How to Choose Energy-Efficient Windows

Winter is right around the corner, and if your home has older windows, that often means chilly drafts, cold spots, and condensation problems. More importantly, it means higher heating costs and a less comfortable home for your family. If you are considering replacement windows to address these issues, here are a few tips that can help you choose the most efficient windows for your needs.

Select the Best Glass for Your Climate

The type of glass in your windows can have a huge impact on their energy efficiency. When possible, choose dual- or triple-pane glass. These windows have more than one pane of glass with an air pocket between them, creating an insulating layer that is far more effective as a buffer against the cold than a single pane of glass. Filling that space with an inert gas like argon increases the insulating effect even more, keeping your home comfortable for longer with less energy. Low-E glass is another way to increase the efficiency of your windows. It reduces the amount of infrared radiation that can pass through your windows, which keeps your home cooler in the summer.

To maximize your energy savings, look for windows with a low U-factor, which represents the amount of heat that can be physically conducted through the window. In hot climates, choose a window with a low solar heat gain coefficient, or SHGC, which indicates how much heat you can expect to gain from the sun. In cool climates where passive heating is desired during the winter, look for windows with a high SHGC.

Choosing the Best Window Frames

Wood window frames offer decent insulation, but they can easily warp, twist, and rot with exposure to the elements, and they need constant repainting and upkeep to avoid damage. Aluminum windows conduct heat easily into and out of your home. For the best efficiency, consider vinyl or fiberglass windows. Both offer great thermal performance and air sealing, plus they are low maintenance. Choose windows with insulated frames and quality warm-edge seals for the best efficiency, and choose fusion-welded frames for the best seal and greatest durability.

Selecting the Most Efficient Window Styles

If you want to keep out drafts, windows that do not open, like picture windows, are a great choice, but many homeowners enjoy a bit of a breeze and some fresh air during nice weather. For the most efficient operable windows, choose casement windows, awning windows, or hopper windows, as their seals are reliably simple and effective. Double-hung windows are more complex and require several seals to block air infiltration, as they only have one operable sash to seal.

Other Tips to Increase the Efficiency of Your Windows

Adding heavy curtains or drapes to your windows can help to seal out drafts and prevent heat loss during the winter. Simply close them at night to keep the heat contained, then open them during sunny days to take advantage of free solar heating. Inspect weatherstripping on doors and windows often and replace it as necessary to keep out drafts.

Energy-Efficient Replacement Windows From Zen Windows

Are you ready to upgrade your windows? Choose energy-efficient vinyl or fiberglass replacement windows from our team at Zen Windows. We offer a range of frame and glass options to maximize the performance of the windows for your climate, and we make the buying process as easy as possible with fast, free quotes, a hassle-free sales process,[DisplayIfSet group=”Additional_Pages” setting=”financing”] great financing options with no money down,[/DisplayIfSet][DisplayIfSet group=”Additional_Pages” setting=”warranties”] and a lifetime warranty on all our replacement windows[/DisplayIfSet].

Call Zen Windows today or contact us online to request your free, no-obligation window replacement quote from your closest Zen Windows distributor.

Why Is There Condensation on My Windows?

Ideally, the windows in your home will provide a great view while keeping the interior warm in the winter and cool in the summer. So, when you see condensation on your windows, which happens when humid air meets a cool surface, you may wonder if they are effectively keeping the cold at bay.

What Causes Condensation?

Condensation is a natural phenomenon that occurs when hot, humid air meets a cool surface. Hot air can absorb more moisture than cool air, so when hot, humid air cools rapidly, it leaves behind liquid water. This happens frequently in bathrooms during a shower, where the cooler surface of the mirror will cause water to condense out of the air.

Condensation can happen anywhere there is a cooler surface and moisture in the air. Inside your home, the air is constantly being filled with moisture from activities like showering, cooking, or simply breathing. Because windows are located on the exterior walls and they have less insulation than the wall itself, they tend to be colder than the rest of the room, creating a natural spot for condensation to form. Even the best windows will lose some heat to the outside during cool weather, and every window is a balance between great views and energy efficiency.

Interior vs. Exterior Condensation

Condensation on the inside of the windows occurs due to humid air inside the home and colder temperatures outside. If it happens often, it may be a sign that your home has significant humidity and ventilation problems, or that your windows are poorly insulated. Excessive condensation can lead to water damage and mold growth, so it is a good idea to tackle any humidity problems promptly.

Condensation can also form on the outside of your windows in rare cases where the air is warmer and just a bit humid outside and your windows are cooler than the air temperature. This shows that your windows are working well to limit heat transfer between the interior and exterior.

If condensation forms between the panes of glass in your windows, this shows that the seals in your windows are faulty. Dual-pane and triple-pane windows feature a sealed space between the panes that is filled with an inert gas like argon or krypton. This acts as an insulating layer to reduce heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer. If these seals have failed, it is best to repair or replace the window.

