, it acts like a giant magnifying glass. Your living room transforms into a greenhouse, and your poor A/C unit has to pull double-shift duty just to keep you comfortable. Before you give up and crank the thermostat down to budget-breaking levels, let’s check if your home is actually holding onto the expensive cool air you’re paying for.
The Hack: The Dollar Bill Test You don't need a high-tech thermal imaging camera to find the invisible air leaks in your home. All you need is a single, crisp dollar bill.
Pick a window or exterior door that gets direct sunlight in the afternoon.
Open the sash or door, place the dollar bill flat across the frame where the rubber seals meet, and latch it shut tight.
Give the bill a steady, gentle tug.
The Assessment: If the bill slides out effortlessly with zero resistance, your weatherstripping has dry-rotted or flattened out over time. Cool air is actively spilling out onto the hot pavement outside, driving up your power bill.
Strategic Shifts for Immediate Relief: If your window seals passed the test but the room still feels like a sauna, the culprit is radiant heat. Standard glass lets solar energy right through to bake your furniture and flooring. Try these quick fixes:
Deploy the 1:00 PM Blackout: Don't wait until a room is already hot to close the blinds. Drop your window coverings on the southern and western faces of your home by early afternoon to reject the heat before it builds up inside.
Static-Cling Thermal Films: For problematic upper-story windows, consider budget-friendly, temporary heat-blocking window films. They apply with just a spray bottle of water, block up to 80% of infrared solar heat, and peel away seamlessly in the winter without damaging the glass.
Are your windows keeping your cool air captive? Give the dollar bill test a try this afternoon and let us know what you find in the comments below. Until next Wednesday, keep your blinds down and your home cool, SLC!
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