You know energy efficiency is a huge deal when it comes to replacement windows so when you are considering them for your home windows Allen, TX, you want nothing but the best. But how do you find it? You want to lower your bills! You want your home to be comfortable! You want to do what you can for the environment. You know you can do all that through replacement windows, but how? It’s all about the labels! You learn everything you need to know, and some things you don’t even care to know through the labels on the replacement windows. Here are a few things you will see as you look them over.

An Overall Product Description

At the very top of the labels on replacement windows, you’ll see the manufacturer’s name listed along with the material on the window, like vinyl, aluminum, wood, etc. It will also tell you whether the window is double or triple paned, and it will list whether there is an argon, krypton, or air filling between the panes. You will also want to note if there is a low—e coating on the glass, and it will tell you the window’s operating style, like casement, double—hung, vertical slider, and so on.

The Famous U—Factor

If you understand no other numbers on the label, you’ll want to know about the U—Factor. The U—factor is the first performance rating listed on the window label and it will range from .02 to 1.2. The number measures how well the window will prevent heat from passing through, so you want a low number if you want high insulation levels.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient Magic

Look to the right of the U—factor and you’ll spy the SHGC number, which ranges from 0 to 1. This will show you how much radiant heat is blocked from coming into the home. Every home in Allen, TX has direct sunlight at some point or another, and you want a low rating here to get less of that heat into your home on hot summer days.

Visible Transmittance is Key

When you see a portion on the label that says, “additional performance ratings,” you’ll be able to find the VT ratings, which ranges from 0 to 1. This tells you how much light will pass through the window. If you want a darker room, you want the rating to be closer to 0. The more light that passes through, the closer the number will be to 1.

There are a lot of other things that go into window rating labels, and you’ll want to understand as many of them as possible so you can get exactly what you want in a window. However, you don’t have to know them all when you work with the experts at Foster Exteriors. We already know them all and can explain everything you need to know in as much detail as you’d like. Give us a call at 214—319—8400 or visit us at 1350 N Buckner Blvd#216, Dallas, TX 75218.