Save on Energy Through a Window Replacement
Windows are considered as another important part of your home apart from door and floorings. Windows provide views, day lighting, ventilation, and heat from the sun in the winter. Unfortunately, they can also account for 10% to 25% of your heating bill by letting heat out. During the summer, your air conditioner must work harder to cool hot air from sunny windows. But by installing qualified windows and using curtains and shade, you can give your air conditioner and energy bill a break. Today, energy-conscious homeowners want to minimize the costs of heating and cooling their homes. Hence, they choose such windows which save their monthly energy bill.
Are you still living with those old-fashioned windows frame which adds style to your home but also adds some heat or cold air for which your electrical appliances works harder? If yes, then it is time to replace them now. High-performance, energy-efficient windows and skylights are important elements in a quality building or remodeling project. Toronto weather changes rapidly, hence you have to be preparing to face it. Whether it is the hot days or cold days, replacing your windows is the best option to avoid extra digits on your monthly electricity bill. Also as a homeowner, you should know the components of a high- quality, energy-efficient window or skylight.
When you are replacing your windows, save your money with extra panes. Triple-paned windows provide significant energy savings and will pay for themselves quickly in the extra savings on heating and air conditioning. There is usually some kind of gas between the panes, such as argon or krypton, which helps with insulation. But even triple-paned windows won’t save energy if not properly insulated. There should be just a little extra room for shimming and insulating. Make sure the existing trim work is secure and big enough to fit your replacement windows. Once the window is installed, fill every crevice with fiberglass insulation or expanding foam insulation. Check for drafts by holding a candle up to the window to see if it flickers.
Get home window tinting! Tinted windows lower the amount of heat coming in to the house from the outside and thus reduce the need to turn on the air conditioner. This can be invaluable during the heat of summer as you can keep your house cool using a fraction of the power required for a home without tinted windows. But tint also saves on energy during the winter – it serves as an insulator that traps the heat in meaning you will need less power to heat the house. Window tint successfully rejects 99% of all harmful Ultra Violet (UV) light.
Many homeowners think that repairing is much better option than replacing them. But in most, it is not so. There is no use of repairing the windows if they are not able to perform the task of high efficient windows. Installing high-performance windows will improve your home’s energy performance. While it may take many years for new windows to pay off in energy savings, the benefits of added comfort, improved aesthetics, and functionality can offset the cost. They have no matches.
If you don’t have right idea and proper knowledge regarding window replacement than you should ask a professional help. They help you and maintain your budget too. They recommend you to replace the windows according to the demands of your home. The panes, frames and materials should be installed such that it remains efficient in all climatic conditions.
While shopping for windows, you must go through a wide range of pieces first. Check them out. Decide which one suits your home most. It should be efficient as well as attractive too. Consult the retailers of windows and ask them to show you only the energy saving windows. Check with local utilities to see what rebates or other incentives are available for window replacement. Choose high-performance windows that have at least two panes of glass and a low-e coating with a low U-factor for better insulation in colder climates; the U-factor is the rate at which a window, door, or skylight conducts non-solar heat flow. Look for a low solar heat gain coefficient — this is a measure of solar radiation admitted through a window, door, or skylight. Low SHGCs reduce heat gain in warm climates. Select windows which can maximize energy savings in temperate climates with both cold and hot seasons. Look for whole-unit U-factors and SHGCs. The very reason for this is that are more accurate. They more efficiently reflect the energy performance of the entire product. Windows with impact-resistant glass should be considered if you are living along a coast or in areas with flying debris from storms.
These all tips will be of no use if the windows are not installed properly. Therefore you should install your windows by trained professionals according to manufacturer’s instructions only. This will increase more chances of energy saving.