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Window Performance
SOUND REDUCTION
Sound Minimization Test
Do you live on a busy street, near an airport, or close to train tracks?
Single-pane windows, or even low performance double-pane windows, will transfer sound vibrations from the street into your house. Before you know it, all the noise adds up and you can wave goodbye to the peace and quiet. The best energy-efficient windows will absorb these sound waves before they enter your home.
A great way to improve sound reduction for a window is with the asymmetric double glazing method. To put it in simpler terms, different thickness of glass aid the reduction of noise across a wide range of frequencies. When a sound wave travels through the window and passes through the first pane of glass, it will change direction. Then it hits the second pane of a different thickness and it will change direction again. This process is how sound reduction and deflection happens. Now that’s neat!
For our fellow geeks out there, Asymmetric double glazing is where we use different thicknesses of glass to reduce the acoustic noise passing through the window into your home. Using 4mm and 6mm glass is both cost effective and high performing. With 4mm and 6mm glass you retain full functionality of low emissivity coatings on your window, and they can qualify for Government Rebates. The most important thing to note is that sound will travel by the easiest means possible. To learn more, visit our Window Geeks blog.
WATER CONTROL
Moisture Test
We get plenty of snow and rain in Alberta, and one of the clearest signs that you need to replace your windows is decaying window frames. As wooden window frames are exposed to moisture, they can begin to go on a downward spiral.
Built-up moisture can also cause serious decay down the road, leading to severe safety issues. You may also notice that you have leaky windows. In some cases, your windows may leak so badly that they leave a pool of water on your floor. Yikes!
You may encounter a scenario where you cannot remove the sliding frame on your window or the tracks when you would like to clean them. Whether the window is too high for you to reach or you have a screen that won’t come out, knowing how to correctly remove a sliding window will come in handy. Learn these techniques so you don’t have to worry about potentially damaging your frames. When completed successfully, it’s a great opportunity to maintain, inspect and clean the frames from the inside. Check out this video to learn the tips and tricks on how to remove and clean sliding window tracks and frames.
Our videos are funny, but we take our testing very seriously. Our Geek squad tests our windows through our customized hurricane testing water station. Windows are tested for air leakage, water pressure, structural strength, air infiltration, and a host of other tests depending on the product specifications. The device depressurizes the chamber and provides our team with exact details to ensure the window is approved for installation.
Moisture fuels the growth of mold, regardless of how little water there is. Think about it this way – your leaking window is a problem, but it’s not the problem. Moisture built up on your windows is a symptom of something more significant. The only way to truly fix leaky windows and ensure that the windows won’t fail again is to replace them. To learn more, visit our Window Geeks blog.
COMFORT CONTROL
Heat Repulsion Test
Not all windows are created equal. Select the wrong glass for your home, and it’s about as useful as eyeglasses with the wrong prescription. The windows might look great, but they won’t get the job done. As so many Alberta homeowners have discovered, upgrading from old, run-down windows to new, high-performance vinyl windows is a huge step towards improving energy efficiency.
To start, it’s important to understand what a U-value is. U-values measure how effective a material is as an insulator. The energy efficiency of windows is measured with a ‘U-value’ and the lower this value is, the better.
If you live in a cold climate, energy-efficient windows will limit the loss of heat through the glass, meaning your home stays warmer during those winter months. This is where those fantastic Low Emissivity (LoE) coatings come into play. LoE coatings are a microscopic coating of silver that is applied to the inside surface of the glass that reflects heat back to its source, reducing both heating and cooling costs over the course of the year.
Centra Windows will help you find the right fit for your home. We offer an extensive selection of glass options, and our Window Geeks are always happy to share their wisdom!
Heat Insulation Test
One of the main reasons people replace their windows is to improve energy efficiency, resulting in lower heating costs and more comfortable living year-round.
To provide optimal energy efficiency, meaning your home stays warmer in the winter, it is important for you to familiarize yourself with the Glass Coatings available to you and their benefits. The Alberta climate can be demanding, and these coatings are the key to maintaining a comfortable temperature throughout your home.
Glass technology has come a long way over the years and knowing how these coating features work can benefit your windows, maximize the comfort levels in your home and save you time and money. LoE coatings are a microscopic coating of silver that is applied to the inside surface of the glass to reflect heat back to its source. Its primary focus is how it retains the heat within your home, reducing your heating costs.
The image below was taken by the FLIR thermal imaging camera and shows the differences between various LoE coatings when they are exposed to heat, with the image depicting the amount of heat that is transferred through the window glass into or out of your home. The more dark red you see, the more heat is getting through.
