Problems with low e glass windows

Are you thinking of renovating your housing glass with a brand new low e glass technology? 

If Yes! 

Then you also need to know about the disadvantages of low e glass. Everything with some pros brings out some cons that you need to consider.

Most people employ commercial glass for their outdoor windows and doors. With the advancement in technology, people are going for low e glasses both outdoors and even in various indoor locations.

While going through numerous pros of low e glass technology, people choose to go for e glass technology.

The reason is they want themselves safe from all the harmful effects of UV light. There are many cons of e glass you need to know.

We are here with a handy guide regarding the disadvantages of the low e glass that might help you decide whether purchasing it is beneficial to your condition or not.

Problems with low e glass windows

Let’s get started!

If you are a beginner, before heading towards its cons, let’s discuss;

  • What is low e glass? 
  • Mechanism 
  • Types 
      • Procedure 
    • Disadvantage
    • Disadvantage 
  • Disadvantages of Low E Glass
  • Conclusion 

What is low e glass? 

Low-E Glass is Low-Emissivity Glass, designed to minimize the amount of infrared and ultraviolet light coming through your windows or door glass without controlling the amount of entering light in your home.

The low e glass is sophisticated and microscopically identified thin transparent costing that does not allow heat to pass through it. In simple words, it reflects the light and emissivity value at its maximum level. 

Fact 

Do you know the thinness of e glass is even lower than the thickness of a single human hair?

Isn’t it amazing! 

Low emissivity glass has excellent thermal insulation properties that negatively impact certain circumstances. 

Mechanism 

The low e glass opts with a special coating to its outer region that only allows the limited source of sunlight to enter the room. 

 It protects against harmful ultraviolet and infrared rays. The glass got its name for its coating, and the coating is known as low e coating or low e glazing. if the coating single which named simple coating but when the availability of double its known for double/dual glazing.

It reflects the heat and light that are troublesome in certain situations and environmental conditions.

Types 

Based on the application, there are two primary types of low e glass, including Hard-coat and Soft-coat. Although many companies also involves to make various types of glass to make them energy-efficient and with alot of differnet features such as special coating, & breaks down dirt and company give them differnt name such as low e plus glass, Low-E, Low-E2, Low-E3 Windows & more.

So, here discuses two primary types of low e glass that have advantages and disadvantage which are given (but not advantages).

  1. Hard coated low e glass:

When the low e glass is manufactured, a coat is applied. This coat is known as a hard coat or online coat.  

Procedure 

When the manufacturers turn out the low e glass, the coating occurs in its molten stage.

The coating is on the float-line, where it is gradually cooled down.

After the coating completes, the coat starts to stick tightly with the glass and becomes brittle. In this way, these glasses are called Hard Low e Glass type. Due to its high performance you may notice their use in the facades of most of the top-rated residential buildings .

Disadvantage

  • Can’t absorb warm heat in winters
  • Costly
  1. Soft Coated Low E Glass:

The soft and off-line coating occurs in the vacuum chambers at ordinary room temperature.

After the manufacturing of the glass, the procedure compass. 

Soft-coated low e glass is a better thermal insulation provider than hard-coated glass. 

The soft low e glass opts-in IGU (insulated glass units) and DGU (double glazed units).

Disadvantage 

  • Low scratch-resistant
  • costly

Problems with low e glass windows

  • Cost 
  • Low scratch resistant 
  • Prevent heat transfer 
  • Provide haze appearance
  • Avoid direct contact with sunlight
  • Traps the indoor radiating appliances heat
  • Indoor overheating
  • An internal lower temperature in winters
  • High installation cost
  • Dying of indoor window plants
  1. High Cost 

The first disadvantage is its high purchasing cost. 

If you favor advanced technology, you need to keep your pockets loose. It acquires a high amount of expense. The ordinary window glass is a bit cheaper than the low e glass. If you are a high-class personnel with no money issues, it’s better to go for it. An average person might need huge dollars to go for these low e glass technology.

These disadvantages of low E glass must be kept in consideration because none of us like losing a limited amount of money for such expensive items, more than we have to when cheaper alternatives are present out there. 

If you need renovation, you can go for a cheaper uncoated standard toughened glass unit rather than an expensive soft-coat low E glass unit for your windows– you know that’s a general fact. People prefer things according to their budget.

Some personnel calculate the total cost, including the protection cost, and declare it a fair price deal but not all think the same. 

Going for the soft low e glass probably adds a lot of cost to your windows. Are you replacing your old window glass with dual-pane Low-e glass?

It is estimated to be between $40 to $55 PSF (per square foot).

