Energy Star Tax Credits 2016

If you're considering buying new windows or entry doors, you should be aware that the IRS has continued the Energy Star tax credit for 2016.  Replacement windows and entry doors are eligible for a tax credit, assuming they meet the Energy Star specifications for your specific area.

Your local window company should be able to tell you which of their products meet these criteria.  You can also use the Energy Star climate zone finder to figure out which climate zone you live in.

There are certain eligibility requirements that you must meet to receive your tax credit:

• The product(s) purchased must meet Energy Star program requirements
• The product(s) must be installed at the taxpayer's primary residence
• The product(s) must be installed between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2016

You are eligible for a tax credit of 10% of the product cost, not including the cost of installation/labor.  There is a maximum of $500 total for all Energy Star tax credits.  If you've claimed a tax credit in a previous year, make sure to consult with your tax professional to make sure you are still eligible.

There are maximum tax credits for both windows and doors:

• $200 maximum credit for eligible windows
• $500 maximum credit for eligible doors

For more information, check out the Energy Star website.  And if you're shopping for windows or doors in the Southwest Ohio or Northern Kentucky areas, make sure to check out Windows Plus of Cincinnati and Dayton to find Energy Star rated replacement windows and entry doors.

And most of all, make sure you're not leaving money on the table!

Entry Door Finish Warranties

Most entry doors that you find come with some type of "limited lifetime warranty".  Many people make the assumption that this covers more than the warranty actually does.  It's a common mistake, but a mistake that can prove costly.  Especially when it comes to the door's finish warranty.

The finish of a modern entry door, whether it be a steel or fiberglass door, is usually made of either paint or a stain.  It is often applied at the factory, and therefore comes with its own distinct finish warranty.  But just because the door has a "limited lifetime warranty" doesn't mean the finish warranty is for a lifetime!

Entry doors from the big box stores often come with a substandard finish warranty.  This can become a headache for the homeowner, when they notice the the factory finish on their recently installed entry door is beginning to fade, crack, or peel.  Especially when they realize it's no longer covered by the door's warranty!

Big box store entry doors are notorious for providing short term finish warranties.  A deeper look into the warranty of one of the popular Home Depot entry door lines shows that the finish warranty only lasts for 45 days!

Quality matters when it comes to entry doors.  If you're shopping for entry doors in Dayton or entry doors in Cincinnati, check out the line of ProVia doors offered by Windows Plus.  These entry doors are not only built to last, but the finish warranties are good for seven to ten years!  Much longer than those doors offered at the big box stores.

Mike
The Window & Door Guy
Windows Plus of Cincinnati
Windows Plus of Dayton

What is Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)?

So you're shopping for new vinyl windows, and you're trying to figure out what all the window ratings mean.  In your research, you come across something called SHGC.  Below is a guide to solar heat gain coefficient, to help you better understand this particular window rating.

So, what is the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient?

Technically speaking the solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) is the fraction of solar radiation admitted through a window, both directly transmitted, and absorbed and subsequently released inward.  Since it is a percentage of total solar radiation, it is expressed as a number between 0 and 1.

Is the SHGC the same thing as Visual Transmittance (VT)?

Although they may seem to be measuring the same thing, they are not.  Solar radiation comes in a wide spectrum that includes ultraviolet, infrared, and visible light (among others).  These parts are defined by their particular wavelengths.

The solar heat gain coefficient measures the entire spectrum of energy, not just visible light.  Visual transmittance, on the other had, is only a measurement of the visible light that passes through a window.  And visible light only makes up a small fraction of the entire solar energy spectrum.

Does window tinting help with SHGC ratings?

Yes, but not nearly as efficiently as low-E.  Low-E is designed to let in as much visible light as possible, while attempting to reflect as much of the rest of the light spectrum as possible.

Window tinting only aims at lowering the visible light penetration.  So it lets in less visible light, but lets in much more of the solar radiation (from other wavelengths) than low-e.

So what SHGC rating should I look for in a replacement window?

The answer to this question depends on what region you live in.  There are different climate zones defined by Energy Star.  You can click here to find out which zone you live in.


Windows Plus is here to help answer any of your questions.  Visit Windows Plus of Cincinnati or Windows Plus of Dayton to get more information.

Tips for Replacement Window Shopping

I wanted to cover a few key things everyone should be aware of BEFORE they contact their local window company for an estimate.  So I broke down three different things everyone should know when they're window shopping.  Take a look below, and let me know what you think!

