Which Windows Perform Best In The Winter?

Posted on Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011

Proper ventilation in a home is crucial. Ventilation cycles improve air quality and keep you from getting sick in the winter. But ventilation has a wicked cousin, infiltration. Infiltration is unplanned air leakage through things like your door and window joints, cracks, frames, and sashes. These unintended air flows can account for up to 30% of a home’s heating and cooling losses. Not only will your hour be drafty with hot and cold spots, but it will also cost you much more than it should.

All Of The Options

Not all windows perform the same in the winter. There are dozens of different variables that come into play. Things like the where the window is located on your home can make a dramatic difference. Different windows can serve different functions depending upon whether they will receive direct sunlight or not.

The floor of the house that the windows are on will also be a consideration. The upper levels should be more air tight than lower levels. Fortunately, there is a standardized system of measurement so you can make an apples-to-apples comparison. Windows can be compared using four main characteristics: U-factor (Insulation), Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC), Visible Transmittance (VT), and Air Leakage (AL). Luckily, your geography plays the biggest role in deciding what windows you will need.

The Window Style

Air infiltration is a major problem in the winter. Even if your window is extremely insulated (high U-factor), a leaky window will cancel out the benefits. The technical specifications for windows list values for air leakage as cubic feet per minute per square foot of window. Look for windows with certified air-leakage rates of less than 0.30 cfm/ft^2. Lower values are better.

If you shop around you might notice a trend, windows with hinges that swing open instead of slide tend to have less air leakage. That is because they can seal shut tighter than a window frame that needs to slide. But style isn’t everything, quality is also a major factor. How well the individual pieces of the window unit are joined together also affects air leakage. Glass-to-frame, frame-to-frame and sash-to-frame connections must be tight.

Infiltration siphons about 30% of an average home’s heating and cooling energy to the outdoors. Windows are primarily responsible for much of the loss. Well-designed windows like Dixie Super Windows are made with all of those considerations in mind. They are efficient, durable, and backed by the best warranty in the industry.

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