5 Common Misconceptions About Film Installation

Many today are jumping on the "Green" band wagon and switching over to alternative energy resources, recycling methods and energy conservation practices not just to save the environment but to save money. With numerous great ideas out there, which one do you pick first to do the most good? The answer is simple, start with the items that affect your savings account first. That narrows the field, but what is a priority? The car, the waste, the electric bill? One particular way consumers can begin to save money is through the way the heat and cool their homes. Interested? Keep reading.

Window film has been in existence considering that the 1960's and has been called everything from glass tinting to the purple wrinkled stuff you find on the car windows of yesteryear. Today which is no longer the case. Film technologies have made leaps and bounds considering that the days of dyed films to metalized products that are not simply more energy efficient, but do not change color or buckle with time, come with abrasion resistant coatings as well as can block up to 99.9% of the UV that intrudes upon your personal environment. With the ability to bounce energy back into the home, whether or not it is heating or cooling, window film may make your home more effective and reduce the amount of cash you spend on living in a comfortable environment. How does it do this?

Many manufacturers are using metalized films made from many different metals like Titanium, Platinum, Nickel, Copper, Silver and Ceramic, most are composite blends. These kinds of products reflect energy back in to the home, the very energy your pumping out, thus saving energy loss through clear glass. I know what you are thinking. You're saying to yourself, "I have dual pane gas filled windows and they are the best in the marketplace for energy control". Your right, they can be excellent, but window film may make them even better. Most windows, even the high tech dual pane ones, lose energy. Window film acts like an insulating barrier to significantly reduce energy loss and raise the over all efficiency of the windows performance, thus making your HVAC system work less. Now that makes window film worth looking at.

Now how do you choose which film is suitable for your home? Leave that to the professionals. Window film installation companies are professionally trained to look at your requirements and select a product that's suitable for you and also your home. This is a really important step since many homes today use dual pane glass and film selection is critical. Why? Should the wrong film is selected for a dual pane glass, let's say a non-reflective smoke film which is very dark, the heat absorption level rises to an extremely high temperature causing stress on the glass. The end result could be a thermal fracture of the glass or premature seal failure. On the flip side, using metalized films lessens the absorption level to a comfortable degree thus reducing the possibility of problems. I say reducing since there may be some hidden issues like a pre-existing crack or damaged seal. It happens.

Another advantage to have window film professionally installed is the warranty. Check with the salesman as to the kind of warranty offered and who handles the claim if it's ever needed. Many give a "Limited Lifetime Warranty" and handle the claim over the manufacturer, some don't. Be sure you select the product manufacturer wisely. this goes double for the installation company too. Be sure they have a long history with window film products as well as a good reputation with the movie manufacturer. If there is some form of accreditation from the maker for the installation company, find out if they show this on their own website or business card. This demonstrates a high amount of professional film installation achievement in the majority of cases. Also, ask for references on other work they have done, both residential and commercial. Finally, ask lost of questions in the event that you don't know the answers. Knowledge is power and also the masses need education.