Foil-Backed Curtains Reflect Heat

Keeping your home cool in the summer can be hard. Searing rays shine through windows, transforming rooms into saunas. Thankfully, there's a simple solution - curtains designed to block heat. Strategically hung curtains with heat-reflective backing can lower indoor temperatures, reducing reliance on air conditioning.

So how do these specialized curtains bounce back heat and keep interiors cooler? Let's take a closer look at how foil-backed curtains reflect sunlight and insulate homes.

How Do Reflective Curtains Block Heat?

Traditional curtains are made of fabric like cotton, linen or polyester. While they filter light, the materials absorb and transmit heat indoors. Reflective curtains have a metallic coating or film laminated to the backside. This acts like a mirror, deflecting solar radiation rather than absorbing it.

Materials Used in Heat-Reflecting Curtains

The most effective heat-blocking curtains contain metals like aluminum, copper or nickel laminated to their back surface. Metallized PET film, a polyester coated with vaporized metal, offers excellent heat reflection. Other reflective materials used include:

• Aluminized mylar - Thin polyester film with an aluminum coating
• Foil - Aluminum foil laminated onto fabric
• Low-e film - Microscopically thin metallic/metal oxide layer

Lighter-weight metals like aluminum are common since they readily reflect radiation. Heavier options like copper conduct heat more readily. Advanced low-emissivity (low-e) metallic coatings offer enhanced solar heat control.

Why Metal-Coated Fabrics Reflect Heat Best

The key is a curtain's ability to reflect infrared radiation from the sun. Infrared rays transmit heat. Most materials like fabric, wood or plastic absorb infrared. But reflective metals don't retain this radiation. Energy bounces off their surface rather than being absorbed.

Solar heat gain coefficients (SHGC) indicate how well a material blocks heat. The lower the SHGC, the less solar heat passes through. Reflective metal coatings have SHGCs around 0.05 to 0.25, meaning they reflect 95-75% of heat. Uncoated glass has a SHGC around 0.7, transmitting more heat.

Where to Install Reflective Curtains at Home

Positioning reflective curtains over windows that get direct sunlight is ideal. This prevents intense heat from entering in the first place. South-facing windows tend to have the most solar exposure in the Northern Hemisphere.

South-Facing Windows Let in Most Heat

Due to the sun's trajectory across the southern sky, south-facing windows receive the most direct sunlight. North-facing windows get diffuse daylight but little direct sun. East and west exposures get morning or afternoon sun.

Installing reflective curtains over south-facing windows provides the greatest heat protection. But they're beneficial on any window receiving hours of sunshine daily. Keep them closed during the day to reflect sunlight back outside.

Reflective Curtains for Skylights/Rooftop Windows

Skylights and roof windows without overhangs allow blazing midday sun to shine down into a room. Reflective curtains are perfect for reducing heat and glare from these overhead light sources. A reflective aluminum coating can lower skylight temperatures by up to 30degF.

Reflective-Backed Curtain Styles

Reflective films or coatings are added to various curtain styles. Options range from room-darkening to sheer light-filtering designs. Consider your needs for light control, blackout and aesthetics.

Blackout Curtains with Reflective Lining

For maximum solar heat protection and blackout, choose blackout curtains lined with a reflective coating. These feature tightly-woven, opaque fabric to block all light from entering a room. Yet heat still passes through traditional blackout fabrics.

Pairing dense blackout cloth with a reflective backing provides unparalleled temperature control and darkness for sleep or theater rooms. Just be sure to open during cooler times of day to avoid overheating.

Sheer Curtains with Foil Backing

Sheer curtain panels with an aluminum foil backing offer a lightweight, airy solution. Tiny perforations make the sheer fabric translucent to allow soft filtered daylight in. Yet the metallic foil side blocks and reflects solar heat gain.

Hang floor to ceiling to prevent heat passing over curtain tops when closed. Sheers with foil backing give the look of breezy, billowing curtains while insulating rooms.

Measure Window Size for Reflective Curtains

Getting the right curtain dimensions ensures proper coverage, operation and insulation. Measure the exact window width and height when choosing reflective curtains. Record the smallest measurement if window sides are uneven.

Allow Extra Length for Proper Installation

Plan for extra length above and below the actual window height:

• Add 3 inches top and bottom if using regular curtain rods.
• Allow 6 inches top and bottom for thermal blackout curtain rods.
• Factor in additional length if you prefer puddled curtains.

This provides material to gather when opening curtains. Deep reflective curtains help seal the window and reduce air leaks.

Install Rods and Hang Reflective Curtains

Mount sturdy bracketed curtain rods at least 4-6 inches wider than the window width. Extended rods allow reflective curtains to seal the edges and prevent heat sneaking in gaps.

Open and Close Curtains Properly

To work effectively, reflective curtains should seal the window edges when closed. Use Velcro, magnets or weighted hems for a tight closure. Fully draw back curtains during cooler times to avoid overheating.

Maintain Reflective Curtains for Optimal Use

Regular cleaning and repairs keep reflective curtains looking fresh and functioning at their best. Follow proper care methods for the curtain fabric to avoid curtain damage.

Clean Curtains and Rods Regularly

Dust buildup affects reflective performance and appearance. Vacuum curtains seasonally using the soft brush head. Routinely wipe down curtain rods with a microfiber duster or cloth. Follow label instructions if cleaning more extensively.

Repair Rips, Holes in Reflective Layer

Inspect reflective linings periodically for tears or holes, which reduce effectiveness. Use special foil repair tape to patch damaged areas. Replace curtains when reflective coating shows extensive wear and damage.

Reflective Curtains Keep Home Cooler

Strategically placed reflective curtains can make a noticeable difference in keeping heat at bay. Let their mirrored surfaces work overtime to block intense summer sunlight.

Block Heat Rays Without Blocking All Light

Unlike dark drapes that shut out natural light, reflective curtains filter harshest rays while allowing softer, diffused light into a room. Keep your space cooler but maintain outside views.

With reflective window treatments reducing solar heat gain, you can lower the thermostat and rely less on air conditioning. Keep spaces comfortably cool while minimizing energy costs.

Installing reflective curtains is an easy way to keep interiors cooler and block heat from streaming through windows. With a thin metallic backing bouncing back sunshine's intense rays, rooms stay comfortable without cranking up the AC. Give foil-backed curtains a try for a refreshingly cool haven this summer.