If you have decided to install uPVC windows into your home, you have made a wise choice.  Quality windows are very important if you want to increase the energy efficiency of your property and to save money over the medium to long term in lower fuel output.  However, not all of these windows are of the same quality and in this article we will give you a checklist, which will assist you in selecting the best quality windows for your home.

Here is the checklist:

•    Consider the U-factor of the windows you are thinking of purchasing.  The U-factor is a measure of the rate that heat can be transferred in through a window.  If the U-factor is low, then the window has good energy efficiency.  This is in contrast to what is better known as the R-value, which is the resistance of a material to heat loss.  The R-value is used as a measure for many materials and products, but the U-factor is the preferred measurement for windows.
•    Check out the condensation resistance of the window units.  This is a measurement to calculate the ability of the window to withstand the formation of condensation.  This is a measurement that manufacturers do not have to show on their window labels, but you may request the information.
•    Query the ‘air leakage’ measurement of the window units.  This is a measurement that calculates how much air the window allows  to leak through from the outside and obviously the less air that can leak into your home the better, so a low air leakage score is good.
•    Check out the ‘solar heat gain coefficient’ as this is very important with regard to the energy efficiency score of a window.  It measures the ability of a window to block the sun’s heat and to prevent heat build-up in a room.

Having checked out all of the above measurements, you will be in a much better position to judge the overall energy efficiency of your uPVC windows.  If the window units score well in all of these tests, then they will do a good job on helping to insulate your home.