Low E Glass WIndows for Riverview Homes!
Discover Energy Savings and More with Low-E Glass
Keep your Riverview home cool year-round with low e glass windows that block out harmful UV and infrared light that makes your home hotter. Find out how you can start saving money on your energy bills with new windows!
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What Are Low-E Glass Windows?
Low emissivity glass, or “low e glass” for short, is a specially-coated glass that has a film on it to enhance the glass’ energy efficiency characteristics. So, a low-e glass window is a window that incorporates this special glass to maximize energy efficiency.
Low-e glass comes in two varieties: “Passive” and “Solar Control.” These two coatings work in near-opposite ways. Passive low e glass coatings actually reflect sunlight into the home to make it warmer. In northern states with colder climates, this would be good, but it’s not great in Florida. Solar Control glass reflects sunlight away to prevent heat transference, keeping your home cooler.
What to Know about Low-E Glass
Low-E Glass May Have a Noticeable Tint
Many forms of low e glass coatings may have a slight tint or reflective appearance, making them easy to identify. However, there are some manufacturers who offer near-invisible low-e coatings.
Low-E Glass Helps Reduce Your Energy Costs
Because Low-E windows help reflect away hot UV and infrared light from your home, your air conditioning doesn’t have to work as hard. This, in turn, helps you reduce your monthly AC costs.
Energy Star Requirements and Low E Windows
Low-E coatings are not a requirement for Energy Star, per se. However, they are a common feature of Energy Star-compliant windows and doors because they improve SHGC.
Riverview Low-E Glass Windows
Impact Windows
Double Hung Windows
Sliding Windows
Picture Windows
Picture windows are fixed windows, meaning they don’t open and close. Using low-e glass to block UV light helps keep your picture windows energy-efficient.
Casement Windows
These windows swing wide on a hinge and armature to lock open when you want a breeze and seal tight to keep the heat outside of your home and save money.
Awning Windows
These windows swing outward on a vertical axis to let in the breeze while keeping light rainfall out. They can also close tight to help keep your home cooler.
Bay Windows
Bay windows help your home stand out by projecting out from the wall to let in more light and add some depth to your field of view. Keep your home cool and save $!
Custom Windows
Low E Glass and Your Doors
In addition to enhancing your windows’ energy efficiency, low e glass can be used for your doors! Complement your new energy-efficient windows with equally energy-efficient glass doors to maximize your home’s energy savings.
Riverview Low-E Glass Doors
Sliding Glass Doors
Standard Sliding Patio Doors
Pocket Sliding Doors
Bi-Parting Doors
Exterior Doors
Entry Doors
Double Entry Doors
French Doors
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Low-E Glass Windows FAQs
What’s the Downside of Low-E Glass Windows?
A lot of consumers wonder “what’s the catch?” when they hear about the energy efficiency benefits of using windows with a low-e coating.
The biggest ‘downside’ to using low-e glass windows and doors is that they’ll have a higher upfront cost than identical windows and doors that don’t have the special coating. However, this ‘disadvantage’ is more than balanced out by the long-term savings that installing energy-efficient glass windows and doors can have for a Florida home.
The other downside is that, because the low emissivity properties of this glass is due to a coating, special care needs to be taken to protect the coating. To that end, we advise avoiding ammonia-based cleaners and other harsh cleaning chemicals.
When cleaning your low-e windows, use a lint-free microfiber cloth and wipe the glass gently to avoid damaging the coating.
Which Is Better: Double-Paned Glass or Low-E Glass?
When measuring energy efficiency, a lot of window buyers wonder what provides the biggest bang for their buck: low-e coatings or multi-layered glass windows.
Having two panes of glass (especially with an inert gas fill like argon gas) does a better overall job of insulating the home from outside temperatures. However, low-e coatings are specifically better at reducing solar heat gain for the cost.
In Florida, that would make low-e glass the better overall option… but why not maximize energy efficiency and do both? You can have both low-e glass and multiple panes of glass to make your home as energy efficient as possible.
Impact windows already have two or more panes of glass and other protective materials. Adding a low-e glass film to these windows would help you get the best possible insulation for your home to keep it cool in the Florida heat.
Does Low-E Glass Look Different?
In many cases, yes. While Low-E glass doesn’t block natural light, the coating may give the glass a tinted or slightly reflective appearance. However, some manufacturers specialize in providing near-invisible low-e coatings that don’t impact the appearance of your windows.
