Windows FAQs

• Why should I spend money on new windows? 
• How much will my new windows cost? 
• How can so many window companies say they have the “best” window? 
• The gas that is put between the layers of glass, is it effective? 
• What is the Heat Mirror technology?
• What does Low-E mean to my new windows? 
• What is Aller-Guard^®?
• What standards should I expect in my windows? 
• What are the components of a window I should know about? 
• What are the criteria by which I should measure new windows? 
• What is the NFRC? 
• What is Energy Star? 
• What is the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval?
• What role does my local Building Inspector play in window installation?

Don’t see your question of interest?  Contact GE-HI today to learn more, or to request our Home Energy Assessment.

Also see Homeowner FAQs, Siding FAQs, and Roofing & Water Management FAQs.

Why should I spend money on new windows?

It’s likely you’re reading about windows for one of the following reasons:

• You’re spending a great deal of money on heating your home
• You’re cold when you sit in your favorite chair next to a window
• You found out how much your painter is charging to paint each window
• You just tried to clean a window
• You lifted a window with a broken sash cord and learned how a guillotine works
• Your neighbor was recently bragging about their new windows

We know the money you spend on new windows is an investment in comfort, cost savings, and pride of home ownership.

How much will my new windows cost?

The better question is “How will I know the money I’m spending on my new windows represents a good value?”

In our many years of business, we’ve seen prices and products ranging from a modest cost to a significant investment. (In specific dollars: from below $300 to more than $1000 per window.)

One is too little and one is too much. In fact, the “best value” in windows for your home is almost never the same as for any other home. Value comes from how quickly you can recover the money you are investing through the efficiency of your new product (while maximizing your comfort during the recovery period). Let our experts work with you to determine the best value in windows for you.

How can so many window companies say they have the “best” window?

The word “BEST” as used in most advertising is more rhetoric than real, a ploy to make the reader believe the product has passed some extraordinary test.

No one window manufacturing company makes the best window for all homes & buildings. Each home, in fact, each side of each home, has different needs. In New England, for example, the northeast side is the windy side. On this side, air infiltration is an important concern. Alternatively, the southeast side needs special glazing to fend off infrared radiation from the sun.

The real goal of each homeowner is to find the BEST VALUE in windows for their home. This value is found in the right combination of resistance to air infiltration, UV rays, conduction, convection, and condensation, with the style and location of your home kept in mind.

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The gas that is put between the layers of glass, is it effective?

Argon and Krypton gas are most often used to enhance the U factor of windows. Being less dense than air (O2), each slows the transfer (conduction) of heat to the cold side of the glazing. Krypton adds about 20% more improvement than Argon to the U-Factor.

Twelve percent of the air you breathe is Argon, and less than 1% is Krypton. That makes Krypton 85 times more expensive to extract from air than Argon.   Both gases are safe to humans, because they are found in natural air.

Both gases are effective, but the buyer must beware. There are important issues as to how your manufacturer uses insulating gasses.

• The means with which the gas is installed
• The 'percent fill' your insulated glass package will receive
• The space used to seal the glass unit

There are two systems used to fill the insulated glass (IG package).  Tube insertion and the bath system.  The tube insertion system sticks a hose in one side of the window and blows the inert gas in.  In this process there is a second relief hole in the seal that is pinched closed when the filler thinks it is “full.” 

The ‘bath’ system is more efficient.  The IG package is assembled in an environment of 100% gas so there is no O2 in the assembly.   This is the only system that guarantees the full fill; however, most manufactures only supply their windows with a 60% fill.  If someone is offering you free Krypton ask them ‘to what percent fill?”  A 60% Krypton fill is less efficient than a 90% argon fill.  If they answer 100% fill ask them how the 100% is confirmed.  The secret is a ‘spark test’ and there is no 100% fill without a bath system.  Krypton is way too expensive for a bath fill system.

Depending on the spacer used to seal the unit, these fill gases can expire at a rate of 10% per year or more! Another potential weakness is that you can never be certain of the “percent fill” you receive unless your manufacturer tests the unit after the seal is complete. The standard rating assumes a 90% fill.

Believe it or not, the device used to test the percent fill is enormously expensive, costing over $10,000. When used, this technology can confirm the proper fill density of a sealed glass window in about 3 seconds, but if your manufacturer does not employ the test, you should be careful about what you are paying for – as you could be paying for nothing!

What is Heat Mirror?

