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A vinyl window can offer
a great value with many advantages.
They
reduce noise and energy use while increasing
your property value and enhancing the appearance
of your home. They can be installed quickly without
major construction headaches and the price is affordable.
Vinyl is stronger than wood especially for storm
windows, though not as strong as aluminum. However,
you will find that a vinyl replacement window can usually
handle the job.
Aluminum is a great heat conductor, which means that
it is a poor insulator. It conducts the heat right out
of the house. Wood is the best insulator, but vinyl
is very energy efficient as well. A vinyl window will
let you have the best of both worlds: strength and energy
efficiency. Wood expands and contracts with changing
weather conditions. If not properly cared for, it can
swell, warp, crack or split. A wood window does no good
if it is split at the time of a storm. For those who
like the look of wood, but worry about how it will hold
up, it is possible to get faux wood windows. Vinyl and
aluminum can be made to look like wood.
Energy
Efficiency Ratings
Making
Sense of the Numbers
It's pretty much a given that your new vinyl replacement
windows will be more energy efficient than your old
ones, especially if you're switching from single pane
to dual pane windows. When shopping for new windows,
you will be bombarded with terms and numbers that indicate
just how energy efficient your new windows are. It can
be very confusing, so here's a brief rundown of the
terms you should know.
U-Factor
or U-Value
The
NFRC label displays the energy efficiency rating of
your windows.The U-Factor tells you how quickly heat
can escape through your window. Since you want a window
that insulates well, a lower U-Factor number is generally
better. Most windows have a U-Factor between 0.20 and
1.20.
R-Value
The R-Value measures how well a window performs as an
insulator. A higher R-Value means better insulation,
so you want to look for a high number. The R-Value is
the inverse of the U-Factor.
The
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)
The SHGC number indicates the window's capability to
block heat from the sun. Ratings range from zero (the
best) to 1.0 (the worst).
Visible
Transmittance (VT)
This is a measure of how much light gets in through
the window. The higher the VT number, the more light
you will see. VT ratings range between zero and one.
A zero means the window would let in no light.
Air
Leakage (AL)
The Air Leakage rating tells you how much air gets through
the window. A lower number is better.
Argon
Some companies offer an insulating layer of argon gas
between the panes, usually for an extra fee. Argon is
a very heavy gas you cannot smell or see. It can do
the job, but you'll have no idea if it will leak out
over time since it's invisible.
Low-e
Coating
"Low-e" means low emittance of energy. A low-e
coating is a nearly invisible metallic layer on the
glass that reduces the flow of heat. They keep hot air
out in the summer and cold air out in the winter. Most
modern vinyl replacement windows include low-e coatings
to increase energy efficiency.
The NFRC Label
NFRC stands for the National Fenestration Rating Council.
It is a non-profit organization created by the window
industry to develop a standard way to rate energy efficiency.
When you get your new windows, you should receive a
label detailing various aspects of your windows' energy
efficiency. The label is the best way to know you're
getting what you paid for and to compare the efficiency
of different windows. Don't buy vinyl replacement windows
unless they come with the NFRC label.
Energy
Star
Energy Star is a US federal government program designed
to help consumers find energy efficient products. For
vinyl replacement windows, the Energy Star program relies
on the U-Factor and solar heat gain coefficient ratings
supplied by the National Fenestration Rating Council
(NFRC). To qualify for Energy Star, vinyl windows must
meet certain criteria that vary depending on your geographic
location. Buying an Energy Star window takes some of
the guess work out of the process. It means that the
government has given the window its seal of approval
for energy efficiency. If you don't want to take the
time to learn about the numbers on the NFRC label, looking
for and Energy Star window is a quicker alternative.
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