Home improvement projects often include updating systems that don’t work anymore in order to reduce the costs of repairs as well as electricity, water, and other utilities. One of the easiest things to overlook during these improvements is the windows. While you’re upgrading the HVAC system in your home, converting to solar power, or adding special filters to keep the water usage under control, don’t forget that the windows are one of the biggest culprits to lose energy that you’re trying to conserve. Certain kinds of glass and glazing can stop this energy leakage before it begins, allowing your home to become the energy efficient paradise you’ve always wanted.
How Do Energy Efficient Windows Work?
It sounds like magic, but really the idea of energy efficient windows is quite simple. Basically, special glass and glazing stops heat and cold from the outside from getting inside. For instance, in the summer when it’s hot outside and you’re using your air conditioning system, you won’t have to worry about the cool air escaping through the windows because they’re too thin or permeable to keep that cool air inside. At the same time, this treatment also keeps heat from getting inside so that you don’t have to worry about certain items or food stores being near the windows.
Regular window glass covers an opening in the wall of a home and allows the homeowner to look outside and open the window for air or light as desired. However, that regular glass is also permeable, which means that air can get through it or escape outside. This means that you’re wasting resources trying to heat and cool your home, especially in areas that have many windows.
The Windows in Your Home
Replacing the windows is not a difficult thing to have done. Usually the glass and glazing required can be ordered in advance and then installed within a day, depending on the type of windows you have. Some larger windows may have to be special ordered but they are the ones that need replacing the most in order to get the energy efficient home you want. Look for glass and glazing experts in your area that specialize in energy efficient windows and if you have any unusually large or strangely shaped windows, let them know ahead of time. Ask them about how long it takes to special order the windows and how long it will take them to install once they’re in stock.
Maintaining Energy Efficient Windows
An important part of keeping your home energy efficient is to maintain the new components properly. The glass and glazing on your windows might need different cleaning products than the ones you already use or they might require regular maintenance from a professional. Ask the experts when you call them before you decide on which windows you’d like. Ask if the company includes window maintenance and the best ways to keep your windows looking and working great. Before you know it, your home will be energy efficient and your new and beautiful windows will look wonderful for years to come.