Vinyl Energy Star Replacement Windows With Fused Corners

Replacement Windows

• Replacement windows are stock or made-to-order units that comprise both the window and its frame; the latter are manufactured specifically to fit preexisting window openings. They are typically double-glazed, meaning they have two panes of glass with an air gap between them, where traditional windows have only one; this system minimizes heat transfer to and from the outside and as a result lowers heating and cooling costs. This insulating effect can be enhanced by the use of low emittance glass, which has a film blocking certain of the sun’s ultraviolet rays to further reduce heat transfer. The injection of argon or krypton gas into the gap -- both are inert, and denser than air -- further mutes heat transference. People most commonly chose to replace windows when their existing units are leaky and drafty, resulting in escalating heating and cooling bills.

Vinyl Windows

• Vinyl windows never need to be painted or stained, and are in fact entirely maintenance-free apart from cleaning. They cannot rot and they do not attract termites. Some manufacturers of custom-sized vinyl windows offer lifetime warranties on their products. They typically have more advanced tilting, opening-closing, locking and balancing mechanisms than traditional windows, so are easier and more comfortable to use.

Fusion Welding

• PVC replacement windows are made from multichambered, honeycombed beams designed to impart great strength to the whole structure. The fusion welding process allows the joins in the corners to add to the overall strength of the unit, where more traditional joins would be weak spots.

Energy Star

• The Energy Star program is a venture run jointly by the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. The Energy Star emblem is a device attached to products that meet a stringent set of guidelines, adopted by the joint agencies and intended to minimize energy waste and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A product bearing the Energy Star logo has been tested and found to have a high thermal efficiency. In the case of replacement windows, the Energy Star rating process primarily considers the insulating property of the two pieces of glass and the air gap between them. Energy savings of between 7 and 15 percent can be expected. Homeowners can also get tax credits for purchasing Energy Star products.