subject: Tricks for purchasing new home windows [print this page] Tricks for purchasing new home windows Tricks for purchasing new home windows
Getting all new windows is an investment that will pay off over time and that can increase the raise the profile of your home if you decide to sell. Likewise, they can reduce your carbon footprint, increase comfort and reduce upkeep and maintenance expenses.
Most of a window is glass, so performance of the glass has the largest impact on energy efficiency. Glass manufacturing, over the years, has made amazing strides. Things like low-conductivity spacers, low emissivity (low-e) coatings and gas filling have drastically cut the amount of energy lost through the glass.
When separated by air and properly sealed, two pieces of glass, have quit a bit more insulating value than a single piece of glass. On top of that, advancements in Low-E coatings represent one of the biggest leaps forward in glass since the invention of double-pane windows.
Many people believe the goal of "Low E" coatings is to reduce the fading of carpeting and furniture. While "Low-E" coatings can reduce such fading, the main advantage Low Emissivity offers is a big reduction in energy loss. Low Emissivity coated glass has metallic coatings that are a few atoms thick. These coatings lower the emissivity of the glass, thus the name. In layman's terms, "low e" serves to relfect heat back out. In the winter time, "Low-E" glass will reflect the heated air from your home back into the room. In the summertime it reflects the outdoor heat to keep your rooms cool. The result is a significant reduction in your energy costs. The difference is dramatic enough that you should never purchase products without it. That would be like purchasing a big SUV that gets terrible gas mileage, it will cost you more in the long run.
High-efficieny windows use inert gases like argon and krypton to further improve the efficiency of the windows. Such gasses are far less conductive than normal air reducing energy loss across the air space between the two panes of glass. It's very important to be aware of the fact that the methods used to trap the gas between the two panes of glass in a window have the biggest effect on the window's insulating abilities and durability.
Another significant contributor that has an effect on the energy-efficiency of an insulating glass unit is the type of spacer that's used between the two panes of glass. Higher quality products utilize foam spacers and low-conductivity metal spacers rather than spacers made of aluminum, which are fading in popularity.
The higher-end also help you cut energy costs. Treatments on the outside of the glass will also can greatly reduce the frequency with which the glass will require cleaning. The high end windows do this by using the combination of hydrophilic and photocatalytic effects. Marketed as "Neat" glass, it takes advantage of an invisible, durable and permanent coating of silicon/titanium dioxide. Titanium will use the power of the sun's UV rays to loosen dirt. The silicon, on the other hand, causes the glass to be significantly smoother than uncoated glass so rain water slides off evenly and quickly evaporates, taking the loose dirt and grime with it and eliminating water spots.
Last, but certainly not least is the adhesive that holds the panes together. Those high-end products use a two-part seal. One seal keeps the moisture out, while the other, which is a better adhesive, adheres the glass panes to each other. Dual seal units outperform single seals, leading to longer life of the window.
There is a lot more that determines the quality of your windows than what you see. As we've discussed, in addition to the type of window, there are quite a few other factors to understand when weighing your options in an investment in new windows. That's why it is extremely important for homeowners to hire contractors they trust; those who will walk you through the various options as simply as possible.