1. Learn the Replacement Window Vocabulary.  Study up on the terms you might hear when your friendly window salesman comes to your home.  Do you know the difference between a sill and a sill return?  Or the difference between a hopper and an awning window?  Do you really want a bay window, or are you considering a bow or garden window?  Studying up on key terms will make any window presentation less overwhelming.
2. Learn the Replacement Window Science.  No, I'm not saying you need to become a window expert.  But studying up on structural and energy ratings for windows will really help you make an informed decision when comparing windows.  You can check out the window ratings guide from Windows Plus, which breaks down the most important window ratings, how to read them, and explains exactly what each rating measures.
3. Check out Company Reviews BEFORE you Call!  You should be able to find reviews from any window company you're seriously considering.  There are multiple websites you should check out, so don't look at just one.  Angie's List, BBB, Google reviews, Yelp, etc., should be a great place to start.  Just remember:  if you can't find any reviews about the window company, chances are they haven't been around long enough.  So maybe move on to the next, more reputable company.  A company that has NO reviews may be just as bad (or worse!) than a company with a few BAD reviews.

Preparation is the key here.  Taking a bit of time to learn about windows BEFORE you shop will keep your window shopping from feeling overwhelming.  And an informed shopper is a smart shopper!

For more information, check out Windows Plus of Cincinnati or Windows Plus of Dayton anytime.  We'd be glad to help!

It Ain't Just About the Glass

When most people think about replacing their windows, there's one thing that people tend to focus on most with their new replacement windows:  the glass.  But there's  more to energy ratings than the glass panes (and what's between them)... the rest of the window!

EnergyStar uses the U-Factor as an assessment of energy efficiency of a window.  It's one of the most important ratings of any window.  But they don't use center-of-glass U-factors and R-values.  The reason is that center-of-glass values only measure the efficiency of the glass--not of the entire window as a whole.  A standard U-factor (or R-value) measures the energy efficiency of the entire replacement window.

The frame of the window (and the sashes) can make or break the efficiency of a vinyl window.  And there are ways to make a vinyl window stand out from the competition.  One of the most effective ways is to insulate the dead air space between the vinyl.  Not all window companies offer this, so it's important to make sure you're asking about it when shopping for your windows.

Of course, you can learn more about what makes up an energy efficient window by visiting one of our websites:

Windows Plus of Cincinnati
Windows Plus of Dayton

Thanks for reading!
Mike G.
The Window & Door Guy

ProVia Entry Doors - The Best of the Best

When it comes to residential entry doors, nothing beats ProVia.  ProVia builds doors the professional way.  They've developed a competitive position by catering to customers' desires to have a high degree of customization, together with outstanding quality.

ProVia offers four lines of entry doors:

• Embarq
• Signet
• Heritage
• Legacy

The first three door lines are a fiberglass shelled door.  The last one, the Legacy, is a steel door.  Most of their Signet, Heritage, and Legacy doors are Energy Star certified.  All of their Embarq doors are Energy Star certified.

In addition to a structural and hardware warranty, ProVia also includes a warrant on the finish of their doors.  Finishes on the Heritage and Legacy doors come with an additional 7-year finish warranty.  For the Embarq and Signet lines, a 10-year finish warranty is included.  

There are four pillars that make up ProVia doors:  beauty, security, durability, and energy efficiency.  Together, these four qualities make ProVia the obvious choice for your home.

Of course, if you're in the Cincinnati area, contact me at Windows Plus anytime for more information!

Thanks again,

The Window & Door Guy

Pocket Sill vs. Sloped Sill Windows

No matter what replacement window you purchase for your home, those windows have a few jobs to do.  One of those things all windows must do well is keeping the rain out of your house!  All decent windows succeed in keeping your interior dry, but not all windows do it the same way.

When the rain hits the window, whether it be the glass pane, framing, sash rails, etc., there needs to be a way for the rain to leave it.  Much like gutters are used for removing water from your roof, the sash systems removes the water from your windows.

The pocket sill is one of the most common window systems.  The technology has existed since the beginning of vinyl windows.  The concept of the pocket will works like this:

1. Rain water hits the window and falls to the sill.
2. The water drains into the vinyl chambers (pockets) in the sill.
3. The water drains out of the closed pocket sill via weep holes, typically in the front of the window.

The sloped sill window system predates pocket sills.  If you have wood windows, chances are you have sloped sills.  However, this is NOT a common sill for replacement vinyl windows, because it is more expensive to manufacture.  

Here's how the sloped sill works in a vinyl window:

1. Rain water hits the window and falls to the sill.
2. Water drains out of the weep holes on the bottom of the sloped sill.

As you can see, the sloped sill is a simpler system.

So which is better, the pocket sill or the sloped sill?  Well, there's less things that can go wrong with a sloped sill:

• No standing water
• No clogged weep holes
• No bug infestations

Given the option, go with a sloped sill.  It's a cleaner look too.  Here's a picture of a pocket sill (left) vs. a sloped sill (right):

As I said, if you have an option to pick the sloped sill, you should go with that.  And if you're looking for windows in Cincinnati, make sure to check us out!

Mike

The Window & Door Guy