My Greatest Building Film Lesson
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 so many great ideas around, which one do you pick first to do the most good? The answer is simple, start with the items that affect your bank account first. That narrows the field, but what is a top priority? The car, the waste, the electric bill? One particular way consumers can begin to save money is by the way the heat and cool their homes. Interested? Keep reading.
Window film has been around considering that the 1960's and has been called anything from glass tinting to the purple wrinkled stuff you find on the car windows of yesteryear. Today that is no longer the situation. Film technology has made leaps and bounds considering that the days of dyed films to metalized products which are not just more energy efficient, but do not change color or buckle with time, come with abrasion resistant coatings and see here may block up to 99.9% of the UV that intrudes upon your personal environment. With the capability to bounce energy back in to the home, whether or not it is heating or cooling, window film can make your house more effective and reduce the amount of money you spend on living in an appropriate environment. How does it do this?
Many manufacturers are using metalized films made from a variety of metals like Titanium, Platinum, Nickel, Copper, Silver and Ceramic, most are composite blends. These kinds of products reflect energy back into the home, the very energy your pumping out, thus saving energy loss through clear glass. I determine what you are thinking. You're saying to yourself, "I have dual pane gas filled windows and they are the best on the market for energy control". Your right, they may be great, but window film might 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 increase the over all efficiency of the windows performance, thus making your HVAC system work less. Now that makes window film worth looking at.
Just how do you choose which film is right for your house? Leave that to the professionals. Window film installation businesses are professionally trained to examine your preferences and select a product that's right for you and your home. This really is an extremely important step since many homes today use dual pane glass and film selection is critical. Why? In the event the wrong film is selected for a dual pane glass, let's say a non-reflective smoke film that is very dark, the heat absorption level rises to an extremely high temperature causing stress on the glass. The result could be a thermal fracture of the glass or premature seal failure. On the contrary, using metalized films reduces the absorption level to an appropriate degree thus reducing the possibility of problems. I say reducing since there could possibly 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 do not. 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 and also a good reputation with the film manufacturer. If there is some type of accreditation from the manufacturing company for the installation company, find out if they show this on their website or business card. This demonstrates a high level of professional achievement in many cases. Additionally, 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 as well as the masses need education.
