Apart from providing a view, Replacement Windows Wichita can admit the warming rays of the sun in winter, cooling breezes in summer and provide free daylight illumination inside the house. But in stopping the unwanted movement of heat into or out of the housewhich can increase the cooling and heating bills an ordinary window that is one pane of glass thick is not exactly the equivalent of a hole in the wall, but it comes close. In fact, the glass itself is a fairly good conductor of heat. And if the frame leaks air or refuses to shut tightly, so much the worse. One remedy is to caulk and weather-strip the window framing inside and out and to install storm windows for year- round use. With those steps one will have gained close to the maximum in heat transfer resistance. There is an additional remedy, al-though it could take many years to pay for itself in increased fuel savings: Replace the single-glazed windows with new ones that have parallel panes with an air space between. In severely cold climates, even triple panes can be worth considering.

The air space between the parallel panes is what gives these windows their insulating value. And when one install such replacement windows, he or she can collect an energy tax credit. Usually, a replacement window is an assembled unit that consists of the surrounding frame; the sashthe frame and glass unit; stops that position the sash; the jamb, or track in which the sash moves up and down (or sideways in a glider unit); and various moldings and flanges that seal spaces between the parts of the window. Everything is included but the trim, such as the casing, apron and sill, which are cut to fit on the site.

There are a number of replacement windows Wichita designs to choose from: double-hung, in which two sash move up and down in a jamb; glider, or slider, in which the sash move horizontally in a track; casement, in which a sash is hinged at one side so the window opens like a door; awning, with a sash hinged at the top to swing out; and bay, bow or nonopening picture windows. Top-quality sash and framing are made of wood because of its insulating value. The exterior parts are usually treated for protection against rot and decay. Metal and vinyl aren't nearly as resistant to heat transfer. In-deed, without a thermal break (insulating material sandwiched inside the frame) a metal window frame will rapidly conduct heat into or out of a house. Vinyl is a better insulator than metal, but not as good as wood