Update or Replace Windows in Southlake, TX
Whether it is a new home or an existing one, energy-efficient windows are an important consideration to make for your home. Southlake Texas, in the DFW area, personifies affluent living. Due to its bustling town square, award-winning schools, and great location it is one of the most desirable communities to live and raise a family in. Over the last couple of decades, the population has bloomed and this has led to the average age of homes in Southlake being around 20 years. Though these homes are not old, the technology involving windows has changed over time, and a lot of these properties have out-of-date windows that are at a disadvantage compared to today’s sophisticated vinyl replacements, for example.
Heat gain and loss through windows accounts for nearly 25-30% of residential heating and cooling energy used. Therefore, when selecting windows for new construction or for replacing existing windows, you should opt for windows that suit your climate and give you a good value for your money. This is the reason why many Southlake homeowners are choosing Energy Window Solutions for high-quality replacement or upgrading of their windows in order to improve the efficiency and the look of their homes.
Even households where the windows are in good conditions, steps to enhance their effectiveness and reduce the energy losses that are caused due to the windows can be taken, while also saving you a few bucks. Generally speaking, there are two broad options that you can opt for if you wish to reduce the amount of energy lost through your windows and improve the quality of life in your homes. Either you could update your existing windows with the latest technology to improve their efficiency, or you could simply replace them.
Update Existing Windows
Many of you will, especially in the Southlake area, might feel that your windows are in fairly good condition and don’t need to be replaced. In that case you take steps to improve their efficiency. This will be the most cost-effective option, along with improving the comfort of your home and saving you money in utility bills. There are a number of steps you can take to enhance the efficiency of your existing windows:
- Add storm panels to the windows for better defense.
- Window treatments and coverings can be added. We at Energy Window Solutions offer a range of options that you can choose from.
- Checking the existing windows for air leaks.
- Solar control film can be added to better shield the indoors from UV rays.
- Caulking and weather-stripping can be carried out; our professional team can come and assist you with this.
- Exterior shading can be added, such as exterior blinds, overhangs or awnings.
Once you have carried out any of these or a number of these procedures that meet your specific needs, in order for the improvements to be efficient you should remember to take steps to ensure that the installations have been carried out properly, such as checking for air leaks after the installations.
Replace the Windows
When replacing your windows there are a series of decisions that will have to be taken concerning the type of replacement you wish to make and the type of windows you want to use for this purpose. There are times when you can replace the windows in their existing frame; this would save you both money and time. Ask you retailers and installers if that’s an option and if it wouldn’t take away from the quality of the final product. Apart from that, there are a number of features you will have to choose from, these will include the following:
- Glazing types
- Gas fills and spacers
- Operation types
- Frame types
In order to find out more about these options you can contact our correspondents for a thorough brief about the alternatives and how they meet your specific needs.
Selection Process and Tips
You should start off by looking up the Energy Star label when purchasing new windows, and reviewing the ratings of the product regarding their energy performance as classified by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). This will allow you to seek out the most efficient windows that meet your needs. In addition to choosing the right window type, there are other factors you will have to consider such as the design, warranties, energy use and labeling, and the contractors to carry out the proper installation.
The ratings given by NFRC are provided for all Energy Star certified windows, and prove to be quite a reliable way to analyze a window’s energy properties and to compare the various products in the market. You can look up how to read the ratings from the council’s official website in order to find the most efficient windows for your Southlake home.
- Energy Efficient Windows offer you a selection process for both replacement windows and windows for new construction. There are a number of options we have for you to help you select the right product.
- Places where the climate is colder, consider gas-filled windows with low e-coating, this will reduce heat loss. While in warmer climate windows with coatings are suggested to reduce heat gain.
- Always look up the Energy Star and NFRC labels for comparisons.
- Look for products that have a low solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC). This is a measure of the solar radiations admitted into the house through a window and a lower level reduces heat gain in warm climates.
- A U-factor is a rate at which a window conducts non-solar heat flow, therefore choosing a product with a low U-factor allows for better thermal resistance in the colder climates.
- Windows that have a low U-factor and a low SHGC level maximize energy savings in temperate climates like that in Southlake, in both hot and cold seasons.
- However, it is better to look for whole-unit U-factors and SHGCs, instead of U-factors and SHGCs for the Center-of glass, as it more accurately reflects the energy performance of the entire product.