Your Home Your Way

4 THE BRANDON SUN • YOUR HOME YOUR WAY • SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023 » Continued from Page 3 "In the kitchen, for exam- ple, you have your warm air with a certain percentage of humidity in it, and then you have the cool surface tempera- ture of the glass," said Gurr. "The glass accepts the mois- ture and condenses into drop- lets of water, and they can run down the window and freeze, so you have to consider those types of issues in Manitoba, and that's why we would rec- ommend using triple pane as opposed to dual pane." In triple pane windows, the additional pane doesn't get as cold, and condensation is un- able to form as easily as it does with a double pane window. And if argon gas is inserted between the panes, there are even more benefits. Argon gas is a known in- sulator that blocks the transfer of heat, helping to maintain an ideal temperature, therefore preventing frost from building up at the bottom of the win- dow when the temperature drops. Inefficient windows will not only cause discomfort to the living and sleeping areas of the home because of cold drafts, but they can affect a household's budget as well. "Everybody knows what the cost of heating is like right now, and depending on the windows you have, they could be losing a lot of heat. Plus, if you have drafty windows, they're not much fun to sit beside or try to sleep next to if your bed is under a window," said Gurr. Windows are the unsung heroes of the household, said Wesley Stahl, residential sales and service manager with Horizon Glass. Their role is just as important in the sum- mer as in the winter. "As our climate is warming, we're finding that air condi- tioning is becoming a serious concern for a lot of our cli- ents," said Stahl. "So, it's not just about the cold weather. In the summer, it's about keeping the cold in, and the heat out, and we're using different so- lar-blocking technologies to do that." Windows with low-emis- sivity coatings are designed to limit the amount of ultraviolet and infrared light that can pass through glass while reflecting the heat back outside. "Back in the day, when it was common to have a big clear picture window, you could have a couch that would actually get damaged by the sun's rays, so with the low-e coating, it's like the windows have polaroid sunglasses to act as a filter," said Stahl. Windows are covered un- der the manufacturer's warran- ty including faults in hardware or glass failure, and if they are made in Canada, must meet certain standards including tests that involve wind, water and air, and are given an ener- gy-efficiency rating. Both Gurr and Stahl advise homeowners or buyers to con- sult a professional, someone who wants to get to know the client to determine their needs no matter how big or small the project might be, which is great news for Brechmann. "We'll trust in the profes- sionals, and for us, we're not looking for a complete home makeover, we just want new windows to match the person- ality of the house." » mmcdougall@brandonsun.com » Twitter: @enviromichele Windows and mirrors in the showroom at Keystone Glass. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)

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