Low E window big disappointment
aramaram
9 years ago
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Mrs_Nyefnyef
9 years agotoddinmn
9 years agoRelated Discussions
Low-E 366 Windows
Comments (8)We have Low-E 366 glass in most of our home... Originally we went with Low-E 366 only on our SW/West upstairs windows, but due to some changes we were able to switch out any of the other SW/WEST/NW windows to the Low-E366 glass. We have a ton of glass, and it keeps us from cooking. As a side note last year we had a casement window sash unit replaced under warranty, the replacement was mistakenly ordered as standard Low-E2 glass. This was in a combination window so the picture window right next to it was still Lo-e3 366 - when it was replaced you could barely tell the difference - I could feel a bit more heat through it, but the light and color were almost impossible to tell the difference - we did have them switch it to the correct glass, but it was quite interesting to see how close the two types were side by side. Here are 3 windows in our kitchen that are 366 glass...See MoreLow-E vs Storms on Gothic Window
Comments (2)Just a few thoughts... R value is not the best measurement of a window's energy performance. U value is a much more accurate measure, but unfortunately most window sales folks still use R value in their presentations because most people have been conditioned to think in R value. LowE is a metallic coating that is applied to one (or more) lites of an IGU (Insulating Glass Unit) or thermo-pane window. Not all IGU's use LowE coating and not all IGU's use an aluminum (metal) spacer. The top-of-the-line IGU's manufactured today use what is called WET or Warm Edge Technology spacer. There are several different WET spacers in use today, including a couple that are stainless steel based. LowE coatings substantially increase the energy efficiency of a window. LowE coatings are required by energy code in many parts of the country for new construction. Having storm windows is better than not having storm windows, but the energy performance of a single pane window with a storm window is not comparable to a modern IGU-equipped window with LowE and argon fill. There really is no comparison in energy performance numbers or actual field measurements. John, you have classic old windows that might be worth saving for the asthetic value, but you will lose something in energy performance if you do so. I really like older windows, personally, and if the original windows are in good enough shape to save, I would attempt to save them...but that would be a trade off in performance versus new windows. If you can afford it, you can get newer windows that look every bit as good as the originals with much better energy perfomance. Something over 70% of all LowE coated residential glass in North America is manufactured by Cardinal Glass which happens to be headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. They also happen to have an R&D lab in Minneapolis, which is a local phone call for you I assume...Cardinal supplies most of the major window companies in North America with LowE glass and also many of the big window companies with IGU's as well....See MoreLow E window glasses for old house
Comments (6)I posted this reply in the windows forum - I will leave it here as well. Sapote, I would suggest that simply changing the glass to dual pane LowE does not make a great deal of economic sense. Insulating Glass (IG) windows make the most sense when you don't have small panels such as you have. In addition, you have steel frames that will pass heat quite readily no matter what you do with the glass. Steel frame windows are not particulary efficient and never have been. Adding money to them in the form of insulating glass is not likely to improve their efficiency enough to make the change worthwhile. I would suggest you have two options - first, if your primary concern is with energy efficiency, then replace them in full with new windows. This would completely change the look of your home and I would think not for the better. The other option is to bring the existing windows (single pane and all) to the highest level of energy efficiency yhat you can by resealing the panes and bringing them at least to the level that they were at when new. I would probably have trouble suggesting that option to someone in northern Minnesota, but then in northern Minnesota anyone who would put in windows like those needs a bit of head-work I suspect. But you live in a moderate climate in a home that was designed for that climate. You have the option of bringing the home back to what it was designed to be. Would there be times when the home might be less comfortable if you stay with the current design? Probably, but it is up to you to decide if it is worth preserving the character of the home. Good luck and I hope whatever you chose works out well for you....See MoreWindow World, argon & low-E windows?
Comments (21)earthwormies, Heat enters and leaves thru your windows in three different ways - conduction, radiation, and convection. When dealing with west-facing windows that are cooking you when the sun is shining on them your primary concern is radiation. You need to block the direct solar gain. Solar Heat Gain Coefficient or SHGC represents the percentage of solar heat that is directly passed (radiated) thru your window when the sun is shining directly on it. The lower the number the less direct solar heat gain. In your case you need a very low SHGC number. When the windows arrived they should have had an NFRC tag on the glass that listed the SHGC (as well as U-value and other ratings). Do you still have the tags or did anyone note what the ratings were? Using argon, or krypton, or any other gas between the two lites of glass does nothing to block solar heat gain; you need a low solar heat gain LowE coating to block radiant heat. I am very curious about Window World's claim that they couldn't gas-fill one window because it was too big? How big is that window? Do you know if your windows were manufactured using LowE glass?...See MoreHomeSealed_WI
9 years agoaramaram
9 years agoHomeSealed
9 years agotoddinmn
9 years agoEFHouseman
9 years agoWindows on Washington Ltd
9 years agooberon476
9 years agolkbum_gw
9 years agoBlah blah
2 years agoWindows on Washington Ltd
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2 years ago
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