Why Energy Efficient Replacement Windows and Doors Still Matter in Carefree, AZ
You live in Carefree, Arizona. That doesn’t mean that you don’t have any worries. When the men and women moved out here from back east in the 19th century, they were looking for an easier life and they believed that they had found it out here and thus named it ‘Carefree.’ That’s not really the case. Most people who live in this small suburb outside of Phoenix knows that life is still going to be challenging at times, that includes trying to keep cool during the summer (as well as the spring and fall) and warm (at times) during the winter.
You likely have some type of air conditioning system installed in your home. Most homes in this area of Arizona will have central air condition (if they have been built in the past 20 years). Older homes may rely on window based units. No matter what type of air conditioning system you have, running it on a consistent basis is going to cost you a significant amount of money on your utility bills.
During the winter months, the temperature can get relatively cold at times, especially at night. As a result, you will likely have a heating system running to keep you warm. Whether you have an oil based furnace, natural gas one, or electric heaters, you’re going to be racking up those bills every month as well.
Now, when it comes to energy loss, whenever you’re talking about ‘energy,’ you’re talking about the expense in heating or cooling your home. Far too many people assume that it means just heating (which would be more of a concern in northern climates or higher elevations).
Energy loss.
More than forty percent of the energy that your home produces is lost through the windows and doors. That is almost half of everything that your air conditioning system or heating system produces is slipping out through the old, drafty windows and doors.
Take your energy bill right now and study it. Maybe you spend, on average, $80 a month (an average for the entire year). Some months will be higher than that, others will be lower. Now, take out $32 from your purse or wallet, crumple it up, and toss it out the window. That’s essentially what you’re doing when you don’t have energy efficient windows.
However, with the right windows or doors for your Carefree home, you could even save more money every month.
Get familiar with low-E coatings.
For the most part, the vast majority of people throughout Arizona know at least something regarding energy efficiency. Windows that are double glazed (meaning there are two panes of glass) and are sealed with gas (argon or krypton) are going to keep warm air in during the winter and cold air in during the summer much better than single pane windows without any type of sealant. Triple glazed windows are going to be even more energy efficient, but these are simply not too practical given the climate in Arizona (you would be more apt to find triple glazed windows in Alaska, Canada, and other harsh climates).
That’s just one aspect of energy efficiency. The more energy efficient that a window is, the more you can save on your energy bills every month.
Low-E is a film coating that can be added to the glass during manufacture. It is a clear film coating that won’t create a shaded, darker appearance than natural glass. You might never even notice that the coating is there unless you had purchased those replacement windows for your home.
Low-E blocks out a high percentage of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. It’s the UV rays that are responsible for sunburns (and tans), the heat that you feel from the light, and fading of furniture and even carpeting.
When you block out a high percentage of the UV rays, you are cutting out a significant portion of the heat that comes into your home. That means your air conditioning system won’t need to be running constantly throughout the summer just to cool the house. That, in itself, could save you a significant amount of money every month.
During the winter, as the sun changes the angle in the sky, you’ll notice that some of the light entering your home will feel warmer. That’s because the Low-E coating is engineered to block the highest percentage of UV rays at higher angles.
How You Can Save Money by Replacing the Windows and Doors in Your Carefree Home
There are several ways that you can maximize your energy savings with replacement windows and doors.
Choose more energy efficient windows.
The first is to choose windows that are double glazed and sealed. It’s best to rely on either krypton (the best) or argon gas to seal the windows. These gasses act as an insulating barrier so that no matter how cool you like your home to be during the summer, or how warm during the winter, you won’t feel the outside air pushing through the glass.
Ensure that the frame is well insulated.
Unfortunately, far too many homebuilders and contractors tend to cut corners when insulating around window and door frames. When you’re replacing them, have the installer check the insulation and, if needed, add or replace old, worn out insulation. This will prevent that outside air from bypassing the energy efficient protection of the windows and doors.
There’s no point in making a quality investment in energy efficient products only to lose money or energy around them.
Choose Low-E Film Coating.
Finally, consider having low-e film added to your windows. This is especially important for south and west facing windows, which are those that will receive the highest amount of direct sunlight.
This will reduce the temperature in your home which will save you money over many months.
If you want to learn more about energy efficiency for your replacement windows and doors, contact Freelite today. Speak to a knowledgeable and professional technician and learn about all of the ways you can actually save money over time by choosing the right replacement windows and doors for your Carefree home.