Does your air conditioner struggle to keep up in the summer in some rooms of your house? Perhaps you’ve noticed that rooms which get a lot of sunlight are much warmer than other areas. That’s an indicator that your windows are letting in too much light. Another indicator is fading of carpeting, drapes, upholstery, and even wood trim and furniture near the windows. While one of the reasons we install windows is to bring that beautiful natural light indoors, too much sunlight can be as hard on our homes as it is on our bodies.
You can buy heavy drapes, blinds, or shades to block those damaging rays, but that means your view is blocked and you’ve defeated one of the purposes of those windows. But there are two things you can consider as window upgrades for your sunny exposures that will help save on those AC bills as well as cut down on the amount of fading and damaging UV rays.
Window Tinting
Window tinting is available in two forms – film added after the window is purchased, and ordered as an option with the window. One thing you should know is that most window manufacturers will void a warranty if tinting film is installed later, but there are some tinting film companies which will compensate for the loss by covering the remainder of the warranty. A better choice is to order replacement windows for your sunny areas with the tinting already installed by the window manufacturer. Most window companies use a solution coating rather than a film.
Window tinting directly cuts down on the amount of light coming through the window as well as UV transference, and it is available in a range of gradations, from barely noticeable to much darker. Which you choose depends on you. One drawback of window tinting besides the reduction in sunlight is that at times the window will show some iridescence when struck by light such as headlights or street lights at night.
Low-E Glass
If cutting down on the amount of sunlight doesn’t appeal to you, consider installing Low-E glass windows instead to keep your sunny rooms cooler in the summer. Low-E glass coatings either absorb or reflect the heat energy of sun rays and can significantly cut down on the amount of heat transference into your home without reducing visible light. Some window manufacturers offer UV-filtering Low-E glass which accomplishes both heat reduction as well as protecting your home’s interior from damaging UV rays.
Today’s window technology does much more than just let light and air into your home. If you have questions about energy-saving window options, please give us a call.
Window Outfitters is a premier Window Replacement, doors, siding contractor and installer. As Contractor in the St Paul, Minneapolis, (Twin Cities) Minnesota (MN) metro, we proudly serve, but are not limited to, the following areas: Minneapolis Energy Efficient Vinyl Windows, Replacement Window Contractors Minnesota, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Savage, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eagan, St Paul, Hastings, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Farmington MN, Chaska, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Victoria, Mendota Heights Anderson Windows Minneapolis, Marvin Windows Minneapolis.
