When the weather turns cold, your home’s unsealed doorways, improper insulation and especially old or poor quality windows allow the heat generated inside the home to escape.
To create a comfortable living space in your home, your heating system is constantly struggling to keep up, which leads to wasted energy and higher utility bills.
In fact, insufficiently insulated glazing can account for 25% of an average home energy bill.
Bottom line, Colorado’s chilly winters make it important to know about replacement windows for cold climates. And to help you find the right products for a cozy home, Paramount Siding and Windows, in Denver, has put together a few tips.
Ratings
Our first tip is to do your homework by investigating the NFRC ratings of window products before buying. Shop around and compare brands using the NFRC label.
The information provided includes the window’s U-factor, solar heat gain coefficient, air leakage and visible transmittance. While many windows have the Energy Star label, the NFRC label provides ratings for each of these categories, making it easier to find the best replacement windows for cold climates.
Frames
The right window needs properly sealed frames to prevent drafts. They should also be correctly installed by professionals. While aluminum frames are sturdy and affordable, they’re just not good insulators.
Because you live in chilly Colorado, you should look into wood, vinyl or fiberglass frames if your budget allows. Compared to aluminum, these are all better replacement windows for cold climates.
Glass
Double or triple glazed windows will drastically increase the R-value of a window, which measures the capacity of a window to prevent heat transfer. The vacuum created between the panes, or the gas fill, will act as a buffer to stop heat from escaping and cold from entering your home.
Also, pay attention to the spacers used to separate the panes of glass. Warm spacers made from wood or rubber perform much better as insulators than metal spacers.
Coatings
Beyond frames and glass is a range of coatings and treatments that can be applied to window glass and help to ensure you have great replacement windows for cold climates.
A Low E-Coating can be used to reflect heat back towards its source. If this transparent metallic oxide is applied to the inner surface of the outermost pane of glass, it will reduce the amount of heat that escapes from your home across the window.
A Final Consideration
Talk to your window professional about installing storm windows on the inside or outside of your window glass as another method to increase overall insulation. These can serve a double purpose if your home is located in a cold climate (like Colorado) and an area prone to extreme weather (like hail).
Before making any purchases, you can always request a free consultation from Paramount Siding and Windows in Denver, Colorado. We are happy to assist you in finding the best replacement windows for cold climates and the perfect fit for your home. Call or contact us today for more information!