If you live in a colder climate where the temperature isn't often above 70 or 75 degrees, your home is going to have different maintenance needs and will require different home features that will help it withstand the temperatures. This is especially true when it comes to your home's windows. If you ever need to replace the windows, you need to look at these four features to ensure that your new windows can withstand the colder climate:

  1. Low U-Factor: A low U-factor means that your windows have a higher resistance to heat flow, which means that the heat in your home is not going to leave through the windows. The insulation properties are vital to ensuring that your home is not only comfortable but does not lose heat, which could only lead to higher energy bills to keep your home comfortable. Triple-pane windows are going to have the lowest u-factor, so you should definitely consider these over double-pane. 
  2. Fiberglass Frame: Fiberglass is extremely resistant to extreme weather conditions, which means that it can hold up well in winter storms and high winds. Fiberglass is also low maintenance, which means that you don't have to worry about making repairs to the frames like you would with wood frames that require a heavy amount of maintenance, such as paint and rot removal. 
  3. Vinyl Frame: Vinyl is another good option that is more affordable. This material insulates well and can easily handle snow and ice during the winter without it damaging the frame in any way. The only disadvantage over fiberglass is that it's more susceptible to discoloration, which means that they might need to be replaced sooner than fiberglass would need to be. 
  4. High VT (Visible Transmission): Living in a colder climate most likely means that you don't experience a heavy amount of daylight. The problem with this is that you probably have to use the lights inside of the home even during the day, which can take up a lot of energy. In order to bring more natural light into the home, you want the windows to have a high VT, which is what allows more sunlight to enter the home rather than be forced out, which it would with a low VT. 

When you consider these four features, you are going to have home windows that make your home more resistant to the potential damages of living in a colder climate. To learn more, contact a company like Bi-State Window & Door Inc. 

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