How Drafty are Your New Windows?

If you're considering replacement windows, there are a multitude of different things to consider.  Among those energy efficiency ratings available to the consumer is something called Air Infiltration, which measure air draft through the window.

Air Infiltration (Air Draft) Through a Window

The minimum Air Infiltration rating to qualify for Energy Star is 0.30 CFM (cubic feet of air per minute) at 25 mph wind.  But that rating is equal to 24 soda cans of air passing through your locked window every minute!

Most quality windows have a better rating than 0.30 CFM.  The industry average for wood windows range from 0.12 - 0.30 CFM.  New vinyl windows rate better, with an industry average between 0.11 - 0.21 CFM.  But even a 0.15 CFM rating is equal to 12 soda cans of air passing through your locked window every minute!

The most energy efficient windows rate better than this.  A quality window will have an Air Infiltration rating of 0.07 CFM (about 6 cans of air per minute).  

However, the best Air Infiltration rating available is 0.01 CFM (equal to less than one can of air a minute = 0.8 cans of air)!  And there is only one window available in the Cincinnati market that has this rating:  the Soft-Lite Elements window.

By comparing the numbers, it would take 15 Elements windows to leak the same amount of air as a traditional vinyl window with a 0.15 CFM rating.  Now that's impressive!

Windows Plus of Cincinnati and Windows Plus of Dayton are the exclusive seller of the Soft-Lite Elements windows in the areas.  If you're tired of having your old drafty windows in your home, make sure you're not replacing them with more drafty windows!

Give Windows Plus a call or visit our Dayton or Cincinnati websites for more information.

Keep warm this winter!

The Window & Door Guy