We have been pretty fortunate to avoid cold weather up until this point but the last few days are showing signs that the UK is finally starting to head towards winter. If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to get in some high quality double glazing windows to protect your home against the inevitable cold. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security by the unseasonable warmth we have been fortunate to have had in the last few months. The previous two winters were among the coldest in the last 40 years and there is every chance that a freezing December and January are on the horizon.
This means you need to be prepared to invest in some top quality double glazing. But what am I looking for? First of all, bear in mind that all double glazing was not created equal. For a start, what is contained between the sheets of glass can make all the difference. Conventional windows have air between the glass. Although there is nothing wrong with this, inert gas is a much better option. Krypton and Argon are examples of inert gases which are heavier than air and have a lower conductivity than air. This means that windows with inert gases between the sheets of glass have a higher insulating value which ultimately ensures that more heat stays in the home.
Even the spacers in a double glazed window are extremely important. A spacer bar can be found around the edge of the windows to provide separation between the sheets of glass. A surprising amount of heat is lost through the edges of windows and the right spacer can prevent this from happening. Originally, spacers were made with aluminum which effectively conducts heat and cold. However, it is now possible to purchase spacers which are made from less conductive materials. A spacer made from high quality material will also hold down moisture on the inside of the window.
When searching for high quality double glazing that will keep the cold away, it’s also important to look for low-emissivity (low-E) windows. These have a layer of metal oxide covering their surface which prevents heat from escaping while allowing sunlight to come into the room. As a result, the temperature of the interior window remains high thus ensuring a low level of condensation. It is also possible to purchase special low-E windows that prevent sunlight from coming in and damaging furniture but in the UK, we are certainly more interested in allowing sunlight into our home!
For the best level of energy efficiency, you need to have the spacers made from the correct material, inert gas between the panes of glass and low-E windows. Last winter, we had temperatures of minus 15 degrees Celsius in some parts of the UK. We will need to keep the heating on for most of the next few months. However, heating fuel is very expensive. With poor quality windows, most of the heat will escape so you will still feel cold and have a massive energy bill to boot. Prevent this with high quality windows for winter.