  1. Low Scratch Resistant 

The low e glass is less scratch resistant. When discussing its types, the soft e glass is more prone to scratches than the hard e glass. 

So if you need more scratch-resistant technology, alternatives are present that you need to check out.

  1. Prevent Heat Transfer 

Well, it’s a pro and a con depending upon the user’s condition and environmental conditions.

In hot summers, it won’t allow the heat to come inside. The same implies for the inside heat to not dissipate outside with the exchange of fresh air.

It Blocks the Heat from both indoor and outdoor sources.

People love to enjoy the direct, pleasant sunlight through their ordinary widows in winters. If you replace them with soft low e glass, less light with no heat will enter your home.

That’s the most unfair situation right at that time where all you need is warm sunlight with a cup of coffee taking the warmth.

  1. Avoid Direct Contact of Sunlight

It is considered an advantage of low e glass windows that they prevent the harmful sunlight rays, but not the full sunlight is hazardous.

By opting for this glass, you lose your direct contact with the sunlight. The low e glass technology decreases the level of natural sunlight entry. That makes you deprived of the benefits of natural and direct sunlight. 

Direct natural light entry to your house diminishes through the low e glass particularly, soft e glass windows, reducing from 20% – 80%. It may also depend on the brand and company you have chosen for the unit installation.

If a window reduces natural light transmission, you can slightly experience a darker, un-glary atmosphere. A simple solution is to go for standard window glass if you want to get the advantage of direct sunlight entry, or open the window and let the light shine and provide warmth to you.

  1. Provide Haze Appearance

Another potential and discussable disadvantage that low e glass possesses is haze appearance. The haze nature of the glass makes it difficult to see the objects clearly through the advanced glass window.

The haze is usually gray-colored when viewed in direct sunlight. Behind a dark background, the user might again experience the haze appearance. 

That still is based on situations. A specific situation may enhance the haze. The standard glass has no haze appearance as compared to low e glass. So you can say that it can reduce visual clarity when you opt for advanced glass technology.

  1. Dying Of Indoor Window Plants

Most people love to grow small plants and flowers near their windows. They provide a fresh glow appearance when you wake up in the morning. But wait! If you opt for the low e glass technology, the plants will start to die soon.

Do you know the reason?

Well, plants need direct sunlight and warmth to grow and reproduce. When the glass prevents the light and heat, the plant won’t get the desired nutrients and will soon die. 

If you want to keep the plants alive, either you have to change the location or go with standard window glass.

No one wants to see their lovely plants dying all in vain.

  1. Indoor Overheating 

The low e glass possesses a feature of heat entrapment. In summers, the appliances radiate heat in high amounts.

Problems with low e glass windows

So if the windows keep entrapping all the heat, the indoor temperature will rise and lead to internal overheating. You will experience a pressure cooker-like feeling. I know nobody wants extra warmth in summers.

Conclusion 

We have discussed many disadvantages that you might need to know before renovating your home with the low e glass technology. I Hope it might be helpful. Everything with some pros brings out some cons that you need to consider.

Going for the soft low e glass probably adds a lot of cost to your windows. If you are renovating your old window glass with a Low e glass technology, the total is estimated to be between $40 to $55 PSF (per square foot).

The cons are sometimes the pros of low e glass. It all depends upon the condition, situation, and environmental factors.

None of us like losing a limited amount of money for such expensive items, more than we have to when cheaper alternatives are present out there.

David is TheFinalKit's editor-in-chief. He describes himself as a dedicated Homeowner and Professional Researcher. David mostly follows the latest trends Home Improvement, Garden care and Maintenance, and Wood (furniture, Use, Design& More!), and as well DIYs Ideas in order to keep the visitors in the flow. View all posts by David Reagan

How long do Low

Weaver said that, based on what he has been told, “the newer low-e coatings are much more durable and more securely bonded to the glass than the older-generation low-e's.” He said the sealant on the glass should last five to 10 years, and the coatings should outlast that by several years.

Do Low

2. Low-e coating failure: as windows age, the Low-e coating on the inside surface of the glass may also start to deteriorate. It will often look as though there are moldy dark spots on the inside of the glass. Regardless of your type of failure, this is an easy fix!

Is it worth getting Low

Absolutely! Low-e glass options are definitely worth the investment. For just a few more dollars than standard glass, you get the energy savings and protection from low-e glass. And that little extra cost can pay for itself with the money you'll save on utility bills!

Is Low

Low-E windows help reflect heat and improve windows' thermal performance, lower heating and cooling costs, allow natural light inside and work in almost any climate while being cost-effective, non-toxic and long-lasting. If you want the best for your windows, Low-E glass windows are a perfect choice.