Thermal Replacement Windows
If you are still using single pane windows in your home then you might be literally paying a very high price through your frozen or red-hot nose. With energy bills rising dramatically in the past year and expected to rise even further, it makes sense to shift over to thermal replacement windows to cut out the heat and cold while also reducing your energy bills at the same time.
If you still have single paned windows all over your home then these windows do not stop heat from coming in during summer and cold from coming in during winter. Your heating and cooling systems have to work harder to keep your home at ideal temperatures and the result is higher energy bills. Thermal windows contain more than one glass sheet. Thermal windows are available as double or triple paned or glazed windows. While triple paned thermal windows are the best, they are also quite costly and you will need to compare your needs with your budget and your climate before you decide on the window of your choice. You can also get thermal windows that have argon or krypton gas between the layers of glass so as to offer better protection against the elements.
If you live in an area plagued by extreme heat and cold then your single-pane windows would already have taken a beating. If you have the older wooden-framed windows then they might have become warped or gaps might have formed due to constant expansion and contraction. If you have aluminum windows then they are quite poor in stopping thermal exchanges and you could only end up paying even more money in the future. Newer thermal replacement windows with wood, vinyl or fiberglass offer the best resistance and minimize air leakage, which in turn will ensure lower heating and cooling bills.
Some glass panes also feature an E-coating that is made of silver or tin oxide. This coating helps improve the R-value or thermal resistance value of the glass. It is also important to note the U-factor when considering thermal glass panes. The U-factor indicates the thermal loss of that particular window and a lower rating will ensure that the thermal window is actually efficient in stopping heat and cold loss. While a double paned glass fitted with an E-coated glass might have a U-factor of .4, a triple paned glass with an E-coated glass might have the lowest rating of around .25, which means that it can stop most of your heat from coming into your home in summer while helping to retain heat within your home in winter. You should thus check the energy-star rating of each thermal window before purchasing it so as to know how much efficiency is contained within that product. A professional installer should be hired to complete the job quickly and cleanly.
With changing times and higher energy bills, it is time for you to shift from your inefficient single paned glass windows to thermal Virginia replacement windows that have a high degree of thermal efficiency. When combined with the right wooden, vinyl or fiberglass windows, these double or triple paned windows will keep you warm in winter, cool in summer and happy after each energy bill.