Cut Your Energy Costs With Home Window Tinting

Have you been gritting your teeth each time you pick up your energy bill for the month? It’s no surprise to homeowners that the demands of heating and cooling your home can result in higher energy bills. One thing that may surprise you is the fact that saving on energy costs can be as simple (and affordable!) as window tinting. Read on and find out how you can see big savings and even get a little more privacy for your home. 

Window Tinting and Energy Savings 

While window tinting is often associated with vehicles, the process is available and highly beneficial for homes as well. In terms of energy costs, a significant amount of energy is lost through windows alone. You might wonder why that is.

For one, glass isn’t a good insulator. This means that the money you have spent heating your home during fall and winter is essentially going out the window as it escapes through the glass. Likewise, untinted glass allows UV rays to come into your home, raising the cost of cooling. Take the sunshine state as an example. Florida residents spend up to 40 percent more on electric bills for cooling costs. 

Window tinting serves as a cost-effective way to potentially cut energy costs by 80 percent just by filtering out and blocking UV rays from coming into your home. With the right tinting, you can quickly save on heating and cooling bills without spending an arm and a leg.

Protect Both Your Privacy and Your Belongings

Aside from the initial cost-savings of lowering your energy costs, window tinting can offer a few other pleasant benefits – privacy, comfort and preserving the longevity of your belongings. Being able to enjoy the views outside our home while having the view inside of your home obscured by the tint provides both enjoyment and a greater element of safety. More here.

Tinting your windows also significantly reduces glare on TV and blocks harmful UV rays from  fading out or degrading carpets and furniture. Even as the sun floods into your home during the afternoon, you and your family will be able to truly relax.

5 Tips to Get Started With Home Window Tinting

Now that you know the benefits of getting your windows tinted, it’s time to learn how you can get started. Here are five tips for installing tinted windows on your home:

Consider the Types of Tinting

Not all window tinting is created equal. If you want to reap the energy and cost saving benefits of your home, learn about the 3 types of tinting available and what protection they offer your home. 

• Decorative – Decorative window tinting has the primary purpose of aesthetics. Providing little in the way of security or UV ray blockage, decorative tinting is installed for added privacy or to add designs and patterns to windows.
• Security – Security tinting is the thickest of the 3 types and, similar to decorative tinting, doesn’t provide much in energy-savings. Instead, the thick film is suited for protecting the home from break-ins and storm damage. 
• Solar – Solar window tinting is superior in absorbing and reflecting UV rays and is the best for lowering energy costs. 

Know Your Windows

Are the windows of your home actually compatible with tinting? Unfortunately, not all window types are suited for tinting and can crack as a result. This is due to the varying levels of thermal stress the glass may undergo in response to the heat absorption properties of the solar tinting film. The following glass types may not be compatible:

• Insulated (or double paned) glass that is 10 years old or older 
• Glass with a heat absorption rate of 50% or higher
• Tinted annealed glass that is thicker than ¼ inch

Check Your Warranty

Prior to getting tinting installed in your home, think about whether the addition will void the warranty on your windows. Certain types of film can cause damage and many companies will not honor warranties after the windows have been modified. Another great article.

Consider Budget and Maintenance

While window tinting is an affordable way to reduce energy costs for your home, homeowners with larger homes may want to consider whether it is economical to provide coverage for all the windows in the home. If budget is a concern, think about which rooms and windows in home see the most sun and have tinting installed accordingly. 

In terms of cost and longevity, window tinting can last up to 20 years before requiring replacements. Homeowners can improve the lifespan of tinting with regular washing with gentle, nonabrasive cleansers.

Get Professional To Help You Cut Your Energy Costs With Window Tint

While window tinting can seem simple at first, there are quite a few mistakes beginners can make that may cause unnecessary damage or ineffective installation. Tinting can rip during installation. Bubbles from uneven application can result in a noticeable, unattractive look for your windows. Even worse, the wrong film can lead to cracks in your windows.

Hiring professionals with expertise in tinting and handling various glass types will help you on your way to improving your home and lowering your energy bills.