The Heat Mirror technology is the superior, insulating glass in the world.  Coated Heat Mirror films use nanoscale coatings of metal to reflect heat back to its source - reflecting the sun in the summer and keeping winter heat in - assuring maximum comfort.  The Heat Mirror Film is separated by a double-sealed thermally insulated spacer system to further improve the insulation performance.

Coated Heat Mirror films are often used in conjunction with Low-E glass to add the advantage of film-based technologies to glass-based technologies.  Inert gases like argon or krypton are added to create Heat Mirror insulating glass units with industry leading performance.  Outstanding winter insulation and superior solar control provide year-round savings.  And the UV protection helps protect furnishings from fading.

What does Low-E mean to my new windows?

Low-E is a metalized “spattering” on the surface of one or more of the layers of glass to reflect the “hot” range of the light spectrum back to where it came from. There are two sorts of Low-E coating: hard coat and soft coat, as well as many densities applied within each category. Hard coat is the older, less efficient of the two. As the density of the application increases so does the blocking of the light spectrum. At some point, the increasing density affects the color and reflection quality of the glass.

It is extremely important to note that too dense a Low-E spattering will significantly block winter’s free solar heat in New England.  The Efficient Window Collaborative (world authority) suggests that homes in northern latitudes install windows with a SHGC rating of 50.  Dense Low-E packages lower the SHCG to below 30, which is great for Arizona and Florida but not necessarily New England.

Homeowners should rely on the Low-E coating system used by their manufacturer to deliver the dependable portion of the U-factor in their new windows.

There are many coating systems. Five major, worldwide glass manufacturers each have their own system for producing these coatings. As you might expect, some are better than others.  But you shouldn’t have to deal with these complications. At GE-HI we have experts that follow the ongoing changes in window manufacturing and rating and can recommend the best overall value for your home and budget.

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What is Aller-Guard^®?

Aller-Guard^®-100 weather stripping system resists and kill allergy-aggravating microparticles of pollen, fungi, mold, mildew, dust, dirt, and bacteria.  This system even helps prevent the infiltration of exterior odors and gases like carbon monoxide.

With heavy strength yarn construction, Aller-Guard^® weather stripping provides superior, long-lasting insulation and eliminates window and door vibration.

What standards should I expect in my windows?

We suggest your standard should be: “a good value for your investment.” Look at your yearly energy costs (electric, gas, and/or fuel oil). If your costs exceed the national average of $900.00 per year, you should take prudent steps to button up your home.

First check your attic’s insulation. Think of this as a blanket over your home. If there is no such insulation, or it appears wanting, read up on Home Insulation. Proper attic insulation is where your efforts should start.  Insulation should always include Air sealing.  Always!

Second, you need to determine whether or not insulation has been installed in the walls of your home.

Third, Contact GE-HI. Given the opportunity, we will send a professional to explain how to establish a budget to benefit your home. In fact, call us first if you wish, we’re always ready to help homeowners improve the biggest investment of their lives: their home.

What are the components of a window I should know about?

Frame

• Sill design - drainage
• Construction materials
• Construction technique
• Balance system

Sash

• Locking system
• Construction materials
• Construction technique
• Hinge or attachment system

Glass

• Manufacture technique – clear float/extruded
• Thickness
• Density & resistance to breakage
• Optical clarity

Glazing

• The final thickness of the assembled glazing
• The technique and materials used to create energy efficiency
• The sealing system used to assemble the layers of glass

Screen

• Construction materials
• Construction technique

What are the criteria by which I should measure new windows?

You want to know:

• How much cold air will leak into my home when the wind blows (AL)?
• How much of summer’s heat or winter’s cold conducts through the surface of my new window’s structure (SHGC)?
• How much noise will resonate through my new windows (STF)?
• How much of the heat that I am paying to produce in my house can I stop from escaping (U-Factor)?
• How well will these new windows resist accumulating condensation on the inside as I “tighten up” my home (CRF)?
• How much visual light will I loose to make these gains (VLT)?
• Will these new windows block ultraviolet light (UVI)?

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What is the NFRC?

First, you need to know that the Door, Skylight, and Window industry is referred to as the Fenestration Industry.

The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) is a non-profit, public/private organization created by the window, door, and skylight industry. It is comprised of manufacturers, suppliers, builders, architects, designers, and code officials, as well as utilities and government agencies. NFRC is a reporting agency.

NFRC is a location where manufacturers may post the performance results of their products. The NFRC does not mandate or stipulate standards. They do interpret results of testing done by independent testing laboratories that perform tests as stipulated by SIGMA, IGMA, AAMA and ASTM.

What is Energy Star?

