Energy Efficient Windows Melting Siding

The neighbors installed double pane windows with low emissivity glass which resulted in melted vinyl siding on this midwest family s home.
Energy efficient windows melting siding. Low e windows melting siding combine low e glass facing south or southwest homes that are close together with vinyl siding and the sun and you get a recipe for melting siding. That s anywhere between 5 000 and 11 000. So let s take a closer look at how windows can melt siding. This will keep the solar heat gain coefficient shgc down designed to increase energy efficiency in the summer months when a home has its air conditioning running.
In case you aren t familiar with them low e a k a. Windows these days are extremely energy efficient. Home owners are often unaware that while energy efficient windows are great way to keep your home cooler by reflecting the sun away from your home the reflection can magnify the sun to a point of melting the turf. Low emittance windows have a coating on them that suppresses radiative heat flow.
Windows can melt vinyl siding and more see below for other potential trouble areas due to a confluence of factors but the short answer is this. What to do about energy efficient windows melting vinyl siding many experts suggest you get heat resistant siding considering it can withstand temperatures up to 220 degrees fahrenheit. Kdka did make contact with the window manufacturer ply gem and they said they re aware that their energy efficient windows can do this but said special siding exists that won t melt. However such an endeavor will cost you up to three times more than regular siding.
Jeanne and matt meldrim say their house is literally melting from the next door neighbor s newly installed windows. Energy efficient windows make up more than 90 percent of all new window installations in the u s according to a survey by the national association of home builders. Modern low e windows are great for keeping the inside a home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter reducing the property s energy costs and its carbon footprint at the same time.