Making upgrades to your home isn’t just about ensuring your space is more modern and reflects your personal style. It’s also about ensuring your space is more comfortable throughout the year. But what home upgrades are known for improving your everyday comfort? One of the best upgrades you can make for your home is more energy efficient windows.
These windows are often recognized for their ability to greatly reduce your monthly energy bills and costs. However, they play a large role in indoor temperatures, noise levels, and much more. If you’re on the fence about investing in new, more energy efficient windows for your home, keep reading to learn more about how they’ll improve your everyday comfort.
The Impact of Energy Efficient Windows on Indoor Temperatures
As the windows in your home reach the end of their lifespan, you may begin to notice small drafts as you move past them. The materials that once sealed these windows shut from the outside world may begin to deteriorate, letting in unwelcome chills during the winter months that cause you to crank up the temperature on your furnace.
However, no matter how much you increase the temperature on your furnace, you may find the drafts and chills remain. That’s why it’s so important to invest in more energy efficient windows when these drafts appear. These windows come with new, strong seals that will keep outdoor temperatures out of your living spaces.
Not only will this eliminate your need to rely more heavily on your HVAC system, but it will also ensure little to no air escapes when they’re shut. Whether you’re tired of dealing with drafts or sick of the increase in your monthly energy bills, investing in energy efficient windows can help you ensure your space is as warm and comfortable as you’d like throughout the year.
Their Role in Noise Reduction
Beyond their ability to keep your indoor temperatures more stable, energy efficient windows are also a great investment for homeowners who are dealing with significant noise pollution. Older windows were made with much thinner glass panes, and in some cases, you may only have one pane of glass separating you from the outside world.
With minimal barriers between your home and neighborhood, you may find yourself getting distracted by the sounds of passing voices, awoken by loud cars driving by, or unable to enjoy quiet, peaceful moments inside your home. This noise pollution can be detrimental to your work or children’s naps. That’s where energy efficient windows come in.
When you invest in new windows, you have the option for double- and triple-pane glass. These increased barriers act as a muffle, dulling noises that once entered your space. Once they’re installed, the noises that once plagued your everyday life will become less disruptive, keeping your home quiet and comfortable.
How Else These Windows Improve Your Comfort
Beyond temperature regulation and noise reduction, energy efficient windows offer several other improvements to your everyday comfort. By blocking excessive solar heat gain, they prevent rooms from becoming unbearably warm and stuffy during the summer, reducing reliance on air conditioning and maintaining a consistent indoor climate.
Additionally, the advanced glass coatings and multiple panes protect your home’s interior. The windows can help prevent:
- UV Damage: The coatings filter out harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, protecting furniture, flooring, and artwork from fading and deterioration.
- Glare Reduction: Specialized Low-E glass helps minimize harsh glare, making it more comfortable to read, work on screens, or relax indoors during bright daylight hours.
- Condensation: Their insulation keeps the interior glass surface warmer, significantly reducing the likelihood of condensation buildup, which leads to mold and mildew growth.
These combined benefits create a healthier, brighter, and more enjoyable living environment.
Can Exterior Doors Impact Comfort?
While windows are often the main focus for energy efficiency, exterior doors play a significant role in indoor comfort, much like their glass counterparts. An old, unsealed, or poorly insulated door can be a major source of air leaks, allowing drafts to enter during winter and cool air to escape during summer. This forces your HVAC system to work harder.
Investing in energy-efficient exterior doors, especially those with tight-fitting seals, high-quality insulation, and thermal breaks, can drastically improve comfort. They act as strong thermal barriers, minimizing heat transfer and air infiltration, thereby helping to maintain a consistent, comfortable temperature inside and reducing external noise penetration.
Features to Look for in Energy Efficient Windows and Doors
As you prepare to look for energy efficient windows and doors for your home, knowing which features offer the best results is crucial. The key to maximizing your indoor comfort lies in the way these windows and doors are built. While appearances are important, you want to ensure your upgrades provide superior insulation and airtight seals.
For windows, pay close attention to the glass package and the frame material. For doors, focus on the core insulation and the quality of the weatherstripping. These elements combine to create a powerful barrier against heat transfer, air infiltration, and noise. Essential features to look for in your new windows and doors include:
- Low-E Glass Coatings: Reflects infrared light (heat) while allowing visible light through, keeping heat out in summer and inside in winter.
- Multiple Panes: Double- or triple-pane construction, often filled with inert gases like Argon or Krypton, significantly improves insulation.
- Insulated Frames: Vinyl, fiberglass, or wood frames with internal air chambers provide better thermal resistance than un-insulated metal.
- Weatherstripping and Seals: High-quality, continuous seals prevent air leaks and drafts from entering your space.
Find Your New Windows and Doors at Valley Glass
When you’re ready to invest in energy efficient windows and doors, trust that our team at Valley Glass can help you find your best home upgrades. Whether you’re replacing old window frames or upgrading the glass, removing old exterior doors or installing new ones, we have the quality materials and professional installation services you need. No matter what you’re looking for in your new home upgrades, you can rest assured that our team has your best interest in mind.
If you’d like to learn more about our energy efficient windows and doors, don’t hesitate to contact our team in Northern Utah or Idaho today.
