Living in hurricane zones means that homeowners have to take extra care when outfitting their homes to ensure they can withstand the force of extreme weather. However, before investing in impact windows, you may have questions, including, “Are impact windows energy efficient?” As a homeowner, you have to balance the potential safety gains with other concerns. Will you be protected from high winds, debris, and massive electric bills? Below, we’ll take a closer look at the energy efficiency of impact windows and cover some of the things you need to know about impact windows so that you can choose to install them in your home with confidence.
Table of Contents:
- Are Impact Windows Energy Efficient While Also Protecting Your Home?
- Exploring the Other Benefits of Impact Windows
- FAQ
- Protect Your Home with Energy-Efficient Impact Windows from Acadian Windows
Living in hurricane zones means that homeowners have to take extra care when outfitting their homes to ensure they can withstand the force of extreme weather. However, before investing in impact windows, you may have questions, including, “Are impact windows energy efficient?” As a homeowner, you have to balance the potential safety gains with other concerns. Will you be protected from high winds, debris, and massive electric bills? Below, we’ll take a closer look at the energy efficiency of impact windows and cover some of the things you need to know about impact windows so that you can choose to install them in your home with confidence.
Are Impact Windows Energy Efficient While Also Protecting Your Home?
The good news for homeowners who face a high risk of encountering hurricanes where they live is that impact windows will not only help protect your home, but are indeed energy efficient. Having them installed in your home shouldn’t result in you having to pay more for electricity in exchange for protection against the looming threat of extreme weather. This is due to the way that impact windows are constructed, which makes them naturally energy efficient for the following reasons.
- Impact windows are manufactured using multiple layers of glass, which generally features both tempered glass (glass that is heated to high temperatures and then rapidly cooled, resulting in glass that can be five times stronger than regular glass and breaks into rounded, rather than jagged, pieces) and laminated glass (glass that features a vinyl layer to bond two pieces of glass together to keep broken pieces in place). The final result not only keeps the elements and debris out during a storm, but also keeps your cool air and warm air in on a daily basis.
- Impact windows aren’t just focused on the quality of the glass. Impact windows have sturdy frames that are necessary to keep windows in place when they encounter something that would otherwise cause the entire window system to collapse. Because frames can also be a cause of poor energy efficiency if air is allowed to escape through cracks and gaps, impact windows with high-quality frames are going to offer you the best possible support for both objectives.
- Not all impact windows are designed the same, and the less reliable and less tough impact windows that you may encounter are those that apply a window film to the surface of the glazing. In the event that the window does shatter, the film keeps the shards in place. However, if you have impact windows installed from the start, cumbersome, lower quality solutions like window film are not necessary, and you can feel confident that your impact windows will help keep your home safe. Additionally, you will get the energy efficiency benefits of impact windows.
The last thing you want to do is pay more for electricity when installing new windows in your home, but you also know that having impact windows is crucial when you live in a region where hurricanes are common. Fortunately, high-quality impact windows ensure that you have both protection against the hazards presented by hurricanes and the insulation you need to keep your energy bill down during the winter and summer months.
Exploring the Other Benefits of Impact Windows
It’s not important just to ask, “Are impact windows energy efficient?”, but also, “What Else Can Impact Windows Offer Me?” After all, choosing windows for your home is a major decision and you likely have other questions about the potential benefits before settling on impact windows.
Impact windows can do so much more besides lower your energy bill and defend your home against hurricane season. Let’s take a closer look at some of the other benefits associated with impact windows.
Impact windows are excellent at improving home security overall
Impact windows are, first and foremost, designed to protect the home against violent storms. But if these windows are designed to withstand powerful impacts, wouldn’t they also be able to protect the home against other threats? Absolutely. Impact windows have proven to be useful for deterring crime, preventing burglars from easily breaking into the house through some of the generally more vulnerable areas. A strong frame and windows consisting of multiple layers of glass means that it would be more difficult for anyone to get in, requiring them to find another entrance. Of course, if you have storm doors as well, they’re better off trying their luck elsewhere.
