Living in a country where temperatures are mostly freezing or low throughout the year is challenging. Houses require insulated and energy efficient windows. The improper insulation leads to major heat loss. It’s essential to install the energy efficient windows to keep your home warmer. In extremely cold weather, houses have internal heating or fireplaces inside the home for comfort living.
These heating systems have a significant share in your monthly household bills and you certainly don’t want to waste your money due to heat loss. The insufficient insulation of windows can account for 25% of your energy bill. So carefully pick the Home Windows Toronto and save your money. Here is a guide to choose the energy efficient windows for your home.
Choosing the Frame:
Your window must have entirely sealed frames to achieve energy efficiency. Such frames are essential to prevent draughts and worth hiring a professional for their installation. Choose the right material for your window frames. The aluminum frame is robust and doesn’t corrode but it’s not a good insulating material. Wooden frames are the best options in chilly countries like Canada but are rather expensive and difficult to maintain. Vinyl and fiberglass frames also insulate well at an affordable rate.
Selecting the Right Window Glass:
Window glass can help a lot in efficiently heating your place. You should consider three factors while selecting the glass. The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC), Visible Transmission (VT) and R-Value.
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient
The SHGC value shows the fraction of solar-heat that can pass through the glass. Its suitable value is 0.55 for cold weather.
Visible Transmission
VT measures how much daylight can pass through the glass. The glass with higher VT value will require low consumption of electric lights during the day, hence achieving energy efficiency.
R-Value
R-Value measures the ability of a window to prevent heat loss. Choose the two or three pane glass to achieve high R-Value. The vacuum created between the panes acts as a buffer to prevent energy loss and also stops the cold from entering your house.
You should also select pane spacers wisely. The spacers made of wood or rubber provide better insulation than metal spacers.
Multi-paned windows are recommended to maximize energy efficiency. But many people use single and large pane windows for aesthetic purposes. Moreover, the installation of storm windows on both sides of your window glass is also helpful in achieving overall insulation. If your house is situated in an area prone to extreme weather (hail or wind storm), such windows can serve a double purpose.
Glass Coatings:
Using emissive glass panes also help in improving energy efficiency. A low E-Coating is used to reflect the heat rays back. This transparent E-Coating is made of metallic oxide and is coated on the outer side of the innermost glass. It will significantly reduce the amount of heat that escapes through windows. It’s especially advisable for the large-picture windows or sliding patio doors that have more risk of heat loss.
If you are trying to reduce energy costs, it is important to look at all factors. If you’re serious about investing in your home, solar panels are also a great option. Check out https://sunly.ca/ for more info. Your windows are the first step to saving energy, but you may want to check your doors and attic too.
To read more on topics like this, check out the house category.
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