Energy efficiency has become a major concern for homeowners, what with electricity costs continuing to rise. Considering that up to 30% of your home�s heating and cooling losses come from your windows, it�s important to make sure your windows are up to snuff if you want to cut downon your energy costs. But just how efficient, exactly, are your windows? Here are things to look for, and look out for.
Evaluating your current windows
The first thing to consider when evaluatingyour windows for energy efficiency is functionality: are the windows still working? Everything else pales in comparison. You could have the most expensive window setup in your home, but if they�re broken, then you can be sure they�re NOT helping to lower your energy costs.
Any of the following indicate that your windows need attention, maybe even a replacement in more extreme cases:
- You can feel a draft by the window
- You can hear a lot of outside noise from inside your home
- You can see sunlight through the window seal
- You get a lot of condensation on the window
- You have difficulty opening and/or closing the window
- Obvious visible damage to the glass or frame
What makes a window energy efficient
A number of factors contribute to a window�s overall energy efficiency. By choosing windows with energy-efficient features, you increase your window�s ability to limit heating and cooling loss, directly contributing to helping you save on your energy bills.
Frame Material: The main thing to consider when it comes to window frames is a materia�s thermal resistance level. Metals like aluminum, for instance,have very low thermal resistance, making them heat up more quickly and more easily transfer heat into a home. Vinyl, on the other hand, is durable but offers better insulation and transfers heat poorly.
Number of Panes: Modern double- and triple-pane glass provide much more insulation than older single-pane windows do. They don�t just keep out outside weather, though, limiting air leakage to keep outside noise to a minimum to give you better peace and quiet in your home.
Gas Fill: The ability of multi-pane glass to regulate your home�s temperature is greatly increased by replacing the ordinary air in between the paneswith inert gas such as argon or krypton. Gas fills work by further stunting the transfer of heat from pane to pane. Gas usedis clear as well so it will not affect visibility.
Vinyl and energy efficiency
Vinyl windows have been the standard option in many homes and many keep coming back to them because they insulate well and are highly affordable. Wood is very beautiful but it doesn�t last so long and yet will require serious maintenance, prompting those who own wood windows to look elsewhere come time for a replacement. Thanks to technological innovations, vinyl windows can now be made to look like wood, allowing homeowners to benefit from the aesthetic appeal wooden windows have and the functionality of vinyl windows.
Author Bio:
Todd Kroll has been with KrollConstruction since 1985. Being in charge of all marketing and promotional activities for the company allows him to share his passion for home improvement with others and finding new experiences every day. Check out the company blog for updates from Todd!
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