How To Choose Windows for Your Home Maine

You probably already know that if you are building a new home or remodeling your current one, the windows that you choose will significantly affect the overall look. What you may not know is that they will also affect how energy-efficient your home is. However, it can be difficult to know what the difference is between the R-value and the U-factor. And what about all of those windows that claim to be low-E? It's time to clear up all of the confusion!

1. Style. Some styles of windows are more energy-efficient than others. The most efficient are casement windows. Casement windows open from a hinge, either at the top or one side of the window, by means of a crank that you turn. Because the sash is designed to fit tightly against the weather seal when closed, they let very little air through. In fact, when the wind blows against the glass of a casement-type window, it pushes it against the sash, which simply makes it seal even more tightly. Casement windows usually fit in best with a contemporary design. The second type of window is the double-hung window. This is the more traditional style with which you may be familiar. They consist of a lower pane and an upper pane. When you wish to open the window, you slide the lower pane upward. The weather seal that is used on double-hung windowsbecomes damaged over time, which means it lets inmore air than an undamaged seal.However, double-hung windows can usually be tilted inward for cleaning, which makes them more convenient in this aspect. The third type of window is a sliding window. This is basically a double-hung window, but it slides from left to right, instead of up and down. It is subject to the same sort of abuse as a double-hung window, which makes it just as inefficient.
   
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Author: Tonya Sandersfeld