Thermal windows are always double- or triple-paned. Thermal replacement windows allow far less heat to escape your home in the winter and less heat to get in during the summer, lowering your fuel bills considerably. Most thermal windows also eliminate the need for painting.
Thermal windows are typically two to four times more efficient than older single-pane windows. That means you can expect your winter heating bills to drop, on average, about 20 to 30 percent. The bigger your fuel bills and the draftier your old windows, the quicker your new replacement windows will pay for themselves.
Modern windows rely on a wide array of technologies to achieve a level of energy efficiency as high as five times that of traditional windows. All that technology can be confusing. Terms like “Low-E glass” and “argon gas” don't mean much to the average consumer. While you needn't feel overwhelmed by these terms, a basic understanding of thermal replacement window ratings will help you choose the window that's best for you without blindly relying on a sales pitch.
An organization called the National Fenestration Ratings Council (NFRC) has developed a rating system based on the U factor. The U factor is the rating most homeowners look at first, and for good reason. This rating measures the heat-loss that occurs through the window. Most homeowners choose to install thermal replacement windows because of the heat-loss that occurs in the winter with their old windows. Most windows now carry this rating so it's becoming easy to make comparisons. Generally speaking, windows all have a U factor between .2 and 1.3; the lower the number, the better.
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