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So what do you need?
Many homeowners know they have an issue long before they even pick up the phone or email us. The need to upgrade windows that no longer function or replace a door that might be rotting off the hinges is almost always apparent to most of our customers, but aside from security, functionality, and beautification, there is a wide spectrum of performance factors to take into consideration. For instance, just because a salesman recommends a triple pane window to you does not always mean it is in your best interest or is conducive to the economics of your project. Always begin by assessing your needs. No sales person will be able to help you with some of these fundamental questions: What are you looking to accomplish? How long are you staying in the home? If you are selling within the next five years, will you get a substantial return on your investment (the answer is yes) ? Are you seeking these improvements because kilowatts and therms seemingly rise in cost every year and you have had enough? Are you tired of painting wood windows? Do you have children and lead based paint is a concern (for more information on lead paint and windows check out this link)?
Regarding performance
Did you know that almost 50% of the homes in Milwaukee county were built prior to World War II? Depending on what areas of Milwaukee you reside in, the construction period of those homes can even pre-date that era. Late 1800's through the 1930's architecture can be found in abundance in many pockets of Milwaukee neighborhoods such as Bay View, Brewer's Hill, Grover Heights, Halyard Park, Riverwest, and Jackson Park just to name a few. Although the design and construction of these homes have held up very well over time, the windows and doors in these homes may not have. Let's explore a few terms in performance that matter when it comes to windows. The vast majority of these windows consist of single strength glass (3/32") glazed into the frame of a wooden sash. The balance system can be spring loaded or contain a rope attached to a weight behind the pocket of the window (most balance systems we come across have been broken for years). It is rare to find these windows in any kind of working condition due to the fatigue of the balance system or the sashes have been painted over multiple times rendering them inoperable. Modern day replacement windows do not rely on these antiquated balance systems whatsoever.
When it comes to window ratings, there are a legion of technical terms and performance metrics to evaluate. Here are four of the most essential performance terms to understand and how they can be of value in choosing the perfect window for both our climate and your budget.
U-Factor
Air Infiltration/Air Leakage
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient
This performance metric measures the amount of heat loss. The lower the U-factor, the greater a window's resistance to heat flow and the better its insulating properties. Low U-factors are crucial in heating dominated climates like Wisconsin. This is achieved through utilizing two (double pane) or three layers of glass (triple pane) that contain argon or krypton gases sealed between the glass. These gases are predominantly used because their density acts as an additional insulator. Additionally, an insulated window frame will also help bolster the resistance of heat loss and the transfer of cold to the interior.
To abide by Energy Star guidelines a .27 U-Factor or lower is needed. To provide some context, an existing single pane window has a rating of 1.04. Many homeowners with original windows witness frost on the interior of the glass during winter because of the poor insulating factors of single pane glass.
Condensation Resistance
Air infiltration (also referred to as CFM or cubic feet per minute) is the unintentional air exchange between your home and the exterior. Have you ever seen your curtains move even though the windows are closed? This is a result of material fatigue or vulnerabilities in the window design itself. This exchange between the exterior and interior air can cause your HVAC system to run continuously in an effort to maintain a constant temperature. Whether the season is Winter or Summer, having your HVAC system attempt to compensate for this exchange of air can result in the early demise of your furnace or central air unit.
Windows are tested by third party agencies such AAMA to ensure the tests are both scientific and unbiased. These tests measure the amount of air (in cubic feet) that enter through a closed window design. The wind speed is conducted at 25 MPH. The lower the CFM rating, the better the window will resist the exchange of air.
The industry average for a double hung window is .20 CFM. Our double hung windows rate a nearly impervious .04 CFM.
This performance metric measures the amount of solar radiation that can pass through a window in terms of its solar heat-gain coefficient, or SHGC. SHGC ratings are used to help in quantifying the energy efficiency of windows. Since we have all four seasons in Wisconsin it is important to have a window that can filter or reflect some of the sun's radiant heat and direct sun light. This can be done by coating the exterior glasses interior surface with varying reflective metals such as silver oxide. The lower the SHGC rating the less solar heat can travel through the glass and into the interior of your home. If a window has a SHGC rating of .30, that means that only 30% of the sun's solar heat is allowed to permeate through the glass. Not only can this help ease the burden of heat entering your home in the summertime, this glass coating (Low-E) can also help preserve your furniture, curtains, and carpet by stifling the harmful UV rays that would be allowed through untreated glass.
There will always be a certain amount of moisture in the air of your home. So why do windows seem to attract this moisture (condensation) and how can a replacement window's glass unit help prevent this unsightly display? Moisture in the air is attracted to cool surfaces such a window glass (you have most likely seen your mirror get foggy after you have showered). The warmer we can make the glass unit, the less likely we are to witness condensation. The higher the condensation rating the better it will be at hindering moisture build up on the glass surface. CR ratings range between 1-100. The higher the number, the more resistant the glass will be to condensation. It is widely excepted that a rating of 50 or more should be desired when choosing a window. This is most amply achieved by the insulating gas properties of argon or krypton between the panes. Glass units that utilize non-conductive materials for glass spacers have even a better ability to thwart the permeation of cold temperatures from the exterior to the interior of your home. Remember, the warmer the interior glass pane can remain, the more difficult it is for moisture to adhere to its surface.