For 40 years, Magic has provided Toronto and the GTA with some of the most advanced residential windows in the world. Our innovative replacement windows, patio doors and Window Walls can add style and performance to any home. Welcome to our blog, where we provide consumers with the information and inspiration they need to make informed decisions about replacing their units with energy efficient windows.
Window-related heat loss is costing you more than you think.
Over the first three installments of our Magic Trick blog series, we’ve explored how our Magic Series windows and doors improve natural light transmittance, perform better than outdated crank windows and are constructed with stronger, slimmer, more stylish frames. And while these are all undeniably important areas of window performance, the upcoming winter months mean homeowners should feel confident that their windows are energy efficient and airtight. Ageing, faulty, leaky, improperly sealed windows can be a major source of unnecessary heat loss, high home energy consumption and cold drafts and can be subject to condensation problems. In fact, windows can account for up to 25 percent of the total heat loss for a home.1
Battling with old, drafty windows? Read on to learn more about the features and benefits of our energy efficient windows and how they can help you optimize your home energy usage.
We install third-party-rated, energy efficient windows in accordance with your home’s unique needs.
If you’re in the market for energy-efficient replacement windows and doors, we professionally install premium window designs year-round to suit any home and any preference. We design our windows to be as energy-efficient as possible. All of our window and door units meet the rigorous energy-efficiency standards of the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) — an independent rating body that establishes objective window, door, and skylight energy performance ratings to help homeowners make informed purchasing decisions.
We design energy efficient windows that work for your home
Glass formulation is essential in the manufacturing of energy efficient windows. Most window manufacturers purchase their Insulated Glass Units (IGUs) directly from suppliers. Magic is unique in the sense that we do not purchase our IGUs. From glass types and glazings to gas fills and coatings, we formulate our own glass packages and customize them to suit your specific preferences, climate and home’s construction.
We formulate our windows to address specific efficiency metrics and performance factors
A window’s energy efficiency is gauged according to specific metrics. Here’s how the features in our windows address these metrics and keep your home operating efficiently.
U-Factor & Gas Fills
U-factor determines the rate at which heat escapes through a window. The lower the U-factor number is, the better the window is at mitigating heat loss.
Gas Fills: To aid in the creation of an insulated glass unit (IGU), Manufacturers fill the space between the glass units with krypton, argon or xenon gas. These heavier, noble gases are preferable to filling the unit with air because they can better impede the transfer of heat through a window.
Most IGUs on the market are separated by ½ – ¾ of an inch. Due to our innovative approach to window hardware design, we are able to extend that space to a full inch. This means we can fill our IGUs with 25%-50% more gas. More gas leads to more effective insulation.
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) & Low-Emissivity (Low-E) Coating
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) represents how much solar radiation a window lets into the home. In other words, it determines how well a window can resist unwanted heat gain. The lower the SHGC number, the better the window unit is at reflecting and repelling heat.
Low Emissivity (Low-E) Coating: In order to improve SHGC, energy-efficient windows come equipped with Low-E (Low Emissivity) coating. This transparent, incredibly thin coating helps the window reflect the radiant heat emitted by objects inside the home (such as an HVAC unit) back into the home. This helps reduce heat loss during the colder months. It also helps the window reflect unwanted solar heat, allowing homes to cool more efficiently in warmer temperatures.
We are able to customize Low-E coatings to ensure that homeowners get the performance they need. In Southern Ontario, where the weather changes drastically from hot to cold over the year, a balanced Low-E formula such as the ClimaGuard 70/36 is best. It’s designed to allow you to take advantage of the sun’s heat in the winter, while not having it be overwhelming in the summer months.
Air Leakage & Warm Edge Spacers
Air leakage infiltration measures the amount of airflow into the building via the window and exfiltration is the flow of air out of the building.
Warm Edge Spacers: These insulate the edges of the window, keeping the panes firmly separated. This airtight seal protects against Air Leakage and condensation forming inside the panes and heat loss to help a window unit stay energy-efficient over the long term. These spacers add structural stability and mitigate the stress that comes with thermal expansion and contraction in different weather conditions.
Our energy efficient windows also deliver on strength and durability
Magic began as a manufacturer of aluminum windows. As such, we understand and have an appreciation for the structural advantages of these frames. But as we now know, aluminum is not an energy-efficient material. Our solution was to combine the superior strength and durability of aluminum and galvanized steel, with the energy-efficiency and welded corners of vinyl frames. In doing so, we opted for more strength, more durability and more energy efficiency.
What you get with Hybrid Fusion Frames:
- A rock-solid frame constructed from anodized aluminum and galvanized steel
- An outer layer of highly-efficient, corner-welded U-PVC (unplasticized polyvinyl chloride)
- The long-lasting strength and support of steel and aluminium
- A durable and efficient vinyl surface that won’t expand and contract
- A stylish, ultra-slim profile that places visual emphasis on the window’s glass
- A cost-effective, high-performance window frame material that we guarantee will last 40 years or more
Looking for newer, less drafty, more efficient window units? Get in touch today!
To learn more about how our replacement windows can improve your home’s energy efficiency, book a free, no-hassle consultation today. One of our certified project managers will help to explain the innovative design features that set our windows apart. Contact us today and see first-hand why Magic produces the world’s most advanced replacement windows!
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Sources:
1. nrcan.gc.ca