Modern requirements for windows - this is a reliable protection against noise, wind, cold. The solution to these problems is achieved due to the tightness of the double-glazed windows, but the efforts of the developers today are not aimed at increasing the airtightness of the window block, but at creating energy-saving double-glazed windows.

Content

1. How heat-saving double-glazed windows work video
2. Features of the use of energy-saving glasses video
3. Energy-saving packages and their disadvantages
4. Other options for improving the heat-saving properties of a double-glazed window
5. Which bag keeps warm better
6. Energy Saving Glass Life video
7. How to distinguish energy-efficient double-glazed windows
8. Some useful tips

How heat-saving double-glazed windows work

To increase the heat-saving properties of glasses, they resort to applying a very thin layer of metal oxides to them during the production process, the resulting film has good electrical conductivity. They are called K-glasses, or low-emission. The unique properties of such glass lie in their ability to reflect long-wave rays and to be permeable to short-wave rays. In practice, this means that the heat received from heating devices, which is long-wave rays, is successfully reflected by the glass and does not go outside. The sun's rays, shortwave, penetrate into the room and contribute to its additional heating. On a sunny winter day, with the possibility of adjusting the operation of heating devices, the owners can even receive savings in fuel consumption.

Features of the use of energy-saving glasses

A positive point is the creation of a coating mirror effect. Such packages with energy-saving glass are very convenient to use on the lower floors of houses - from the street they are practically not transparent to passers-by - they see only their reflection in the windows.

The second option to increase the energy saving indicator is to cover the glasses with several alternating layers of a dielectric and silver sprayed in a vacuum. The result is an i-glass. Its main drawback is the softness of the resulting coating and susceptibility to degradation under the influence of mechanical stress. Installation of a double-glazed window is performed in such a way that the film is in its inner part. Glasses with multilayer spraying have a high reflectivity, it is about 1.5 times higher than that of K-glasses.

Energy-saving K-glasses can be cut, tinted, and all operations can be done with them, which is done with ordinary glasses. Double-glazed windows with i-glasses are manufactured at specialized enterprises; they cannot be customized in case of incorrect measurements, i.e. measurements must be performed very accurately, otherwise - you will have to change the size of the window opening.

Energy-saving packages and their disadvantages

The experts consider both the fragility and vulnerability of i-glasses to be the most significant problem, even in a workshop they need special care to transport them.

However, during operation, there are no special problems with them.

The second point is the high cost of energy-saving glasses.

Other options for improving the heat-saving properties of a double-glazed window

There are also several other methods that increase heat-saving qualities. Sometimes they resort to filling the glass with inert gases, in particular argon. It increases the heat saving coefficient by about 11% compared to a bag filled with air. Fears that argon may turn out to be harmful to a person living in a room with such windows are unreasonable - this gas does not react with other substances, it is not prone to fire, not poisonous.

Windows that are filled with argon will be able to cope well with heat saving over a long period - more than 10 years, but this period also depends on the quality of the manufacturing of the glass packet and the integrity of the primary sealant. Studies have shown that argon is generally prone to evaporation, but throughout the year, the amount of leaking gas is approximately 3% of the original injection.

Which bag keeps warm better

If we compare the heat-saving indicators of a two-chamber package 4х104х10х4 with ordinary glasses and a single-chamber with a heat-saving 4х16х4i, then the latter is in a more advantageous position, its heat-saving coefficient is about a quarter higher. Its advantages also include low weight, which does not exert significant pressure on the window structure and does not cause their deformation over time.

Energy Saving Glass Life

This question is of interest to many consumers - after all, installing windows with such glasses is not cheap. There is no special reason for worries - the heat-saving layer is on the inside of the glass, it is not accessible to the influence of natural forces or humans. Such glass will serve for a long time, in reality as much as the glass packet itself.

Also, one should not believe rumors that the coating has a detrimental effect on plants - for its normal development, sufficient illumination and ultraviolet rays are required - they penetrate perfectly into the building. Moreover, plants located near heat-saving glasses grow more actively - they are reliably protected from temperature changes.

Installing two energy-saving glasses in one package is at least not rational - with a significant increase in cost, the level of thermal insulation will decrease by only a couple of percent. The result of such an experiment can be estimated only by significantly increasing, by about 10%, the shading of the room - this will slightly reduce the temperature on hot summer days. But if it is necessary to protect from direct sunlight, it is still better to install special sun-protection windows.

How to distinguish energy-efficient double-glazed windows

How to distinguish packages with low-emission glasses from ordinary ones - this question is asked by everyone who plans to install new windows. In fact, in appearance it is almost impossible to do. But experts recommend conducting a simple test by reflecting the flame of a candle or lighter. If you bring it closer to the glass and look at an angle at the reflection, then:

1. the number of reflections in a single-chamber package will be equal to 4, according to the number of surfaces, respectively, in a two-chamber package - 6,
2. if the package uses energy-saving glass, then one of the flame displays will clearly differ in color. It is from it that it is possible to determine on which of the surfaces a heat-saving layer is applied. If the package is single-chamber, then the display will be the second in a row,
3. packages with ordinary glasses are characterized by the same color display of flame languages.

Some useful tips

• The dimensions of the packages should not exceed the size of 3x3.2 m, large packages with narrow distance frames cannot be installed - when the temperature changes, the package may be depressurized and destroyed.
• If the distance between the glasses exceeds 25 mm, then its cost will increase markedly, but the thermal insulation will decrease. The recommended distance is from 10 to 15 mm.
• For living quarters, it is best to use single-chamber packages with energy-saving glass or two-chamber.
• When choosing the dimensions of a double-glazed window, be sure to consult with specialists and listen to their recommendations.

Author: Sergey and Svetlana Khuentsov

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