One of the things you need to look into when picking out replacement windows is the air leakage ratings they carry as issued by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). If you are unsure of what that means, this article is for you.
Air Leakage Basics
Any homeowner should be concerned about the amount of air that leaks through their windows and doors. Air leaks or infiltration can negatively affect how well your home is insulated. It may also result in higher energy consumption or increase the incidence of moisture retention and other concerns relating to it.
Air Leakage Ratings
Ratings measuring air leakage are overseen by the NFRC. It is an indication of how much air can go through a window, barring visible defects of any kind. You may find air leakage ratings printed together with the solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) or U-factor ratings too. All windows replacement products installed by Renewal by Andersen® of San Francisco display the NFRC label.
Air Leakage Causes
Two main reasons behind air leaks in windows are poor manufacturing and poor installation. Windows that are made with substandard materials cannot be expected to meet the minimum requirements for energy efficiency. Even great quality windows can end up leaking air, too, due to poor installation practices. Be sure to work only with manufacturer-certified installers to prevent such a situation from happening.
Choose Renewal by Andersen of San Francisco products for your home so you can rest assured that your replacement windows will have good air leakage ratings. We can handle everything from design to installation and cleaning up after. Call (866) 609-5033, or fill out our form for an estimate request. You can get a free consultation with us if you own a home in San Francisco, CA.
