People who are shopping for sliding windows should make sure that the windows which they select have the performance characteristics which they desire. This article discusses the four elements upon which the performance of glass is determined. Use this information to compare different glass windows before selecting the best option for your needs.

Heat Gain Coefficient

Glass has a rating which shows how well the glass is capable of blocking heat from the sun. This rating is called the solar heat gain coefficient. Window glass that has a low solar heat gain coefficient can do a better job of preventing heat from getting into your home on hot days. Such glass can also prevent heat from escaping from your home during the cold months of the year. You should therefore examine this rating and select the lowest level available in the windows on the market.

Visible Transmittance

Visible transmittance refers to the ability of the glass to allow natural light to penetrate through it. This rating is important because it can determine how much artificial lighting you may need during the day. Glass with high visible transmittance allows a lot of light to enter the building. Such glass reduces the need to have supplemental (artificial) lighting during the day. Avoid buying window glass if it has a low visible transmittance rating, since you may incur higher energy costs to light your home during the day.

Condensation Resistance

Glass is now made to have some ability to resist the accumulation of water vapour on its surface. This capacity is called the condensation resistance of the glass. High numbers indicate that the resistance is high. The reverse is true for low condensation resistance numbers. Opt for window glass with high numbers for this rating criterion.

Air Leakage Rating

Pay attention to the assessed rate at which the windows can allow air to leak out through the tiny cracks and joints in the window. It may be hard to find a window which is totally leak-proof in this regard. Identify the one with a very low air leakage rating. Such windows can perform for a longer time without becoming inefficient.

Different manufacturers provide the information about the performance of window glass and windows in different formats. Get an experienced professional to help you to make sense of that technical information so that you can make an informed decision when you select the windows to buy and install in your home.