Help When Shopping for New Windows

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of National Fenestration Rating Council. The opinions and text are all mine.

I know when I am remodeling that some choices are harder than others.  Especially choices that affect the safety, performance and comfort of your home.   Short of being an expert on every subject, how do you know you are making the right decisions…?

Additionally, that is compounded by the expense of some of these major decisions, like today: let’s talk about choosing windows.  Windows are a very important component to a house.  If you have ever lived in a house with bad windows, you know how much of an effect windows have on the comfort of a home.   Just think back to those freezing cold snowy winter days when single pane, aluminum frame windows were all that stood between you and 15 degree blizzard… makes me cold just thinking about it.

And when you are investing in such an important part of your home, it really is worth your time to do your homework.  You need to know fact-based opinions.

It is like wishing on a star, that you could have a neutral, fact-based opinion on the performance expectation for the windows we are buying — can I get an amen??  I’ve bought windows for several of our remodels, and have felt while searching around that all I had to compare were the opinions of the measuring salesman… which hardly impartial…  So believe me, I know that it’s hard to find impartial factual information about window — or it was, anyway…

Well today I have good news!

–Great news actually… especially if you are on the lookout for new windows!

Did you know that there actually is an impartial rater of windows?  That you can check to see how the windows you are considering perform to help you compare and contrast the windows you are buying!!

This is SUCH good news to me!

The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) (get ready for the definition) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that establishes objective energy performance ratings for windows, doors, and skylights – otherwise known as fenestration products — to help you compare products and make informed purchase decisions.

Say what?

NFRC is an organization that ultimately serves the public and is essentially a “consumer watchdog.” They are not a trade association, so they do not represent the interests of the manufacturers whose products they certify. Instead, they provide fair, accurate, credible, and unbiased energy performance information via their label to help consumers compare options and make a purchase decision that best serves their needs.

Here, watch the video to get a good idea of how they can help!

To be perfectly clear, the NFRC does not SELL any products, nor does it endorse any manufacturers. Energy performance testing is carried out through independent labs to maintain NFRC’s integrity as a third-party, and the results of this testing are made available to consumers via the label, which is affixed to the product itself.

Be aware, energy savings and lower utility bills are possible- but it actually depends on the specific ratings of the products that you choose.  Be sure you read the NFRC label and compare the ratings to understand how the window will actually perform before making a purchase– so you know exactly what you are getting and so you can feel confident about your choice.

The organization’s work helps make homes and buildings be healthier, more comfortable, and more energy-efficient while contributing to green building and sustainability.  It is worth the time to do your reasearch!  Remember, this will save you money (heating and cooling your home) and make your home more comfortable at the same time!

So how do you get the rating on the windows you are considering? The NFRC has actually created an energy performance label so that you can quickly and easily judge for yourself the effectiveness of the windows you are purchasing.  And finding it is as easy as searching the web!

You can check the NFRC website to get a good idea of the windows performance that you are considering.

Some of the considerations and evaluations include

• U-Factor
• Solar Heat Gain Coefficient
• Visible Transmittance
• Air Leakage
• Condensation Resistance

Now if you are unsure what these terms are, don’t feel bad, I didn’t either, but their website helps explain each test and what to look for!

But the site also has a shopping guide and a certified products directory!  Both are valuable resources!

Don’t skip the step of doing your homework; there are a few things in house remodeling or building life that are especially worth doing right!  So if you have the choice, but sure to check out the free resources at NFRC!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of National Fenestration Rating Council. The opinions and text are all mine.