Stop Letting your Heat Escape Through the Glass
It is coming up to winter in Lincolnshire, and if you do not have energy efficient windows, you might find yourself reaching for a blanket even with the heating cranked up. We often look at our glass to check for rain, but we rarely touch it to check the temperature.
(Note: If you are seeing mist, moisture, or physical damage rather than just feeling the cold, you might want to check our guide on
understanding window condensation or read the
signs for a window repair first).
However, if your frames look fine but you are still freezing, walk over to your window right now and put your hand against the pane, you might be shocked at how cold it feels. That cold surface is stealing the heat from your room and it is happening even if your frames are sealed tight.
1. Understanding the Draught
Why does it feel draughty even when the windows are sealed shut?
Many homeowners tell us their windows must be broken because they can feel a chill in the air, yet when we check them, the seals are perfect. This breeze is actually caused by simple physics known as a convection current.
When it is freezing outside and warm inside your living room, the inner pane of older glazing gets very cold. As the warm air from your heating system flows across the room and hits this cold glass, it cools down instantly. Since cold air is heavier than warm air, it sinks rapidly to the floor.
This constant cycle creates a circulation of air in the room. To you, sitting in your armchair, this movement feels exactly like a draught blowing across your ankles but it is actually your own expensively heated air cooling down against the glass. This is why installing energy efficient windows is about more than just bills; it is about stopping constant discomfort.
2. Why Does Old Double Glazing Act like a Thermal Bridge?
Your windows might be double glazed, but is your window insulation actually working?
Glass technology has changed drastically in the last 15 years where you now have access to
energy efficient windows. If your windows were installed in the early 2000s, they are likely acting as a thermal bridge, meaning they let heat pass straight through.
In the industry, we measure this with a U-value. A U-value is a measure of the speed at which heat escapes your home. The lower the number, the better the insulation. Old double glazing often has a high U-value because it uses aluminium spacer bars, which suck the cold from the outside pane straight through to the inside.
To stop this, modern energy efficient windows use warm edge technology. Instead of highly conductive metal, manufacturers now use spacer bars made from a low conductivity composite material. This is combined with special Low-E glass which reflects heat back into the room keeping the inner pane of glass much warmer.
If the glass stays warm, the air does not cool down, the convection current stops and that breeze disappears. For impartial advice on how this technology works, the
Energy Saving Trust provides a guide on improving your home energy efficiency.
3. The Missing Guarantee on Older Windows
If you check your current frames, you likely won't find any proof of how well they retain heat.
That is because older windows were not required to have the strict energy ratings we see today. You essentially have no guarantee that your current glass is doing anything to reduce heat loss. However, when shopping for energy efficient windows, this is the first thing you should check.
True energy efficient windows now come with an energy rating label, similar to the one you see on a new fridge or washing machine. You should specifically look for A-rated double glazing. This rating, verified by the
BFRC (British Fenestration Rating Council), guarantees the window has passed strict tests for:
- Heat loss (u-value): How much heat escapes.
- Solar gain (g-value): How much free heat from the sun is captured.
- Air leakage: How airtight the window is against draughts.
By choosing an A-rated unit, you are upgrading from an unrated, unknown performer to a certified set of thermal windows.
4. Stop Letting your Money Fly out the Window
Investing in energy efficient windows is the smartest way to lower energy bills.
We all know that energy prices are a concern right now. Trying to heat a home with inefficient glazing is like trying to fill a bath without the plug in.
Your boiler has to work harder and run for longer just to maintain a comfortable temperature because the heat is constantly escaping through the glass. By upgrading to energy efficient windows, you are essentially wrapping your home in a thermal blanket. The heat stays inside your home, meaning your boiler can run less often while keeping you warmer.
Get Ready for Winter with Rapide Frames
You should not have to spend your winter evenings shivering in your own lounge.
At Rapide Frames, we install energy efficient windows designed specifically to handle the coastal chill of Grimsby and the surrounding areas. We can help you assess your current glazing and explain exactly how an upgrade with your energy efficient windows could improve your comfort levels.
We have helped homeowners across the region transform the feel of their property, replacing cold, outdated units with A-rated glass that retains the heat. If you are ready to be more energy efficient and start warming your home, you can
contact our team and get some knowledgeable advice with a
free, no-obligation quote. 
