Clearview National December 2019 - Issue 217 | Page 42

PROUD SPONSOR OF DOORS & WINDOWS DOORS&WINDOWS Winter window preparation As winter approaches, many of us are stocking up on coats and woollen accessories ready for the cold and challenging weather. We make a good job of preparing our wardrobes for the upcoming winter season, but how much consideration do we give our homes? Here, Nick Cowley, managing director of PVCu and composite window and door manufacturer Euramax Solutions, explains how fabricators and installers can prepare their customers to prepare for the winter weather... » THE EXTREME WEATHER FROM the ‘Beast from the East’ that hit the UK in 2018 had severe impacts on many lives. From school and airport closures to traffic accidents, the weather hit before people could prepare themselves. It can be difficult to prepare for the weather on a normal day, but winter is inescapable and offers a harsher set of challenges. We rely on our windows and doors for more than just accessibility, security and light — and during winter months, we depend on them more than usual. The windows and doors in our homes play a big 42 » DEC 2019 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M part in keeping us warm, however, this is often underestimated. For this reason, old or low-quality windows and doors can cause inconveniences in winter and it’s important to evaluate their energy efficiency properties. A DOUBLE-GLAZED WINTER The Energy Saving Trust UK found that up to 20 per cent of a home’s heat loss is caused by inefficient windows and doors. Naturally, energy bills rise in the winter due to increased use of central heating. However, ensuring that your windows and doors are highly energy efficient will reduce heat loss, increase the thermal insulation of your home and keep your energy bills low. So, what makes windows and doors energy efficient? Windows can lose heat in a number of ways: directly through the glazing, frame or the spacer bar between the glass and frame. To avoid this, it’s necessary to evaluate these areas when preparing your home. Double glazing consists of two or more panes of glass that are fixed into a sealed frame and is an effective way to reduce the amount of lost heat. Double glazed windows are also filled with an inert gas such as argon gas, which has a 34 per cent lower thermal