A Blast from the Past
For most of the 19th & 20th centuries window design was limited to the single pain design. This as it turns out is an extremely in-efficient design for dealing with thermal energy. Ideally your home is designed to modulate the flow of heat. Preserving it in the winter and releasing it in the summer. Standard windows however tend to allow heat to act as it please passing back and forth without much resistance at all. Some studies have shown that single pane windows allow as much as 10 times the amount of heat to escape compared to the same area of insulated wall. That equates to around 15-22% of a heats home annually.
A Pane Above
Double-pane windows are the next step up in efficiency. Built like a sandwich with a buffer of air or gas in the center. Some windows use argon gas for its grater insulation capabilities as well. The concept is to prevent heat loss through conduction, making it harder for the heat to transfer between the materials and escape. That being said not all double-pane windows are created equal. Many of the cheaper model frames are built from aluminum which conducts heat extremely well virtually negating their heat retention capabilities. Solid wood or vinyls are much better framing options adding a solid boundary to keep the heat from conducting with ease. For all of your Portland Window Replacement questions, Windows Only is always her to help. Feel free to Contact Us for any questions you may have
Cover it Up
By using drapes, curtains or blinds to add an additional layer to your windows will not only help with your home’s heat retention but also help keep another problem out: radiation. Radiation energy in the form of heat can pass through glass with ease warming the air and fading your furniture. One simple and inexpensive option is to install translucent low-emissive window coatings. Though thinner than a human hair, they have the capacity to tint the interior of the house and reflect portions of UV radiation.
Look it Over
When considering whether to replace the windows in your home another thing to consider is the window style and the way they hang. This may help or hinder heat loss or retention through the drafts these windows create. Also double checking and verifying the brands energy-efficiency rating (also known as the “R-value”) can help you make the correct decision before shelling out thousands of dollars on retrofitting.
