Investing in double pane windows is a great way to lower your home energy costs while providing superior sound reduction and insulation. They also offer increased energy efficiency limiting the transfer of heat into and out of your home.
Double pane windows Smithtown NY contain two glass panels separated by a spacer filled with either argon or krypton gas. They provide excellent insulating properties reducing the load on your HVAC system.
Insulated Glass
Compared to single pane windows, insulated glass provides superior protection from sunlight and outside noise. It also helps to lower energy bills and increase the value of your home.
All insulated glass units (IGUs) have two or more glass panes, a spacer bar, a seal, and an inert gas fill between them. Depending on the type of IGU, there may be other coatings and spacer options available.
The argon, krypton, or xenon filling the space between the panes of an IGU makes it more efficient. These gases are denser than air and reduce the amount of heat that can transfer through a window. This significantly improves a window’s overall u-value, which is a measure of how well it resists heat flow. A lower u-value means that a window is better at keeping warm air inside in the winter and cool air outside in the summer. This can help lower your electricity bills throughout the year.
Argon Gas
Replacing windows with high energy-efficient models will significantly lower utility bills, increase comfort, and improve resale value for your home. Energy-efficient double pane windows with low-E glass and argon gas help regulate interior temperature, reduce the transfer of heat and cold through the window, and limit UV and infrared light penetration. Decorative glass options like frosted and tinted windows can also provide privacy, obscuring visibility from the outside of the house while reducing glare.
Argon is a colorless, odorless, non-toxic gas found naturally in the atmosphere. This inert gas is more dense than air, making it a superior insulator and a natural choice to fill the gaps between double pane windows. Argon is an environmentally friendly alternative to krypton and can be used in windows of any design with or without low-e coatings. If your windows lose argon gas over time due to weather exposure, poor installation, or simply ageing, a window professional can use special instruments to replenish the level of argon in the gap.
Low-E Coating
As the name suggests, Low-E glass reduces unwanted infrared and ultraviolet (UV) radiation from entering your home. This can help to keep your home that little bit warmer from November through March and will also reduce fading on furniture and carpets caused by UV light.
When combined with argon gas the benefits are multiplied, helping to make your home that much more energy efficient and lowering both heating and cooling costs. Low-E also helps to lower the amount of visible light lost compared to standard windows.
Window manufacturers use a safe and non-toxic low-emissivity coating that is applied to the inner surface of an insulated glass unit (IGU). Low-E glass allows for natural light to pass through while reducing unwanted infrared and ultraviolet radiation. This type of glass is available in a wide range of options that are suitable for various climate zones and can help meet the performance requirements set by codes and voluntary programs like ENERGY STAR.
Grid Options
When homeowners are choosing window glass, they can choose to add grids or leave them off. This option is important because the style of the home may determine if grids look out of place. For example, a Colonial grid pattern won’t fit well with a Victorian style home and vice versa. The grids also need to match the surrounding neighborhood’s aesthetic and the style of other windows. HOAs and historic districts often have specific requirements on window grid patterns that need to be met for historical accuracy.
One of the most popular double pane window styles is the awning or casement window, and it comes with a choice of no grids, grids only on the top, or grids on both. Putting grids between the windows means they aren’t on the outside of the glass, making them easier to clean without having to climb ladders to reach second or third-story windows. There are also different window grille patterns to choose from. An ogee grid looks more ornate and fits better with Colonial homes, while a putty profile looks less ornate but still matches a traditional aesthetic.