Our Glass Options Part 1: The Important Elements

All window glass may look the same at first glance, but each one performs differently. While many factors come into play in choosing the right glass for your home, it pays to know the elements that make the windows by Renewal by Andersen® perform above the rest.

Glass Coatings

In a nutshell, a glass coating system is applied to both the inside and outside surfaces of the window glass. This helps greatly minimize water spotting, make it easy to clean, and causes the sun’s UV rays to deflect heat.

Our replacement windows in Harrisburg, PA, have metal oxide coatings on the exterior and a light, spectrally selective multi-layer low-emissivity coating on the inside. Unlike other Low-E coated window glasses, the cutting-edge technologies we use allow our products to reflect a significant amount of solar heat and maximize the visible light that comes in.

Double Glazing

We generally use two panes for our windows to boost energy efficiency. The air space between the two panes defines the window’s ability to prevent heat loss. As we know how to optimize the air space width right, our windows can deliver unrivaled performance.

Spacer

All of our windows in Harrisburg, PA, feature a low-conductivity spacer system. Some manufacturers use aluminum and plastic, but we recommend stainless steel. This spacer material is superior in terms of keeping the glass stable and preventing seal breakage.

Argon Gas Blend

Of all the gases used for filling, we use an inert argon gas blend for maximum window insulation. We chose argon over carbon dioxide and Freon to avoid seal failure and discoloration. In addition, the use of argon enhances our High-Performance™ Low-E4® coatings’ thermal performance.

Dual Seal

The two panes of glass in our products, like our double hung windows in Harrisburg, PA, stay secure longer because of our precise sealing process. We use two sealants, a compressed butyl and a specially formulated silicon, and remove the Low-E coating around the edge of our glass for better adherence. As a result, we significantly reduce the chance of seal failure and moisture leakage in between the double glazing, prolonging the life of our windows with its robust seal.

Watch out for the second part of our blog about our high-performance glass options. If you need for more information about choosing the right glass for your home’s windows, call Renewal by Andersen of Central PA now at (717) 591-4900.