What Are the Components of a Replacement Window?

A window must fit well in the opening to provide long-term performance and energy efficiency. Renewal by Andersen® replacement windows are custom

made to precisely fit each window opening in your home, and it is important that your new replacement windows are measured and installed by professional Renewal by Andersen installers.Your new replacement windows are comprised of the following important components:Double glazed glass: Two panes are better than one pane. Optimizing the width of the air space between the two panes of glass is important. When there is not enough space between the two panes of glass, the benefit of the air space diminishes and reduces the energy efficiency. If the two panes of glass are too far apart, convection can occur within the space, which provides a means of increasing heat loss instead of reducing it. Renewal by Andersen optimizes the space between the two glass panes for the best thermal performance.Spacer: Renewal by Andersen uses a low-conductivity spacer made of stainless steel that resists heat transfer better than aluminum spacers used by other manufacturers. Also, because stainless steel is so much stronger than aluminum, our stainless steel spacer can use less material and still keep the glass stable. A thinner spacer wall conducts less energy. An inferior spacer may move, causing seals to break. Some window manufacturers even use plastic for their spacers. Plastic can deteriorate over time, causing seal failure. Plastic spacers may also emit a gas when heated by the sun, which can cause a chemical fog between the two panes of glass and affect visibility.Argon gas blend: Manufacturers first started using double glazing back in the 1950’s. At first, manufacturers used only air between the panes, and many still do. In the 1970’s, some manufacturers used carbon dioxide and Freon. These gases improved insulation value, but proved sensitive to seal failure and could easily discolor. In the 1980’s, argon and krypton proved to be more efficient for fill. Krypton is much more expensive and only marginally better at insulating than argon. Manufacturers of better double-pane glass products fill the space with an inert argon gas blend which can improve the thermal performance of the overall product, but on a much smaller scale compared to the benefit of the Low-E coating.Dual Seal: Renewal by Andersen secures the two panes of glass with two sealants: a compressed butyl and a specially formulated silicone. We also remove the Low-E coating around the embedded glass edge to make sure the sealant has a clean surface to adhere to. Other manufacturers leave the coating around the edge which contributes to seal failure. Our precise sealing process helps provide a longer life for the windows, preventing moisture from leaking in between the double glazing and providing a more robust seal. As a result, the seals in the glass of Renewal by Andersen products are much more durable than that of others in the industry. In fact, our glass is in a class of its own.The Frame: Renewal by Andersen frames are made of a patented Fibrex® material; a composite of wood fibers and polymer. Fibrex material combines the strength and stability of wood with the low-maintenance benefit of vinyl.To learn more about how replacement windows from Renewal by Andersen can help improve the energy efficiency of your home, visit us at a showroom near you, call us in Louisville at (502) 266-7762 in Lexington at (859)271-1645 or complete the contact form for a free consultation.Thank you for adding your comment. We appreciate your feedback.