How Energy Efficient are Replacement Windows?

In the past 20 years, Energy Efficiency has made significant advancements. Those advancements apply also to windows and window replacement. More efficient building Room of Replacement Windows materials such as vinyl, multiple panes of coated "Low E" glass and inert Gas fills have now created thermal properties that had never been seen in windows. Still, the progress is ongoing. There has never been more competition within the vinyl replacement window industry and this competition is leading to rapidly developing window technology.

Remember that the number one function of a window is to keep the outside - outside, and the inside -inside. Today's windows achieve this better than most of our potential customers currently understand. Adams - Home Replacement Windows / Dallas is here to educate you. Simply call us or stop by the conveniently located showroom where you can tour multiple window samples and displays that might better illustrate their value.

Factors of Energy Efficient Windows

Low Emissivity Glass (Low E)For Texans, this is the most important factor of Energy Efficient Windows.

Low-E is a microscopically thin metallic oxide mixture that can be laminated onto finished glass or mixed into molten glass. This mixture is designed to reflect radiant infrared energy – keeping radiant heat on the side of the glass from which it originated. In the winter, Low-E reflects the radiant heat you’re your furnace back into your house. In the summer, Low-E reflects the radiant heat from the sun.

Argon / Krypton Gas FillsNo matter how efficient, the air between the glass will always heat and rise to the top. This movement (air roll) within a window causes it to break down over time. As a solution, the air inside the window is replaced with a heavy / dense gas (Argon) greatly reducing this natural tendency.

Krypton gas is still being used by some window manufacturers, though the rapidly increasing cost of it has caused most customers to choose Argon instead.

Double & Triple Glazed GlassIf one piece of glass is good - two or three are better, right?

Glazing two pieces of glass together allows for more "Low E" and presents the opportunity to use "Gas Fills" to increase the Energy Efficiency of a Window.

When three pieces of glass are glazed together there is reduced convection and the though the window is much heavier, it is also much more Energy Efficient .

Window Frames - Efficient Vinyl Click Goodbye Aluminum and Steel, hello Energy Efficient Vinyl.

Because Vinyl does not conduct the way that Aluminum and Steel do, they are much more Energy and Sound efficient.

Some Window Manufacturers are even filling their frames with expanding foam for even better insulation.

Glass SpacersA "Spacer" is what separates the two (or three) panes of glass. If these spacers are made of Aluminum or Steel they can conduct just the way an Aluminum or Steel window does.

Quality, Energy Efficient Spacers are usually made from polyurethane or Foam.

Spacers can greatly affect the Efficiency of a Window.

Why would I Replace my Home Windows?

The average Dallas area homeowner can realize fantastic savings on energy bills by replacing old, leaky windows with new, energy-efficient vinyl ones. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimates that the average Dallas household spends 40% of Family with Replacement Windows its energy costs on heating and cooling.

Find products carrying the Department of Energy - Energy Star seal of approval. Think "Low E", Argon Gas Fillers and Super Spacers. Look for a low U value and in Dallas a low SHGC rating is essential—0.30 (for either) is great. Old windows often have U values over 1.0. Energy-efficient replacement windows can reduce heating and cooling costs up to 15%, depending on climate, insulation and shading, sun angle, and so on.

Also, older homes usually contain Lead paint. Because painted sashes tend to rub against painted frames, windows are the most common source of lead dust in the home. It has been well documented that even tiny amounts of lead dust can cause serious health issues. Professional Lead remediation is available, but complete window replacement might be a more affordable option.

At the very least - old aluminum, steel or wood windows demand a lot of time and effort to maintain. Be careful that this maintenance doesn't "nickel and dime" you beyond the expense of replacement windows that could have been paying for themselves.