Window frame material is important, but when it comes to new window features, it is all about the glass—or in professional terms, the glazing. You can choose specific types of glazing based on the climate, building design, and window orientation. Here are a few things you should know when choosing new Garden Grove, CA windows.

Number of Panes

Single pane windows just don’t cut it anymore. Even in moderate climates, single pane glass reduces energy efficiency and you end up paying more. Most modern windows have two or three panes of glass. Double or triple pane windows have better insulation and lower U-factor, which measures the rate of heat flow. The glass is spaced apart and hermetically sealed to give you a buffer between the inside and outside of your home.

Gas Fills

The airspace between panes isn’t just normal air, which expands and contracts. Instead manufacturers fill the space with something else—a colorless, odorless, nontoxic inert gas. It is usually argon or krypton. These do not expand or contract, so the seals on your window are more likely to remain intact and keep moisture out.

Heat-Absorbing Tints

Manufacturers can apply inner layers to help lower the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient on new windows.  These colored window tints absorb as much as 45% of the incoming solar radiation. This helps reduce heat gains inside your home. The tints can also help reduce visible transmittance and glare. The most common window tints are gray or bronze to reduce the penetration of light and heat. A blue or green tint allows more visible light through, but reduces heat transfer.

Low-Emissivity Coatings

A Low-E coating is an ultra-thin metal or metallic oxide layer that manufacturers apply to the surface of the glass. Most place it on the inside of the outermost pane. It is virtually invisible, but can reduce energy loss by 30 to 50%. These coatings keep heat inside during the winter and outside during the summer.

Reflective Coatings

Sometimes, especially in warmer climates, the best way to prevent solar heat gains is by bouncing the light off the pane of glass. Reflective coatings can do just that. These usually consist of thin, metallic layers like bronze, silver, and gold. Unfortunately they reduce both solar heat gains and visible transmittance. So you will stay cool, but won’t get as much natural light from windows with reflective coatings.

Spectrally Selective Coatings

This is where modern technology really starts to show off. These coatings are designed to only reflect particular wavelengths, specifically infrared (heat), while still remaining transparent to others. You get a low U-factor and SHGC, while still maintain a high VT. In simpler terms, this means you can filter out 40 to 70% of unwanted heat gains while still getting a full spectrum of light transmittance.

This is a lot of information to process. Navigating these features and understanding the energy labels can be confusing. Fortunately you don’t have to go it alone. Call 714-220-3939 or stop by 4201 Katella Ave., Los Alamitos, CA 90720. As a respected industry leader we can help you navigate these options and find the right combination of features for your windows in Garden Grove, CA.