Yes

by Kevin Reilly

Created on: February 09, 2008   Last Updated: September 15, 2011

If anyone in the US is actually still able to find single-pane windows, I'd be very surprised. The proper term for double-pane windows is actually "Insulated Glass Unit" (IGU) and has been the industry standard for nearly 20 years. It makes no difference what region of the country you live in. Efficient windows not only save you money on energy costs, they're better for the environment.

In window terminology, one of the most important acronyms is SHGLR, which stands for Solar Heat Gain/Loss Ratio. This is essentially a measurement of how easy it is for temperature variations to pass through the glass of a window. Especially heat from the summer sun blasting down on it for hours at a time.

An old-fashioned single-pane window has a SHGLR of around 96%. This means that 96% of the heat that is striking the glass of that window is passing through virtually unimpeded. The basic IGU, which is 2 layers of glass separated by anywhere from 1/2" to 7/8", is a sealed unit with dead air-space inside. Dead air-space is the goal of any insulating product, but it isn't quite enough to make the window as efficient as it could be. A standard IGU has an SHGLR of around 84%. Much better than a single pane system, but we can do much better. I'll explain how in a bit, but first (since this is an article about expense) let's talk about window prices for a minute.

In today's window market, there is a dizzying array of options. Every window salesman you talk to is going to tell you that he has the best window in the world, the best installers on his crew and a warranty to beat all. And at first blush, all vinyl windows look pretty much the same, don't they? Yet the first guy is willing to do the job for an average price of $250 per window. While the second guy says about $600 per window. And the last guy is in the Stratosphere at $800-$1000 per window. Who do you trust?

Yourself. In windows - as with most products and services - you usually get what you pay for. However, the unfortunate truth is that there are sharks and shysters out there looking to take you for a ride. Let your gut be your first line of defense. If it sounds too good to be true... well, you know.

I sell windows for a living, and I regularly instruct my customers NOT to take my word for anything. Companies print literature for a reason. Legal departments carefully place every word on the warranty and contract for a reason. A wise man I know once said: "A contract is there to remind honest people of what they said." Listen to what the documentation has to say. It will cut through the bluster and the dog and pony show effortlessly if you take the time to read it. I am fortunate to work for a company that practices full disclosure and open-book pricing, but we are a rare exception to the rule. Caveat emptor.

What I'm trying to say in this little rant is; make an apples-to-apples comparison. Do your research. Collect all the documentation you can from every salesperson you deal with. If they won't give you something you request, I would be wary of doing business with them. Once you've collected everyone's literature, lay it out side by side and compare the programs. If you still have questions, call the consultants on their cell phones and ask. Each one's reaction to your query could speak volumes about them and their company.

This job is (or should be) about customer service, period. If a consultant isn't willing to give you time to breathe, or is trying to forcibly upgrade you beyond your needs or budget -he's in the wrong line of work. And if his company is encouraging such behavior, they don't deserve your business.

As I climb down from my soapbox, I'll try to succinctly finish what I started at the beginning of this piece. I could wow you with all the industry buzz words. I could regale you with R-values and U-ratings. I could discuss how the ratings were taken at center-of-glass and how that can lull you into thinking a window is of higher quality than it is. We could go over the pros and cons of Argon versus Kryton gas. Warm-edge technology and high-tech spacer systems... very exciting stuff. There are a lot of details that go into the manufacture of today's windows. And you'll hear about them ad nauseum when you finally call that 800 number and have someone out to your house.

Remember what I said earlier about SHGLR? Todays best vinyl windows take that number all the way down to 4%, and all of the other technology has improved in kind. From insulation, to security to appearance. Improvements across the board.

So yes, I can say quite confidently that IGU's are worth the expense.

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