Many homeowners do not realize that window glass replacement is not just a service performed after a window breaks. Window glass replacement can also improve the energy efficiency of windows without replacing the windows entirely.

Read on to learn able three signs that you should replace your window glass to improve your window's energy efficiency.

1. You Currently Have Single-Pane Glass Windows

If your windows currently have single-pane glass in them, then you may or may not know just how much home energy you could be saving if you were to upgrade to double-pane glass. Replacing all single-pane windows in your home with double-pane windows can reduce home energy usage by 20 percent in the winter and over 15 in the summer.

Not only does the extra window pane make double-pane windows more energy efficient, but a layer of gas, typically argon or krypton gas, between the two panes also increases the insulation.

You typically don't have to replace your home windows entirely, including the window frames, to obtain the benefits of double-pane window glass. Instead, you can have a glass professional replace the window with double-pane glass if your frames will support this glass. This option is not only more affordable, but it is also a great option if you love your current window frames.

2. There Is Fog Inside of Your Double-Pane Windows

If you already have double-pane windows and notice that fog has accumulated inside one or more of them, then that is a sign that the window seal has failed. The fogging of the window signals that the argon or krypton gas between the two panes has leaked out and has been replaced with moisture-filled air.

If you are leaving your foggy windows in place thinking they are simply an eyesore you can ignore, realize that the loss of argon or krypton gas in the window has decreased its energy efficiency, even if you can’t feel a draft coming through the window.

New, tightly sealed doubt-pane glass will improve your windows’ aesthetic appearance and insulation due to a return of the insulative gas between the window panes, but also replacement of the failing window seal.

3. Your Low-E Window Coating Has Failed

Low-E coatings increase the energy efficiency of windows greatly. However, they can fail over time. Once low-E window glass has failed, the only way to restore the window back to its original state is to replace the glass.

Low-E window coatings can be applied on the interior surface of glass, the exterior surface, or between two panes of double-pane glass.

All three types of low-E window coatings can fail over time. A soft low-E coating is applied to the interior side of a window, and this coating can wear away and become scratched up. While harder low-E coatings are applied to the exterior surfaces of windows, these coatings can oxidize and deteriorate with exposure to the sun and other outdoor elements.

While low-E window coatings placed between two panes of a double-pane window are protected from scratches and the outdoor elements, they can also fail over time due to oxidation. This is more likely to occur if a window seal fails and allows outdoor air to enter the window.

If the low-E coating between your window panes has failed, you may notice small white spots between the panes with an iridescent sheen and, eventually, a completely opaque coating between the panes.

To restore the full insulative value of your failing low-E windows, have your window glass replaced with freshly coated low-E window glass.

Window glass replacement can increase or restore the energy efficiency of your home windows. Reach out to Monterey Glass Specialists Inc. to discuss your glass replacement options.