Millions of dollars are spent each year on heating homes and businesses, and so it is imperative you invest in high-quality windows that won’t allow for heat loss, which can cause your heating bill to rack up even further. Here, the Window & Door suppliers, installers and manufacturers at Acadia Windows & Doors provide an overview of windows and heat loss and how our services can help you efficiently insulate your home while saving you money.

The Role of Windows in How Buildings Use Energy

The quality of your windows can either make or break your monthly heating bill—heat gain and loss through windows makes up a significant amount of residential heating and cooling energy usage. Therefore, by replacing your outdated windows with new, energy-efficient windows, you could be saving approximately one-third of your current total monthly heating bill. Your wallet is not the only factor affected by excessive heat loss through windows—inefficient windows can cause uncomfortable drafts that decrease the temperature of your home despite turning on the heat. Especially in these cold winter months, heat loss through windows can make your home needlessly cold.

The Significance of U-Factor and R-Value

By reducing convective and conduction loss and sealing cracks that allow heat to escape, windows can be improved to better insulate and protect the interior of your home. One of the most effective ways to measure how windows are affecting your home or building’s energy loss is to employ a U-factor rating, which measures the rate of heat transfer or loss and is used to determine how well a window prevents heat from escaping a building. U-factor ratings generally fall between 0.20 and 1.20, providing an accurate, quantitative measurement of how much heat is lost through inefficient windows—the lower the number, the more effective the window is at retaining heat.

R-value ratings are a slightly different method that window suppliers employ to measure heat loss, as it is a measurement of conductivity. Specifically, a window with a high conductivity level will transfer heat more quickly than a window with a low conductivity level—therefore, an R-factor rating is an effective way to quantify a window’s resistance to heat to determine whether or not the window requires replacement.

The Valuable Ways You Can Reduce Heat Loss in Your Home

Even after your replace your windows, energy saving does not stop there. There are many tried and true techniques you can incorporate into your home to reduce the amount of heat lost through your windows and save money on energy costs. For example, even after you replace your windows with Acadia’s energy-efficient, double-glazed windows with low-e coatings, making small and simple changes in your home can make a huge difference.

Installing thick, blackout window curtains during the winter months is one of the most significant ways to protect your home from losing heat through your windows. By letting in warm sunlight during the day and covering your windows with thick curtains at night, you can utilize as much natural heat as possible while best insulating your home during the wintertime. While this tip may seem obvious, making sure your windows are completely shut at all times during the wintertime will ensure the least possible amount of heat escapes from the interior of your home.

The Window Experts at Acadia Windows & Doors Can Replace the Windows in Your Property

While excessive heat loss through windows is inconvenient and costly, it is also highly preventable. By hiring a dedicated Window & Door installer and manufacturer at Acadia Windows & Doors to inspect and update your windows, you can save money and stress caused by heat escaping your home during the winter months. For more information on Acadia’s energy efficient products,  contact us today.