They may lower your insurance premiums
Having homeowners insurance to protect your property and your belongings is non-negotiable when you live in an area prone to natural disasters. The problem? Coverage in these areas is more expensive because of the greater risk. Looking for ways to reduce insurance costs is a key focus for many homeowners, and impact windows may help you achieve just that. Some insurance providers may take into consideration your impact windows and offer you a discount on your insurance premiums. Just keep in mind that this may vary depending on your provider, so it’s important to speak with an agent to see if you can take advantage of this added benefit if you are planning on installing impact windows in your home.
You may notice a reduction in overall noise levels
Impact windows keep more than flying debris and burglars out of your home. The thickness of the glass and the improved insulation also serve as a noise barrier. If you live in an especially noisy area, where the outside noise can make it hard to sleep or just enjoy some peace in your home, this added benefit is sure to be appreciated. The good news is that you don’t have to compromise on noise reduction in order to get the enhanced safety benefits of impact windows.
They can serve to block out UV rays
Your impact windows serve to improve energy efficiency by keeping external heat and cold outside and preventing it from affecting the interior of your home. But what about something like the sun’s rays? Even if the heat stays outside, UV rays can do damage to the inside of the home in other ways, causing carpet, furniture, and even precious artwork to become faded and discolored. If you’re someone who likes to sit in the sun, it means potential harm to you if you don’t take the right sun safety precautions and increase your risk of skin cancer. Thankfully, a low-e coating can be added to your impact windows, keeping you and your belongings safer from the sun.
FAQs
1. Should I install hurricane shutters over my impact windows?
Impact windows can be an excellent form of defense against strong winds, rain, and flying debris that threaten your home during a hurricane or other violent weather event. But you may wonder, should I have an extra barrier of protection like hurricane shutters? While impact windows are great at their job, hurricane shutters can add another layer of protection that further fortifies your home and adds a touch of style in the process. If you have the budget for it and the desire to do it, adding hurricane shutters that can protect your impact windows isn’t a bad idea.
2. What are some other important home additions that will protect me from hurricanes?
As we stated above, you shouldn’t stop at impact windows if you’re trying to give your home the strongest possible protection it can have against hurricanes. Besides hurricane shutters, a few other hurricane defense solutions worth considering include storm doors and even stronger siding like James Hardie siding, which holds up against various elements like rain and snow.
3. Should I still board up my impact windows when a storm is coming?
If you’ve ever been caught in a hurricane, it’s nothing short of terrifying if something manages to crash through the windows and into the home. Now, it’s exposed to the elements and has a host of dangerous materials coating the floors of your home. This type of experience may lead you to try to take additional precautions like boarding up your impact windows before a hurricane moves in. But is this necessary? No. Boarding up your impact windows is not needed; they are already prepared to face tough storm conditions. There are definitely better ways to spend your time when preparing for a hurricane than boarding up your impact windows. The great thing about choosing impact windows is that when a storm is coming, you automatically have enhanced protection, just by the nature of your windows.
If you’ve been asking, “Are impact windows energy efficient?” you’ll be pleased to know that the new windows you plan on installing in your home will offer multiple forms of protection and ample insulation to keep your energy bills lower. But who can you trust to offer high-quality service when you’re in need of impact windows? Whether you’re in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, or Florida and are ready to storm-proof your home, Acadian Windows offers the expert window installation and replacement services you deserve. Learn more about Acadian Windows to see why we are the best choice for impact window installation or replacement!
Protect Your Home with Energy-Efficient Impact Windows from Acadian Windows
If you are ready to get impact windows installed, to help protect your home from storm damage and reap the energy efficiency benefits they provide, Acadian Windows is here to help! Our team of window installation and replacement professionals will help you to choose the best windows for your home and install them in a stress-free process. With our lifetime warranty, you can be confident in your windows for years to come. Contact us today to get started.
