If you’re upgrading your home with modern windows and you’ve chosen aluminum as the material, you’re already halfway toward a great decision. Aluminum window frames are generally more durable, easy to maintain, and pretty classy.
But you know what they’re not typically great at? Insulation. If you really want to keep heat inside or out and energy costs to a minimum, your typical sleek aluminum windows need an upgrade.
Yes, we’re talking thermally broken aluminum windows (with thermal insulator).
What Are Thermally Broken Aluminum Windows?
Now, you may be wondering why we’re suggesting anything that has the word broken. But we’re not recommending broken glass—we’re suggesting thermal breaks in windows (broken aluminum windows)!
A thermally broken window has thermal breaks (this can be a material that stops heat or cold from sneaking through) inserted between the metal frame’s (thermally broken frame material) separated parts.
Basically, a thermal break essentially separates the exterior and interior parts of a window. This way, the path through which heat energy could travel is “thermally broken.”
Here’s Why You Must Install Them
Lower Energy Bills
We’ll be the first to admit, this was indeed our biggest motivation to install these magical windows. Energy-efficient windows like these ones help lower energy costs by 10% to 25%.
This makes them an incredible investment. Most of us don’t realize it, but there’s a major burden placed on our HVAC systems due to non-energy efficient windows. Not to mention the constant discomfort because of the indoor temperature never being right.
Reduced Carbon Footprint
If you care about climate change, you should understand that even the least of our efforts in conserving energy can go a long way in saving the planet.
By installing thermally broken aluminum windows, you’ll be able to conserve energy and thus reduce your carbon footprint.
More Secure
Thermally broken windows have an extra layer of security. They are much stronger and protect your house from intruders and elements alike.
The thermal breaks also act as an additional barrier to moisture. This helps reduce the chances of condensation.
Better Sound Proofing
Whether you live on a busy street and want to keep out the noise or you wish to play your stereo without a care in the world, thermal break aluminum windows are your saviors.
They conduct noise 1,000 times slower than your average aluminum windows, so basically, you’ll be soundproofing your house by installing them too.
Increased Durability
Windows are your connection to the outdoors. They’re also your first line of defense against the outdoor elements, which means that your window needs to be able to withstand rainwater, strong winds, and even flames!
The average window will corrode, rust, or get moldy as time passes, but thermally broken windows are a lot less affected by natural elements and will last significantly longer.
What Is Thermal Break?
Insulation may be found inside a window, or door framework called a thermal break. The thermal break is installed inside a space in the framework of the window, in between the interior and outside aluminum frames, so that it may provide insulation for the window.
Plastic or cloth made of polyamide is the most effective material that may be employed. Steel was often utilized in the past even though it has a low ability to transfer heat (thermal transfer).
Nevertheless, polyamide has a thermal conductivity that is 160 times greater than steel. So, steel has low thermal conductivity compared to polyamide.
Installing a thermal break as part of the manufacturing process for windows and patio doors significantly impacts the finished product. Even though the moniker “thermally broken” could lead one to believe differently!
Need For Thermal Break
Because of their sturdy nature and extended lifespan, aluminum doors and windows have been used in commercial structures for many years.
They provide frames thinner than those made of uPVC and can handle bigger panes of glass, making them ideal for use in shop windows, offices, and other commercial structures as it maintains structural integrity.
Although it has several desirable properties, aluminum is a highly conductive substance, which is one of its drawbacks. Consequently, doors and windows made of aluminum are more likely to suffer heat loss, are more likely to get chilly, and exacerbate issues with condensation.
Making aluminum a material option that is less ideal for use in residential construction. At the very least, that seemed to be the case.
Windows and doors built of thermally fractured aluminum use a new technique in which a gap is produced between the components of the frames, which are then bonded together using a less conductive substance.
What exactly does this entail? In actuality, this will result in the formation of a barrier between the cold air found outside and the warm air found within.
This results in excellent window insulation and solves the issue of the high conductivity of aluminum. If there is no thermal break in the aluminum windows and doors, then they will become extremely hot during the summer and very cold meaning during the winter (or extreme air conditioning).
The Challenge Presented by Aluminum Window Frames
A wide variety of materials are available for use in the construction of window frames, including wood, vinyl, fiberglass, and aluminum. Each of these materials has both advantages and disadvantages.
Windows made of aluminum need less maintenance than wood or vinyl ones since they are easier to clean and don’t deteriorate as quickly. They don’t become brittle or warp with time and don’t need to be repainted often to preserve their fresh appearance.
In addition, they provide a sleek, contemporary air to residential spaces, providing a framework that is both colorfast and stainless.
Even if you choose more energy-efficient choices for your windows, such as double-paned or argon-filled glass (with u value), a basic aluminum window frame won’t do much to prevent heat gain or loss between your house and the outside world.
Aluminum is a thermal conductor which quickly transports heat in any direction, from the warm outside to the chilly inside of your home or from the warm interior to the cold exterior.
This ultimately implies to the homeowner that their monthly energy bill will be much higher as it will not improve energy efficiency.
Positioning of Windows That Have Thermal Breaks
What you want to do with the window aluminium profiles in your house that have thermal breaks will determine where you should put them and how you should arrange them.
Windows have three primary functions: first, they let in natural light; second, they allow for the circulation of fresh air; and third, they provide visual access to the outside of the building.
Accordion folding doors can be seen in the living room of this luxury property in Vancouver.
You will immediately begin saving money on your energy bills if you install windows with thermal breaks.
But there is one more thing you can do to remedy this situation: put windows on either the north or the south side of your house.
Windows that face north get less direct sunlight and may help offset the energy loss via energy transfer that occurs due to greater cooling expenses. It leads to increased energy efficiency.
This makes thermally broken aluminium windows the ideal choice for warmer climates, even though many considerations come into play with a window door location. Since it is often diffuse and devoid of glare, light coming from the north is an excellent choice for use as an ambient light source.
When the sun sinks lower on the horizon during the winter months, windows that face south allow more of the sun’s warmth to enter the home, making them the ideal choice for homes in regions with milder temperatures.
In addition, thermally broken windows (especially double glazed windows) of greater size may be installed on walls in areas of the home where an expanded view of the outside world is desired, such as the living room or leisure areas.
It is possible to significantly cut down on energy waste by installing thermally broken windows in wide expanses of space. It is particularly beneficial if these rooms are located where they are subjected to the sun’s warmth or the wind’s briskness.
Thermally Broken Aluminum Vs. Vinyl
Aluminum windows with thermal breaks have a much longer lifespan than those made of other materials, such as wood or vinyl. Aluminum framing will not attract wood-boring insects like termites and carpenter ants in the same way that a wooden framework would.
Aluminum is unaffected by a wide range of temperatures and various weather conditions in the same way that other materials are. Vinyl, for example, tends to buckle and break when subjected to temperatures too high.
Wood tends to expand when exposed to humid conditions. Yet, building requirements in areas prone to high winds need windows that are resistant to the impact of debris and water leaks.
Final Words
If you still have questions about thermally broken windows and doors or would like to get a quote for your new windows, reach out to us at Oridow. We provide excellent aluminum window and door manufacturing services.
