According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 25% to 30% of residential cooling and heating energy use comes from heat gain and loss through windows. That means that if your windows are old or in poor condition, you might be paying for air conditioning that is leaking through the windows rather than optimizing the temperature of your home. Luckily, Rocky Mountain Windows & Doors wants to help you with window replacement in Utah so you can stay cool in the summer, keep warm in the winter, and save on your energy bill.
How Do You Know When It’s Time for New Window Installation in Utah?
If you want to cut back on your energy bill by getting your windows replaced, first you’ll want to check to see if the windows are the problem. If you have the heat on at home, approach a window and see if the air feels colder there than in other places in the room. You can also put your hand on the glass to see if it feels cold. These are good ways to tell if your windows are cooling down the warm air that is supposed to be circulating throughout your home.
Drafts are another tip-off that it’s time for new windows. But just because you can’t feel a draft with just your hand doesn’t mean there isn’t one. You can double check for a draft by lighting a candle and holding it along each edge of the window. Even the slightest draft will cause the smoke and flame to move and flicker. If you feel or see a draft, that means cold air is blowing into your house, and you are overpaying for heating. It also means that in the summer, you’re losing precious cool air to the outdoors.
You may also be able to tell visually if your windows are in rough shape. Wooden window frames are a classic look, but they also begin to decay when exposed to too much moisture. This creates the perfect environment for mold, which is unsightly at best and dangerous at worst.
Speaking of moisture, keep an eye out for condensation if you have double- or multi-paned windows. Condensation that forms between two or more window panes means that your windows’ seals are not working properly and your windows could soon become leaky. At this point, if your windows contained insulating gas for energy efficiency, it has now leaked out.
Finally, if your windows aren’t providing much noise protection, they probably aren’t sealed correctly. Whether the noise bothers you or not, this is a sign that your air conditioning is probably leaking out.
What Types of Windows Are the Most Energy Efficient?
Windows with the ENERGY STAR label will most likely have the highest energy efficiency. ENERGY STAR is the U.S. government certification for energy efficient products. ENERGY STAR windows lower residential energy bills by an average of 12%. With Rocky Mountain Windows & Doors, however, your new ENERGY STAR certified, expertly installed windows with high-tech coating will save you at least 15% on your energy bill.
While the industry standard today in the residential window installation industry is double-paned windows, you can take energy efficiency to the next level with triple-paned windows. Triple-paned windows have two chambers in which to insert energy-saving gases, while a double-paned window has only one. Argon and krypton are two slow-moving gases with higher density than the air we breathe. Because of these properties, the addition of argon and krypton gas between window panes helps to mitigate heat transfer from the outside of the window to the inside, helping you save on your air conditioning bill in the summer.
Low emissivity glazing can also help you save money on air conditioning. This window treatment, also known as low-e, filters out much of the ultraviolet and infrared light that makes sunlight feel hot. And the best part is that low-e is completely transparent, so you won’t be sacrificing any sunlight. With low-e-treated windows, you can enjoy a sunny summer day without spending extra on air conditioning. Low-e also helps reduce heat loss from the inside in the winter.
Regarding window frame material, the option that’s best for your home’s energy efficiency depends on your climate and budget. Vinyl windows are perhaps the most budget-friendly energy efficient option. The material itself is less expensive, and when installed properly using insulated glass, vinyl windows will help reduce your energy bill.
Aluminum window frames are not the best insulators, but for coastal homeowners, these are the strongest and most practical in the face of hurricanes and tropical storms. If you live in a hurricane-prone area, you may want to reassess whether energy efficiency is worth the risk of installing windows that can’t handle the weather.
Wooden window frames, on the other hand, while known for their ability to insulate well, have a shorter lifespan than vinyl window frames. Wood is vulnerable to decay and mold growth, so if you live in a humid or rainy climate and want wooden window frames, be prepared to shell out additional cash for upkeep.
Wood-clad windows combine the features of a few different types of window frames. On the outside of the house, the material is made of aluminum or vinyl, which are largely weather-resistant materials. The inside of the window is made from wood, so you get maximum insulation with minimal upkeep. However, it should be noted that without certain waterproofing precautions, wood-clad windows are still susceptible to rot, especially in wetter climates.
How Rocky Mountain Windows & Doors Can Help
If after reading this article you are ready to embark on saving on your energy bills by making your windows more energy efficient, Rocky Mountain Windows & Doors can help. We offer today’s most energy efficient products, ENERGY STAR certified. Our windows come in a wide variety of materials, shapes, and colors, so you can ensure that your new energy efficient windows have the look you want. Rocky Mountain Windows & Doors is your go-to window installation in Utah.