3 Key Terms To Know For Replacement Windows
The window buying process isn’t something you go through on a regular basis. When you are thinking about replacement windows, it’s a good idea to understand the industry terms and jargon that you will run across. Most homeowners only replace windows once or twice in a lifetime. If you’ve replaced windows before, you’re ahead of the game. However, it’s probably been a while and you might still need to brush up on the terms. Here are a few to help you get started.
National Fenestration Ratings Council
The NFRC is a non-profit organization that rates the performance of windows and certifies that they are what they say they are. The evaluations that come from this council are reported on the window labels, so you can compare one window model to another. This standardized method allows you to get an idea of how windows measure up to one another and helps you find the best deal and what you need for your home. You’ll want to watch for Energy Star labels as well, which is an indication that windows meet certain minimum standards for energy efficiency in the Colorado region. There can be many windows with that label and they will have differences but watch for the label and compare from there.
U-Factor
This is one of the terms you’ll see on window ratings labels and it indicates how much heat transfers through a window. The heat can get through the frame, the glass, and even the sash and the number will read between 0 and 1. The lower the number is, the more heat loss and gain is prevented. You will be able to keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer with windows that have a low U-factor. The U-factor is the mathematical inverse of the R-value. R-value is used to describe the insulating ability of a range of products such as fiberglass insulation.
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient
The SHGC is another rating number on the label that shows you how much solar heat can come in through the window. It’s nice to have the sun shining through your windows to get natural light, but you might not want heat coming with it during certain times of the year. You can lower your air conditioning costs in the summer and prevent fading furniture and flooring by getting a window with a low SHGC.
There are many other terms and rating jargon you will want to be familiar with as you start your search for replacement windows, but you certainly don’t have to do any of it alone. Contact the professionals at Z Double B, Inc. and we’ll explain any term you don’t recognize or understand in regular, everyday language so at the end, you’ll feel like you’re an expert too. Give us a call with your questions at (303) 997-8168 or stop by our showroom at 12860 W Cedar Dr #110B, Lakewood, CO 80228 and we’ll go over labels in detail with you in person. We want you to have what your home needs and a part of that is describing terms we’re already familiar with to homeowners like you.
