 | Bob Crager of Lewis Street Glass is a 26 year veteran in the glass business. Lewis Street Glass is a leading Wichita Glass company, serving the entire Wichita/Sedgwick County area since 1919. They do anything and everything having to do with glass, both residential and commercial. They also do Auto glass. They are located at 743 South Market, facing Kellogg on the South, and you can reach them by phone at (316) 263-8259. You can email Bob Crager at bcrager@lewisstreetglass.com |
Glass
2004-10-01 11:05:00
Making windows energy efficient
: Is it true that my windows can be made more energy efficient?
ANSWER: Windows bring light, warmth, and beauty into homes and buildings and give a feeling of openness and space to living areas. They can also be a major source of heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer. In 1990 alone, the energy used to offset unwanted heat losses and gains through windows in residential and commercial buildings cost the US economy $20 billion (one-fourth of all the energy used for space heating and cooling). One option is energy efficient windows, which are readily available for reducing a home's heating and cooling energy requirements. When air leaks around windows, energy is wasted. Energy is also transferred through the centers, edges, and frames of windows. Heat escapes around loosely fitted frames and through the glass. Eliminating or reducing these paths of airflow can greatly improve the energy efficiency. Several options are available to reduce air leaks around windows; the least expensive options are caulking and weather stripping, followed by replacing the window frames.Before applying new caulk, old caulk or paint residue remaining around a window should be removed, using a putty knife, stiff brush, or special solvent. After the old caulk is removed, new caulk can then be applied to all of the joints in the window frame, and the joint between the frame and the wall. The best time to apply caulk is during dry weather when the outdoor temperature is above 72 degrees. Low humidity is important during application to prevent cracks from swelling with moisture. Warm temperatures allow the caulk to set properly and adhere tightly to the surfaces. Weather stripping is a narrow piece of metal, vinyl, rubber, felt, or foam that seals the contact area between the fixed and movable sections of a window joint. It should be applied between the sash and the frame, but should not interfere with the operation of the window. The type and quality of the window frame will affect a window's air infiltration and heat loss. Many window frames are available, all with varying degrees of energy efficiency. Some of the more common window frames are fixed-pane, casement, double- and single-hung, and horizontal sliding. When properly installed, fixed-pane windows are airtight and inexpensive, and can be custom designed for a wide variety of applications. But because they cannot be opened, fixed-pane windows are unsuitable in places where ventilation is desired.Casement win-dows open sideways with hand cranks. Windows with compression seals allow about half as much air leakage as double-hung and horizontal sliding windows with sliding seals.Double-hung win-dows have top and bottom sashes (the sliding sections of the window) and can be opened by pulling up the lower sashes or pulling down the upper sash. Although they are among the most popular type of window, double-hung windows can be inefficient because they are often leaky. Single-hung windows are somewhat better because only one sash moves. We'll have more on the windows in your home next month…stay tuned.