How to Reduce Condensation in Your Home

Reducing humidity can go a long way toward preventing condensation. Use the exhaust fan in the bathroom when you are showering or bathing, and turn on the exhaust hood when you are cooking. If your home does not have an exhaust fan in the bathroom or a hood over the kitchen stove, it is wise to install one. Meanwhile, open windows as necessary to improve ventilation when bathing or cooking. Make sure that your HVAC system is serviced and working properly as well, as it helps to control humidity, and if humidity is still a problem, consider adding a dehumidifier.

If old, damaged, or inefficient windows are the primary cause of the condensation problem, replace the weatherstripping and make sure they are insulated and caulked properly. Otherwise, consider upgrading your windows to modern, energy-efficient replacement windows. Choose quality windows for the greatest performance, and select a skilled, professional contractor to make sure that they are installed and insulated properly.

A quality installation can improve the performance of any window, and at Zen Widows, we offer both top-quality replacement windows and energy-efficient, professional window installations.

Quality Replacement Windows for Your Home

Our team at Zen Windows makes the process of buying replacement windows easy with fast quotes, quality products, and great financing options. Our company features:

• Top-quality vinyl and fiberglass replacement windows
• Fast, accurate, free window replacement quotes
• Energy-efficient, professional window installations
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• Impressive financing options with no money down
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• Lifetime material and labor warranties on all our windows
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Are you ready to upgrade your old, inefficient windows? Call today or contact your local Zen Windows dealer to request a free, no-obligation window replacement quote!

What Makes a Window Energy-Efficient?

Energy-efficient windows keep your home comfortably warm or cool while saving you money for decades after they’re installed. Replacing your home’s windows with energy-efficient models not only improves comfort but also filters out damaging ultraviolet light. New ENERGY STAR® qualified windows can also save you hundreds of dollars a year in heating and cooling costs.

For the greatest energy savings, you want to choose replacement windows that are best suited to your climate.

Energy-Efficient Terms You Should Know

• Heat gain and loss refers to direct transfer through the glass, heat radiation into your home, and air leakage through windows and skylights.
• IGUs, or insulated glass units, are two or three window glass panes in one frame. Each pane is separated by a transparent, odorless, and inert gas, typically argon, krypton, or both, minimizing heat gain and loss.
• Low-E refers to low-emissivity coatings, invisible layers that are applied to windows during the manufacturing process. They provide insulation and control heat transfer. While more expensive than windows without the coating, low-E windows can reduce energy loss by 30%-50%, making them a cost-effective investment.
• SHGC, or solar heat gain coefficient ratings, measure the fraction of transmitted solar energy transmitted and let you know how well the window blocks the sun’s heat. The lower an SHGC rating, the less solar heat the window transmits.
• U-factor rates a window’s performance by measuring its heat transfer rate and tells you how well the window insulates. The lower the U-factor, the better the window insulates. A window’s U-factor is affected by the window frame material, glazing, and low-E coatings.

How Windows are Insulated

Technology plays a big role in how energy-efficient windows work.

Glass coatings or glazing

Low-emissivity glass helps block 90% of the sun’s UV rays, keeping heat inside when it’s cold and outside when it’s hot. Glazing options include tints, gas fills, and reflective coatings, and all are designed to help save you money on your heating and cooling costs.

Spacer systems

Instead of metal, 100% polymer structural foam is now used to help keep windows thermally efficient and condensation-free. Spacers can lower the U-factor by .01%.

Window technology

Other advanced technologies that improve window energy efficiency include double and triple-paned windows and filling the space between insulated glass panes with Krypton gas to reduce heat transfer further.

Signs Your Windows Aren’t Energy-Efficient

Heat loss and gain through windows is one of the primary ways energy usage increases in homes. Signs your home’s windows aren’t energy-efficient enough include:

• Inability to open or close windows easily or entirely
• Reduced indoor comfort from drafts
• Higher energy bills
• Improper installation
• High volume outdoor noise
• Damage such as fog, broken glass, or rotted frames

Maintenance Tips For Maximum Energy Efficiency

Routine maintenance increases windows’ life span and keeps them as energy-efficient as possible. Together with periodic window inspections, here’s how to ensure your windows are operating at peak performance.

Keep them clean

Environmental factors can damage your windows and leave them less efficient. Though vinyl window frames aren’t necessarily affected by salt, the area around them can be. Washing it away is always a good idea.

Window caulk and weatherstripping

Heat and cold air can easily enter your home through gaps between the glass, frame, and window sash. Caulk or weatherstripping seal off drafts. Check them once a year to ensure they’re still providing adequate protection.

Window treatments and awnings

Insulated draperies and outdoor awnings can reduce the amount of solar heat gain by up to 65%. Awnings installed on western-facing windows can reduce heat gain by nearly 80%. Indoors, shades and drapes used together maximize sun protection and prevent heat loss.