Clearview National December 2019 - Issue 217 | Page 42
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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