Looking to save both money and energy in your home? Make it all-the-more eco-conscious with insulated glass windows and their benefits.
Do you ever walk past a window in the winter and notice a cold draft? How often have you woken up in the middle of the night to the windows rattling with the noise of a passing airplane?
If these are common occurrences around your house, you should look into installing insulated glass windows.
Insulated windows are one of the best investments you can make in your home. They can keep your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer, increase your property value, and provide noise reduction. Read on to learn more about the perks of insulated windows.
What Are Insulated Windows?
Insulated glass windows are a great way to keep your home at a more comfortable temperature without having to keep the curtains closed all the time. These windows use two panes of glass instead of one. This creates a pocket of air within the structure of the window.
Air is actually one of the best insulators out there, and it has the benefit of being clear. This means insulated windows still let sunlight through but do a much better job of keeping out the heat and cold. Insulated windows are standard in new homes, but if you have an existing house with non-insulated windows, it’s worth the money to upgrade.
1. Better Insulation
As we mentioned, a pocket of air can be one of the best insulators, especially for windows. With non-insulated windows, the sunlight hits the pane of glass, heating it up along with the air around it. That heat then diffuses, which heats up the house.
But with insulated windows, the sunlight first hits the outer pane of glass. It warms that up, as well as the air on the outside of it, but the heat still has another layer to get through.
The sun has to heat up the air in between the panes to the same temperature as outside in order for the same amount of heat to bleed through, and there aren’t enough hours of direct sunlight for that to happen.
2. Noise Reduction
In addition to being a good heat insulator, air also makes a great noise insulator. The concept is similar; sound travels through the air in waves that create very slight vibrations. When sound waves hit non-insulated windows, they vibrate straight through the glass, sending noise into your home.
If you live somewhere noisy, especially somewhere near an airport, investing in insulated windows will be worth every penny. The sound waves will hit that air pocket and grind to a halt, keeping everything quiet indoors. No more waking up in the middle of the night to the sound of the windows rattling.
3. Greater Security
Windows are one of the most vulnerable parts of a house from a security standpoint. You can have the best smart lock on the planet, but if a burglar decides to smash a window, there’s not much you can do to stop them from getting in. If you need a little extra home security, insulated windows are a great option.
Insulated windows are harder to break because there are twice as many panes of glass to get through. Even if a burglar does manage to break the outside pane, they likely won’t stick around to break the second one. And even if they do, you’ll at least have some warning, so you’ll have time to call the authorities.
4. Lower Energy Bills
Given that insulated windows provide better heat control, it shouldn’t surprise you that they also help lower your energy bills. One of the biggest sources of energy usage in a house comes from the HVAC system. The less it can run, the more money you’ll save.
Because your HVAC system will have to work less to keep your house comfortable, you’ll also be able to reduce your carbon footprint. Many people are trying to find ways to cut back on their environmental impact, and this is a great way to do it.
Insulated windows are a worthwhile investment in your home and the planet.
5. Increased Property Value
Given that insulated windows have all these benefits, it makes sense that they should add value to your home. But one of the biggest questions with any home renovation is what sort of a return you’ll get on your investment. Window replacements get one of the best returns on investment of any home improvement project.
If you spend $10,000 on new windows in your house, you can expect to raise your asking price by about $8,500. That’s an 85% ROI. Not to mention the amount you’ll save on your energy bill.
6. Easy Maintenance
Because you’re dealing with two panes of glass, some people may assume more maintenance is needed. After all, won’t you need to keep an eye on seals and worry about dust and condensation getting inside the air pocket?
In fact, insulated glass windows are just as easy to maintain as non-insulated models.
High-quality insulated glass windows won’t need their seals replaced except in case of extreme damage, and your insurance may pay for the repair at that point. Cleaning them is just like cleaning standard windows–wipe them down with a cloth and some glass cleaner whenever they get dirty.
Get Insulated Windows
If you’re looking at replacing the windows on your home, you should seriously consider getting insulated glass windows. These windows can offer everything from greater temperature control to improved home security.
Make your home more comfortable, more secure, and save yourself money on future power bills while you’re at it.
If you’d like to get insulated windows installed in your home, get in touch with us at Forde Windows and Remodeling. We’ve been Chicago’s favorite window installation and home remodeling company for more than 30 years. Check out our selection of windows and start your home improvement project today.