Or, you may even want to get a low-e coating that maximizes the reflectiveness to enhance your privacy. It’s your choice. This is why Karoly works with multiple manufacturers to source windows that meet all of your preferences as closely as possible.
How Long Do Low-E Glass Coatings Last?
In most cases, with proper care, a low-e glass coating on a window should last for as long as the window itself. This is especially true in multi-layered glass windows and doors where the coating is on an interior glass pane.
However, improper care can damage the coating. For example, using strong ammonia-based glass cleaning solutions and rough tools to wash the window may strip the coating if touched directly. Be sure to consult with your window installer to get proper care advice for your new windows.
In general, using a soft, lint-free microfiber cloth with a mixture of 10:1 mix of water and vinegar should be safe for cleaning low-e coated windows. Also, when dirt or other materials accumulate on the glass, it’s a good idea to clean it right away rather than letting it set in.
Are There Different Types of Low-E Glass?
Yes. There are many different types of low e coatings for glass from different manufacturers. Some specialize in maximizing energy efficiency, others in making the glass look as clear as possible.
Also, there are two different varieties of low e coatings to know about: Passive and Solar Control.
- Passive Low-E coatings actually maximize the amount of solar energy being transferred into the home, reflecting warmth back inside to heat the house up. This is the kind of coating that would be used in Northern climates where temperatures are typically lower for most of the year.
- Solar Control Low-E coatings reflect solar heat to keep it outside the home to keep it cooler throughout the year. This is the type of low e coating most often used in Florida since ours is a more tropical climate.
When shopping for low-e windows in Florida, it’s important to look for the solar control type of low-e glass. The passive coating is likely to make your house warmer, which would make your AC have to work harder.
Normally, window manufacturers selling in the Florida market will be offering solar control film-coated glass windows when they talk about their ‘low-e glass’ coatings, but it’s important to verify, especially with companies that serve multiple markets.
How Much Does Low-E Glass Cost?
The answer depends on the size of your window, the manufacturer, and the grade of low-e coating applied to your window. Adding a specialized coating will increase the cost of your new window or door.
For more specific pricing information, you would need to speak with a window installation expert who knows the size and style of window or door you’re looking to install.
Low-E Glass vs Clear Glass: Which Is Better?
In terms of energy efficiency, low emissivity (low-e) glass is clearly better than regular glass. It blocks out the UV and infrared light rays that make your house hotter, which means your AC system doesn’t have to work as hard to keep your home cool.
Clear glass lets in the light and the radiation that makes your home hotter. If you want to keep cool, then your air conditioning system will need to work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature, raising your energy costs.
In almost all other aspects, Low-e and clear glass are the same. The only ‘advantages’ of clear, untreated glass are its lower initial cost and its clarity. The first will be offset over time as your home energy consumption is reduced by the low-e coating and the latter is a matter of pure personal preference.
For almost every Florida home, we would strongly recommend low-e vs clear glass windows for the long-term savings they can provide.
Reasons to Get Low-E Windows from Karoly
So, as a homeowner in Riverview, why should you get your new energy-efficient windows and doors from Karoly? It’s because Karoly Windows:
Has 20+ Years of Experience. We’ve worked with homeowners throughout the greater Tampa Bay area for over 20 years, earning accolades and positive reviews for our dedication to quality and service.
Isn’t Beholden to a Single Manufacturer. We work with multiple window and door manufacturers so we can get the best deals on new windows and doors for your needs.
Does the Work the Right Way Every Time. Our installation techs are all in-house employees who are held to our company’s high standards. With Karoly, you never have to worry about an unskilled third-party contractor doing the job incorrectly. You get experienced techs who are on the Karoly payroll.
Specializes in Florida Residential Windows. We’re a locally-owned Florida-based business that specializes in windows and doors made for the Floridian market. We know the Florida Building Code and how to uphold it so you can trust your new windows to last.
Offers a Platinum Standard Lifetime Guarantee. We back every window installation with a lifetime guarantee that includes a 25-year installation warranty and a 50-year material warranty so you can have peace of mind.
Get your energy-efficient windows and doors from Riverview’s most trusted window replacement company so you can rest easy knowing that your new windows will protect your pocketbook from rising energy costs for decades to come.
Other Areas We Serve
Need Low-E windows for your home? Karoly Windows & Doors is here to help! Here are some of the other areas we serve:
Decades of Award-Winning Service in Riverview!
