Understanding the NFRC Replacement Window Ratings Label
NFRC Replacement Window Label
Who is the NFRC (National Fenestration Rating Council) and what do they provide?
This is an organization that is a non-profit independent labeling and rating company that rates the overall performance of replacement windows and products alike. They work to provide accurate window ratings performance information for contractors, builders, homeowners and code enforcers alike.
When considering replacing your windows there are a lot of vinyl replacement window options such as Low-E Glass, Argon Gas, Window Colors and Grids. Energy Star recognizes NFRC Label Window Testing as an Independent and Certified Energy Performance Window Rating Agency. Texas Home Exteriors provides to guide Texas homeowners in making the best choice when replacing their windows with NFRC window rating information.
The NFRC Rating Label Four Categories
The NFRC Rating Label is broken of into four window rating categories, U-Factor, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, Visible Transmittance and Air leakage. At Texas Home Exteriors, we provide the NFRC replacement window label (see above) and information to help Texas homeowners better understand replacement window performance as well as replacement window ratings better to help with your new window selection.
U-Factor
This rating shows how much Heat is Transferred by the entire window (frame, sash and glass). One might call this, invisible insulation. For instance, the smaller U-Factor would mean a window would provide more comfort to sit next to on colder winter days.
Visible Light Transmittance
This rating how how much outside Visible Light enters the room through the window. This measurement is not a percentage but a rating between .0 and 1.00 with .0 blocking out all visible outside light and 1.00 allowing all visible outside light to enter the room.
Solar Heat Coefficient
This rating shows how much Heat Energy is Entering the home through the entire window. A lower SHGC will reduce AC Cost and provide a more comfortable window to sit next to on Hot Summer days.
SHGC of 0.30 = 30% of Solar Heat enters the room from the outside.
Air Leakage
This rating shows how much Outside Air enters into a home through the window. Good Air Leakage rates typically range between 0.1 and 0.4. The Lower the Air Leakage, the better the window is at keeping the Outside Air out of our Houston Texas metro area homes.
Conclusion
With this information you are better educated to make a replacement window decision that will provide you with energy efficiency and comfort year after year. It is important for you to be an educated and informed homeowner when it comes to replacing your windows because this will ultimately affect your utility bills usage. Simonton Vinyl Replacement Windows and NT Vinyl Replacement Window are excellent replacement window choices that we recommend and have a long history of great customer service.
From my heart to yours. I truly hope that you have found this post must helpful in making an informed and educated decision when it comes to replacing the windows in your home. If you like what you have read, follow our blog of Texas Home Exteriors. This is full of great content to help provide you with information and insight into many home improvement decisions including NFRC Window Ratings for new windows.
This really answered my reserved questions about window ratings. With all of that info you rendered and how it is gathered right here on this post. I will probably be coming back to your weblog real soon.
Oakley, hey thank you for your comments about our replacement window ratings blog post. We always put a lot of information in our posts so homeowners can make an informed decision.
Thanks for this wonderful information. It answered a lot of the questions I had when it come to buying new windows for my house. I will take all of these factors into consideration when we get ready in a few months.
Ann, many homeowners are not aware what the NFRC Window ratings are all about. We put this article together so they can understand line by line what the meanings are. Thank you for your comments. Are we going to be giving you an replacement window estimate?
Hi, I think your home improvement blog has some good information. Thanks for posting!
Ron,
Hey thanks for liking our home improvement site! Thanks, Greg
Hi!
My family has been in the market for new energy efficient windows for some time. It has been most difficult in figuring out all of the different window ratings. As we have been getting estimates, the information that these window companies was confusing as well as they would often contradict what the other was saying. A most frustrating experience. I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for taking the time to put this out their fso homeowners like myself can benefit from a clearer understanding. I will be printing this. With much gratitude, Tammy.
Tammy,
Now you have said a mouthful! When getting other window estimates for your home, it can be quite confusing. Many window replacement companies do not tell homeowners the truth. They often have to go out on the internet like you did to find out what the truth truly is. Thanks for your kind comments!
Greg