If you’re looking for replacement windows and doors or building a new home or looking for ways to reduce your energy bill, you may have heard of something called UPVC double-glazed windows. If you’re talking to someone who loves the technical details of how these special windows work, they may drown you out with details about the “u-value” (which just means means slowing heat loss, so the lower the U-value the better) and the “SHGC”, totally confusing you.

 

This article is a quick rundown in layman speak of just what uPVC double-glazed windows are, how they work and how they can help cool your home down in summer and keep all the heat in winter.

 

1. Double-glazed vs regular 

 

When the sun comes beating down, your windows get hot. This occurs even if the sun’s rays are not even directly hitting the window, due to the ray’s ability to bounce off the surface off the earth and other things. When the heat hits the window, it is transferred through the glass. In the same manner, when it’s winter, if the temperature outside is a lot colder than it is inside, it will “suck” the heat through the windows of your house, meaning a higher energy bill and a colder house.

 

  2. Minimising heat transfer

 

Double-glazing is basically having two panes of glass stuck closely together, means that the heat has to “work harder” to go through more glass, meaning that less is lost. Having a very thin layer – where the gap between glass is between 12mm and 20mm – of a special gas called “Argon” between the two panes of glass increases the effectiveness of these double-glazed windows even more, and also stops any condensation forming in between the glass panes.

Using Low-e on the outside of the window can further reduce the heat radiation even more. Low emissivity glass has a thin coat of metal oxide, this reduces the suns heat but allows light to enter the room at the same time it blocks heat from leaving the room, reducing heat loss in the winter and keeping the cool air in during the summer.

 

  3.  What is UPVC?

 

The "U" in UPVC stands for unplasticized, this means the PVC is salt based, not petroleum based. Due to this UPVC will not crack or discolour like standard petroleum based plastic. UPVC is a kind of material that is becoming more and more popular with builders when it comes to installing windows in a home. It’s not metallic, meaning that the heat that it absorbs is not as high as using something like aluminium or some other sort of alloy as a window frame. It’s mainly popular with builders because of its versatility, high endurance properties and lightness without compromise for sturdiness. In terms of how much it actually aids in helping your windows trap out or keep in heat, the effect is negligible. However, as long as there is an option to use the UPVC material, it is a favourable option for many builders.

 

Hopefully that helps you understand just what UPVC double-glazed windows are. If you are thinking building a new property or having these installed in your current home, just contact us.