When it comes to choosing the direction your windows face, it really comes to the direction of your home. How your home is positioned will have a huge impact on where your windows face.
This can mean the difference between blisteringly hot summers or frigid winters. As well as whether or not you have dark mornings or sunny mornings and plenty of natural lighting.
The position of your home is going to completely determine where your windows face and what kinds of windows you should get.
This is why it is important to know this information before investing in windows and placing them in the wrong direction. You want to work with the direction of your home and what you are wanting from your windows.
Keep reading to find out more about the way your home is facing and how that affects your windows.
North-Facing
North-facing homes are a popular option in many regions and can be a great direction, when it comes to the placement of windows.
In a north-facing home, you can avoid getting the excessive heat of summer through your windows. This is ideal for certain locations where heat tends to come into your home.
With this direction, you can choose very large windows without fearing that they will let in too much warmth. Though this will depend on your location as different regions will actually experience the opposite effect.
Keep reading to see the pros and cons of having a north-facing home.
Pros
- Best for northern hemisphere regions that are warm and have hotter summers.
- Keeps the house cooler during summer as the windows attract less sunlight and heat. This can reduce your power bill during hotter months.
Cons
- Colder climates might find this direction to let in too much cold and not attract any natural heat through the windows.
- There is less natural light for colder climates in north-facing homes if the windows aren’t facing the sun.
South-Facing
South-facing homes are more open to natural lighting and tend to be affected more by the seasons. With this position of home, you may want to be warier of the type of window you get if you don’t want too much sun.
You may want to get smaller windows or invest in good curtains for when there is too much sunlight coming through. That or place your windows in the back where there is less sunlight and more shadows.
You may want to place the largest windows in areas where the sun does not typically reach through during the day.
Pros
- South-facing homes are ideal for cold regions that depend on sunlight as a source of natural heat.
- There will be more natural lighting which can cut back on electricity and heating costs. As well as make the home more inviting and cozy.
Cons
- This can result in excessive heat or sun if that area is sunny or the season is warm. Making the windows less energy efficient.
East-Facing
East-facing homes provide the best of both worlds and give homeowners a little bit of everything. This allows you to get plenty of sunlight as well as shade and heat as well as cold.
East-facing homes are more dependent on the seasons and will be affected by the season you are in. This can make windows less energy efficient, so you will want to keep that in mind when pickling windows.
With this kind of home, you can choose any kind of window that you like. Many designs are suitable for east-facing homes and will provide the best experience with the changing of the seasons.
Pros
- There is more natural sunlight in the morning, making it perfect for early risers to enjoy the sun.
- Provides an equal balance of sunlight and shade, depending on the time of day.
Cons
- This isn’t energy efficient as you will often get more sunlight coming in during summer and less during winter. This can make it more costly to heat and cool your home.
- This position can create too much sunlight at certain times of the day. Allowing harsh rays to come through and heat up the entire home.
West-Facing
West-facing homes provide the perfect alternative for those looking for minimal sunlight during the day. This positioning allows muted sunlight to come through but not feel overly bright or harsh.
With this kind of home, you can have large windows that can let in a lot of sunlight without becoming too much. This gives you the ability to really appreciate the light that does come in as well as your view.
This is ideal for those who do not want an overly warm house or prefer more muted sunlight as opposed to direct sunlight. This will help your home to not get warm, but it could also become cold in winter.
Large windows are ideal as they let in as much warmth from the sunlight as possible during all seasons.
Pros
- Provides natural sunlight later in the day without being overly bright or harsh.
- Keeps the home relatively dark in the early hours, perfect for late sleepers.
- Doesn’t heat up the home in the early hours on very sunny days.
Cons
- Windows in west-facing homes are not energy efficient as they do not let in warm or cool. This means that you will have to rely on a heating system during winter and an AC during summer.
- A home can feel dark and dingy as there is very minimal natural light coming in during the day.
Get the Best Windows for Your Home
Whether your home is north-facing, south-facing, east-facing, or west-facing, there are windows that are right for you. Each of these homes has its own pros and cons and the best types of windows for it.
This can help you to better understand what kinds of windows would fit your home the best. This way, you can get exactly what you want in terms of heat, cool, sunlight, or shade during all seasons.
For more information on choosing the right windows for your home, go to the American Window Products website.