Glass windows can be a weak point in your home's insulation. Heat seeps through the glass, warming the home in the summer and driving up your energy bill as your cooling system works to keep the temperature cool. Better insulated windows can save you considerable money. To pick the right ones, you need to understand how their insulating power is rated.

R-Value

The R-Value tells you how well a glass window or another material resists transferring heat. R-values are based on the resistance of the glass itself. They don't take into account other factors that might change the rate of transfer, like the other materials used in window construction.

U-Value

The U-value describes the rate of heat transfer through the window. It takes the entire window system into account. This means that when it comes to the finished window being installed in your home, a U-value is slightly more accurate than an R-value, which is geared toward engineers working with the raw material.

How to Choose a Window

The higher the R-value, the better the insulation. An R-value above five is excellent for a window. U-values are the opposite; the lower a U-value, the slower the heat transfer. A typical range for U-values is 0.25 to 1.25, so look for products at the low end. Well-insulated glass windows may have a coating applied to reflect UV rays and keep the glass from heating up. There are also double-pane windows, which sandwich a thin layer of insulating gas between two layers of glass.

If you're looking for high-quality, well-insulated glass windows, Clear-Vue in Safety Harbor, FL, can get the job done. For 48 years, this family-owned and -operated company has been an industry leader in installing and repairing glass for customers throughout Pinellas County. To get started, call (727) 726-5386 or visit their website.