Making major purchases is never easy—especially when you are on a budget and need the products you purchase to last for a long time. If you’re like most people, you are willing to pay a bit more for a product if you know it is better quality, performs better, or is more durable than other options on the market. But how do you really know which option is best? In many cases, you are relying on a salesperson to make recommendations—a salesperson you just met who may have very little knowledge of your specific circumstances.
What if you could easily compare products on your own? The good news is that you can when shopping for replacement windows for your San Diego home.
Independent Ratings for Replacement Windows
Virtually all of the replacement windows sold in San Diego and across the country are tested and rated by an independent, nonprofit organization called the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). The NFRC is trusted for its precise, scientific testing methods and its fair, accurate ratings of window and door products.
The federal ENERGY STAR program, which certifies window and door products that meet energy-performance standards, bases its certifications on NFRC ratings.
Comparing Replacement Windows in San Diego Based on Ratings
At first glance, NFRC ratings may not seem very helpful. That’s because you probably aren’t familiar with terms like U-Factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient. You may be more familiar with terms like Visible Transmittance, Air Leakage, or Condensation Resistance, but the ratings associated with them likely won’t mean much to you. (Is a 0.51 a good Visible Transmittance rating?)
Unless you have the time and desire to go down the rabbit hole of learning what all of these terms mean, there are really only one or two ratings that San Diego homeowners need to pay particular attention to.
The first is Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). A window’s SHGC rating tells you how well the window keeps solar heat from entering your home. A lower SHGC number means that the window allows in less solar heat than a window with a higher number. SHGC ratings range from 0 to 1. If you are concerned about keeping your home cool on a hot summer day, look for windows with an SHGC rating of 0.25 or lower.
San Diego homeowners, by and large, can pay less attention to the U-Factor rating. This measures how well a window prevents heat from passing through it, which is generally a more important consideration in areas that experience very cold winters.
If you are looking to maximize the amount of natural light that enters your home, look for replacement window products with a higher number in the Visible Transmittance column, which also ranges from 0 to 1. A higher Visible Transmittance rating means more visible light can pass through the glass.
Take the Guesswork Out of Comparing Replacement Windows
Understanding a few basic NFRC ratings can make it much easier to compare replacement window products without simply taking a salesperson’s word for it. Rather than focusing only on brand names, appearance, or price, you can look at the performance characteristics that actually matter for your home and your priorities.
Of course, ratings are only one part of the decision. You should also consider the quality of the window, the installation company, the warranty, and how well the product is suited to San Diego’s climate. When you know what the ratings mean, however, you can walk into the buying process with much more confidence and make a more informed decision about which replacement windows are right for your San Diego home.