What s New 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 only to save the environment but to save money. With so many 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 top 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 since 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's no longer the case. Film technologies have made leaps and bounds since the days of dyed films to metalized products that will be not only more energy efficient, but do not change color or buckle with time, come with abrasion resistant coatings and 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 will make your home more efficient and reduce the total amount of money you spend on living in a comfortable environment. How does it do this?
Many manufacturers are using metalized films made from quite a few 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 determine what you are thinking. You're saying to yourself, "I have dual pane gas filled windows and they will be the best in the marketplace for energy control". Your right, they are very good, 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 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 appropriate for your house? Leave that to the professionals. Window film installation companies are professionally trained to examine your requirements and select a product that is suitable for you as well as your home. This is an extremely important step since many homes today use dual pane glass and film selection is critical. Why? If 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 a very high temperature causing stress on the glass. The result may be a thermal fracture of the glass or premature seal failure. In contrast, 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 will be the warranty. Check with the salesman as to the kind of warranty offered and who handles the claim if it is ever needed. Many give a "Limited Lifetime Warranty" and handle the claim through the manufacturer, some don't. Be sure to 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 a good reputation with the film manufacturer. If there is some form of accreditation from read the article producer for the installation company, check if they show this on their website or business card. This demonstrates a high amount of professional achievement in many cases. In addition, ask for references on other work they have done, both residential and commercial. Inevitably, ask lost of questions if you don't know the answers. Knowledge is power and also the masses need education.
