Dealing with drafty windows these days? When it comes to prepping your windows for fall and winter, you’ll need to know if they’re designed for water and air impact. This is especially true with the impending winter season arriving, with Farmers Almanac predicting lots of cold and snow. The brr is back!
But the truth is this: windows should be made to resist water and wind. After all, this is waht ultimately keeps your home warm, comfortable, and dry. Sounds cozy, right?
How are windows tested for wind and water resistance?
- Newly manufactured windows are sprayed with a continuous stream of pressurized water until failure.
- The industry minimum water resistance is for 8″ of water per hour at 33 mph.
- Windows from top manufacturers are rated for 56 mph of 8” inches of water per hour. Whoa–that’s a lot of wind!
- This rating is 70% over the industry minimum.
- Wind resistance is also tested by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association with a continuous stream of pressurized air at 25 miles per hour.
- The industry maximum for air infiltration for replacement windows is 0.30 cfm (cubic feet per minute) in order for a window to qualify as Energy Star® Certified.
The magic number for high performance wind and water resistant windows
The best windows on the market have an air infiltration rating as low as 0.01 cfm at 25 miles per hour. This is 23 times more efficient than most major wood window manufacturers such as Pella, Anderson, Marvin and Jeld-Win.
How Does Air Infiltration Cause Energy Loss?
Air infiltration is a big deal, and the most energy efficient windows are equipped with features such as weather-stripping, heavy duty airlocks, and other features to block out drafts. To add perspective, consider that the industry average cfm rating of .30 allows the equivalent of 24 soda cans of air per minute of cold air to transfer through your windows in the winter. If windows account for 10% of air leakage in a home, it’s important to have the lowest air-infiltrated window on the market.
Energy Easily Escapes through the Sill
Your window sills are designed to keep water and air from making its way into your home. However, the most energy efficient windows come with extra efficient engineering to block out unwanted air and water. It’s all about keeping you dry and toasty!
Look for window sills that are designed with a double-wall sill dam. This creates an incredibly strong bond between the sill and jamb for maximized protection against wind and rain.
Wind-Proof Power: Look to Your Locks to Prevent Drafts
While your window sill is an exceptional defense against wind and water, your locks also play a role with your energy efficient windows. Heavy duty locks will secure your window sashes and keep your home comfortable—even during the chilliest New England autumn nights. These locks help create an airtight seal and keep your home as cozy as possible.
Drafty windows? Don’t stress!
Energy efficient windows are a critical key to saving more energy during the cold season. You can see what your home will look like with new windows with a free 3D preview of your home, coming with your free in-home estimate! If you have questions about wind resistance or you’re concerned about the performance of your windows, please don’t hesitate to reach out via email or even one of our social media accounts. We are always happy to chat about drafty windows!
