When considering a long-term investment for your home here in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area, we suggest you consider replacement window installation.
Some factors homeowners consider when deciding on windows include durability, looks, and required maintenance. Another crucial element they should evaluate is energy efficiency. Although costs for energy efficient windows are slightly higher than those which don’t save as much on utility costs, they help to reduce energy bills by better insulating against extreme temperatures.
Features which contribute to energy efficiency include panes, frames, and spacers.
Glass Panes: Considering the most energy efficient glass is important when choosing replacement windows for your home. For many years windows only had single pane glass. And if you’ve got an older or historic home that still has its original windows, that’s probably what you’ve got.
During cold and hot weather, multi-pane glass better insulates your home by trapping air between the panes. Generally, double-pane windows are featured as energy efficient windows with inert gases, such as krypton or argon, filling the area between the two panes. These inert gases are colorless, non-toxic, and odorless, and they work as great insulators.
Window Frame Material: When it comes to energy efficient windows, a big difference is seen with window frame materials as explained. The majority of window frames are built using vinyl, wood, fiberglass, or aluminum. The least insulating of these four is aluminum, but often thermal breaks are added for heat loss reduction. Wood frames require the most maintenance but they provide decent insulating capabilities.
Fiberglass replacement windows provide the most energy efficacy and require the least maintenance. And their manufacturing process gives them the appearance of wood. Furthermore, fiberglass frames don’t contract or expand throughout the years’ weather changes. This saves on energy bills by preventing cold and hot air from leaking through small gaps that may appear.
Spacers: Window components used for separating panes of the multi-pane window are called spacers. Heat is capable of bleeding across these spaces. With energy-saving windows that are high in quality, panes’ edges are insulated by spacers, thereby reducing the transfer of heat.
Your heating and cooling bills can be reduced around 20% with energy-efficient windows, per Energy Star. While deciding on your replacement windows, check air filtration, U-factor, visible transmittance, and solar heat gain coefficient. Air filtration range should be no more than 0.5. Also, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) should be more than 0.29 when living in warm climates. The rating for energy efficiency is the U-factor. To receive the best energy savings, this should be between 0.15 – 0.26. In triple pane windows, Visual Transmittance must be above .40; for double-pane should be above .50.
Energy efficient replacement windows not only improve the appearance of your home but also help keep your family comfortable during even the most extreme Minnesota weather.
Window Outfitters only installs high-quality energy-efficiency replacement windows in Minneapolis. Our brands carry the Energy Star designation, which is your assurance of their ability to help you save on your utilities. Our professional staff will be happy to help you choose which ones are best for your home. Why not call us today for a free in-home consultation?
Window Outfitters is a premier Window Replacement, doors, siding contractor and installer. As Contractor in the St Paul, Minneapolis, (Twin Cities) Minnesota (MN) metro, we proudly serve, but are not limited to, the following areas: Minneapolis Energy Efficient Vinyl Windows, Replacement Window Contractors Minnesota, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Savage, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eagan, St Paul, Hastings, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Farmington MN, Chaska, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Victoria, Mendota Heights Anderson Windows Minneapolis, Marvin Windows Minneapolis.
