Should You Be Concerned About Solar Heat Gain?

You may have come across the term “solar heat gain” while shopping for energy-efficient windows. Hunterdon Roofing, Siding and Window Company explains everything you need to know about it, including whether or not you should be concerned.

What Is Solar Heat Gain?

Solar heat gain refers to the amount of energy coming from the sun that turns into heat as it passes through your window. The idea is the same as that of the greenhouse effect – as light passing through the window glass enters your home, you can expect the indoor air to feel warm as well.

Should It Be a Cause for Concern?

Whether solar heat gain is good or bad will depend on your home’s comfort requirements and the local climate. Ideally, you want to minimize it in the warmer months and increase it once the weather turns cold. Both of these are required, especially on the East Coast where distinct seasons range between sweltering hot summers and blistering cold winters. Home installations, including window replacement, can be quite complicated.

How to Manage Solar Heat Gain in Your Home

A bit of preparation and planning can go a long way in managing solar heat gain in your home. After all, it is never practical to install windows with low solar heat gain ratings in spring only to have them replaced with those with high ratings.

One way to do this is to take advantage of your home’s orientation to the sun. Your north-facing windows can have high solar heat gain since it receives little sunlight. On the south side of your home, the windows can have the opposite since they receive more sunlight than any other part of your home.

Make the most of solar heat gain by installing energy-efficient windows. Count on the pros of Hunterdon Roofing, Siding and Window Company to help you with it. We offer high-quality replacement windows from the top brands in the industry, including ProVia® and Andersen® Corporation. Call us now at (908) 735-0809 or fill out our contact form for a free estimate.