ENERGY STAR is a government-backed program working to save natural resources by reducing energy consumption. Over time, this marketing group has changed the buying patterns of the average consumer. Energy Star labels have made consumers, and therefore manufacturers, more conscious of energy consumption.

Energy Star has mandated a minimum standard for products to carry its label. However, the only standard used to qualify an Energy Star window is its U-Factor, which in reality is only one of four performance factors a homeowner must consider when buying new windows.

To carry an Energy Star label a window or door in our “Northern Climate” must pass only one criterion. It must have a U-factor of 0.35 or less. There is no Energy Star standard for air infiltration, solar heat gain coefficient, or structural integrity. Without question, this standard --set in 1998-- has improved products going into homes. Without question, it remains far below what we should expect from the fenestration industry’s manufacturers.

GE-HI was one of the early partners to sign up for Energy Star compliance. For us it was easy. The 1998 standards were then and remain now, far below the standards we demand of the windows we offer to our customers!

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What is the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval?

Since 1909, Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval has given cusonsumers peace of mind with the assurance that approved products meet the highest standards of quality.

Slocomb Windows and Doors is a member of the Earthwise Group, a national network of locally-owned, independent window and door manufacturers.  Through commitments to quality and service Slocomb Windows and the Earthwise Group have earned the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.  This Seal can't be bought - it's earned when the experts and scientists at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute evaluate products to determine that they perform as promised.

What role does my local Building Inspector play in window installation?

Involvement of Building Inspectors in window projects varies by town. Most want a permit fee, generally a small percentage of the contract amount. If no structural changes are being made in the frame of the home, a permit may not be required, or there may be no inspection even if a fee is paid.

Inspectors are the good guys. Even the toughest of them have your best interests at heart. They all belong to a national group that sets the standards by which homes are built.

Note: If you obtain your own permit for your contractor, you do not receive any benefits from the state’s contractor licensing fund if things go wrong!

Have a question? Contact GE-HI for the answers.  We’re here and ready to help.

General GE-HI and Home Improvement FAQs

For more information about GE-HI and Home Improvement, visit our General FAQs page.

Service Area

We improve homes in Boston, Newton, Canton, and throughout Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. We have remodeled homes and have replaced roofs, siding, windows, doors in many towns and neighborhoods including:

Abington, Acton, Amesbury, Andover, Arlington, Ashland, Attleboro, Avon, Ayer, Bedford, Bellingham, Belmont, Beverly, Billerica, Braintree, Bridgewater, Brockton, Brookline, Burlington, Cambridge, Canton, Chelmsford, Chelsea, Concord, Danvers, Dedham, Dover, Dracut, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Everett, Fairhaven, Fall River, Foxboro, Framingham, Franklin, Hanover, Hanson, Haverhill, Hingham, Holbrook, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Hull, Ipswich, Kingston, Lakeville, Lawrence, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Lowell, Lynn, Lynnfield, Malden, Manchester, Mansfield, Marblehead, Marlboro, Marshfield, Mattapoisett, Maynard, Medfield, Medford, Medway, Melrose, Methuen, Middleboro, Milford, Millis, Milton, Natick, Needham, Norfolk, North Andover, North Attleboro, North Billerica, North Easton, North Reading, North Weymouth, Northborough, Norton, Norwell, Norwood, Peabody, Pembroke, Plainville, Plymouth, Quincy, Randolph, Raynham, Reading, Revere, Rockland, Salem, Saugus, Scituate, Sharon, Sherborn, Shrewsbury, Somerset, Somerville, South Easton, Southborough, Stoneham, Stoughton, Stow, Sudbury, Swampscott, Taunton, Tewksbury, Wakefield, Walpole, Waltham, Watertown, Wayland, Wellesley, West Bridgewater, West Roxbury, Westborough, Westford, Weston, Westport, Westwood, Weymouth, Whitman, Wilmington, Winchester, Winthrop, Woburn, Wrentham

In Boston - Allston, Boston, Brighton, Charlestown, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Mission Hill, Roslindale, South Boston, West Roxbury

In Newton - Auburndale, Chestnut Hill, Newton, Newton, Newton Center, Newton Corner, Newton Highlands, Newton Lower Falls, Newton Upper Falls, Newtonville, Nonantum, Waban, West Newton

In Rhode Island - Lincoln, Providence, Pawtucket, Cumberland, Central Falls, East Providence, Cranston, Warwick, Smithfield, North Smithfield, Johnston, Woonsocket, Tiverton, North Providence, Portsmouth, Glocester, Coventry, Scituate, East Greenwich, West Greenwich, West Warwick, Barrington, Warren, Bristol.

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