How to Choose the Best Windows for Energy Efficiency
Trying to find the most energy-efficient windows for your home? A quick internet search will probably reveal just how many options are on the market, each of which claim to offer unparalleled efficiency. Choosing between the many different window styles, brands, and lines may seem overwhelming at first. But this task doesn’t need to feel like a chore, especially when you know what you’re looking for.
Here are three things you should pay attention to when choosing the best energy-efficient replacement windows for your home:
1. Localized Design
If you take a moment to think about it, finding replacement windows designed for your region just makes sense. While many manufacturers take a one-size-fits-all approach to making energy-efficient windows, the best companies will craft windows with features that account for specific climates. Whether you live somewhere cold and wet, somewhere warm and dry, or anywhere in between, try to find replacement windows that were designed for your region.
2. Specially Designed Glass
Oftentimes, a window’s glass panes are its greatest source of inefficiency. So when you purchase replacement windows, make sure the glass panes were designed to resist fluctuating temperatures. The best energy-efficient windows often feature double- or triple-pane glass and inter-pane gas fills that help reduce thermal transfer. Window glass featuring low-E coatings is also valuable—these coatings prevent infrared light from penetrating the glass, keeping heat outside of your home and reducing carpet or wall fading.
3. High Caliber Frames
Most energy-efficient windows come in one of three frame materials: wood, fiberglass, and vinyl. While manufacturers like to compare these materials in an apples-to-apples fashion (with their window material always coming out on top), the truth is that a well-crafted wood, fiberglass, or vinyl window can easily beat the efficiency of a poorly crafted window of any type.
How can you tell whether your replacement windows feature frame materials designed for efficiency? Tight-grained heartwood and temperature-resistant fiberglass both serve as excellent insulators (though heartwood requires regular maintenance to retain this quality). Energy-efficient vinyl windows, on the other hand, usually contain high-caliber insulation inside their frame cavities.
When it comes to finding the best energy-efficient windows for your home, America’s No. 1 remodeler is here to help! Contact Dreamstyle Remodeling today.
