Our family room window 92in X 60in is double paned, but it still allows cold to seep in relatively easily. Is there something better than double paned window?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(burritos @ Apr 18 2007, 10:21 PM) [snapback]425866[/snapback]</div> Triple paned? <_< No - seriously - I think there are some that are gas filled that insulate better. Also, you could put a curtain or blind over it and lower it at night. I have found even large slat wood blinds to have a nice effect on air temperature since the air circulating in the room does not contact the window as readily. Also make sure the window is well sealed around the perimeter. These are probably all the obvious things you have already thought of.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(burritos @ Apr 18 2007, 09:21 PM) [snapback]425866[/snapback]</div> Is it the "standard" aluminum frame windows we have here? Our double paned windows were not very effective; we could see condensation forming in them, a sure sign that the seal was compromised. Windows in California homes are the cheapest windows imaginable. We bought California Deluxe Windows, a vinyl frame replacement window, double paned, with a thick gasket material between the panes that remains flexible and so will seal for a longer period of time. Many of the replacement windows reduce the window size quite a bit, because they install in the space with the track, etc., still in the window frame. California Deluxe removes the frames, so you only lose the width of the window frame, about 2", on all sides. We get no air intrusion any more (we are 2 miles from the beach in Oxnard, and we could feel the air pouring in around the aluminum frames on our old windows.) They have some nice "value added" features, including triple seals where the sliders meet the frames (and 1" deep pockets that they recess into). The neighbors did Milgard windows, which were quite a bit cheaper, and they work nicely too. You probably won't be able to get any reasonable kind of payback with them, though. A window like that will cost you probably $1,200 installed (or more), and we just don't use that much energy here for home heating. To be really effective, you'd have to do the whole house, and you can expect to pay $11,000 to $18,000 for quality windows, installed. Sometimes the Restore place, run by Habitat for Humanity, on Vineyard between the 101 and the 118, has vinyl frame windows. Its a crap shoot getting the right size, but they are really cheap there (they are pulls from construction projects).
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fshagan @ Apr 19 2007, 12:55 AM) [snapback]425875[/snapback]</div> Thanks!
Triple-pane E-windows with vinyl frames and "warm window" roman shades can make the window have a higher R-value than the walls.
i agree that a good shade at night will help reduce heat loss. that's how our passive solar apartment works, actually. get some good, thick material over the window and cover it at night. heat loss becomes minimal, the temp in our house during the day is usually about 71 and drops down to 65 at night with the windows covered. of course, we do have a lot of thermal mass releasing heat at night to keep the house warm but that says to me that heat loss through windows is pretty minimal.
Re: What's the best energy conserving type of window... California Deluxe windows is a nice window but you can get just as nice a window for a lot less. I sell windows in Southern California and California Deluxe is at the high end in terms of price. I sell over 20 window brands so I dont have to tell a customer my window is the best. I let the customer which window fits their budget and needs. Installation is the key. It's 50% of the process. If you have the best window in the world installed incorrectly you have a window that will not perform very well and actually be less energy efficient. Low expansion foam should be used in all retrofit installations if is not you can have a air flow issue down the road. Triple pane windows is not necessary in California. Get argon gas and the superspacer if you want better insulation. When shopping for windows please find a company that know what they are doing. Find a company that has a good name in the industry. Check contractors and Better Business Bureau. Get addresses of past jobs and call up old customers and ask to see if they are still happy. I sell the Amerimax window that I think is one of the best vinyl windows sold. I also sell Milgard Tuscany, Simonton, Superior, Certainteed, Marvin, Marvin Integrity, and many others. Do your homework and you can find a company that can install a good vinyl window on average for about $500 a window in Southern California. Homeowners dont have to overpay for windows. Hope this helps. Have any questions just email me. Bryan [email protected]
