How To Ensure Home Energy Efficiency With Window Tinting Alone

Energy costs are always really high, be it summer when you need full time air conditioning or in the winter when it is equally extreme in terms of the cold and you need a heating system. The fact here is that you will always be running high power bills unless you come up with a solution to cut you’re your home’s energy consumption significantly. There may be a list of options on how doing this, but so far, the most convenient and affordable one would be home window tinting. 

You spend more than half your power bills on heating and cooling your home

This means that if you are able to reduce the need for either one of these, you will have cut down on your utility bills. You may not be able to eliminate the need for a heating system, especially in winter. But you can certainly regulate the amount of energy required to cool your home during summer. When it is too hot, the AC will have to work harder to bring down the temperatures. 

One way of reducing how hard the AC will work is by limiting the entry of UV rays into your house. These rays contribute significantly to the extremely high temperatures. By applying a tint film on your windows, regardless of the percentage of visible light transmission (VLT), you will be keeping all the UV rays at bay. This means you will have significantly reduced the temperature in your house, thus allowing the AC to work less. 

Use natural lighting as much as possible

Energy efficiency also implies cutting down on your use of artificial lighting. On one hand, the films are aimed at reducing the amount of light rays getting into your home. This means that you are likely to receive less natural light. On the other hand, however, you can choose a film with higher VLT to ensure that you are only keeping the UV rays out and are thus able to take advantage of natural lighting. 

With the film, you will not have to cover your windows to reduce the light or opt for softer artificial lighting. You can always choose a film that will give you adequate lighting, thus enabling you to depend on the free natural light rather than using expensive artificial lighting at all times.

The UV filter works both ways 

When it is hot, the heated UV rays from the sun will not enter your home provided you have installed some good quality window tint film. During winter, the heated rays will also not be able to leave your home. This means that rather than spending a lot of energy heating up the air and losing it to the atmosphere, your home will be retaining most of the heated rays within it. This will cut down your heating costs significantly as well. 

The basics of heating and cooling and using natural lighting seem like an easy hack considering how much you will be saving in the long term. You could contact us with any questions or comments as well as ideas on how home window tinting can change your home livability experience.

Call Happy Tint 1800 427 798 for a FAST quote.

What Are The Types Of Window Tint Available In the Market Today?

Safety, enhanced privacy and energy efficiency are the main aspects that determine whether you should tint the windows of your home. In case of glass shattering, the tinting film holds together the shattered pieces, preventing them from hitting the home’s occupants. Furthermore, tinting decreases glare from light sources such as the sun, street lights, and the like.

Professional installation is recommended as the results are better than when self-done. Compared to the amount of time an inexperienced installer would take, a professional is a better choice as he takes r only a few hours to have the whole home’s windows professionally tinted. 

Types of window tints available in the market

Before we get started, home tint films are very thin polymer products that come in different tint levels of shades, ranging from very dark to clear. Metals or dyes are then added depending on the wanted level of tint. The choice of appropriate kind of tint for your home’s windows depends on your personal needs and budget. Here are the common types of tinting products available in the market today:

Metalized film

This kind of a tinting film has a wide range of different metals affixed on it during the manufacturing process. It greatly reduces heat from the sun by reflecting UV rays. Although metalized window tinting may interfere with electronic gadgets such as GPS, radio and cell phone, it offers one of the best ways to tint windows in a home. 

Dyed film

This kind of a tinting product for the windows is made by adding specific dyes to a polymer film. This kind of a tint has the darkest appearance and greatly absorbs heat. It is however used for appearance more than heat reduction. It is however great for reducing glare from the sun and other kinds of light during the night. Furthermore, this product is great for prevention of fading on the interiors of a home. Carbon tint is among the favorite option in this category. 

Ceramic tint

This tinting technology is the newest in the market today, and utilizes nano-ceramics to absorb as much heat as double what hybrid or dyed can while upholding lighter shades. This type of a tint offers the best clarity with the highest durability. 

Hybrid tint

This kind of a tint combines metalized and dyed types of tints. The premium kind of a tint reflects and absorbs heat and light making it a popular tinting product. You can opt to install this kind of a window tinting yourself by following the installation guide it comes with, but to make sure you get quality results, ensure to have a professional do the job. 

Crystalline tint

This kind of a tint offers infrared and heat barrier, without necessarily darkening the home’s windows. It consists of more than two hundred layers of films with varying shade levels. The film however provides lighter shade than what is offered by the standard tinting products. It blocks more than 95% of sun rays and 60% heat that come through the windows. This window tinting product however is more expensive than the rest with the average price ranging from between $500 to $800.

All in all, before selecting an installer for home window tinting in Melbourne, it is recommended that you contact several of them for estimates, and understand the products on offer so that you can get the most out of your house tinting investment.

Call Happy Tint 1800 427 798 for a FAST quote.

How Is Residential Window Tinting Done?

Tinting your home’s windows is a great way to reduce heat and glare, as well as enhance your privacy. Homeowners basically have two options for tinting the windows in their homes; do it themselves with DIY window-tinting kits or hire a professional to expertly tint their windows. Although DIY window tinting option typically cost less, it certainly pays greater dividends to invest in a professional installation. Here are the three main benefits of residential window tinting.

•    By having the windows tinted professionally, it would not only keep the UV light out, but in the winter months, the window tint prevents the heat from escaping from the home.

•    In the hotter summer months, window tints prevent ultraviolet rays from penetrating into the home causing the furniture, walls and floors to heat up the interior temperature decreasing energy efficiency. 

•    Window tinting makes it harder to see the occupants and belongings inside your home, greatly reducing the chances of being targeted for a crime. This also offers more privacy even when the windows do not have any blinds or curtains on them. 

Residential window tinting is done in three major ways. These include:

Film tinting

This tinting method is by far the most popular in the market today. A very thin polymer film is applied carefully to specially prepared window glass. Tinting window films vary in tint level from clear to around 70% visible light transmission. These light reducing products are relatively inexpensive ranging from $5-$15 per square foot and are designed to reduce up to 99% UV (ultraviolet) rays from penetrating the windows.

Tilting film for home windows is available in a number of different shades and outward appearance, for instance mirrored, metallic, reflective, or even flat. The main benefits of this type of window tinting are that it is quite cheap, and help to prevent glass from shattering in crashes. Visible light transmission refers to how dark the tint appears on the windows. The main disadvantages are that it only lasts five years before peeling, cracking and bubbling of the plastic film, and most of the times degradation or yellowing of the tinting itself. Furthermore, removing the old window film is harder than the installation itself. 

If you opt for a professional installation by the store you acquired the film from, ensure that the installers are approved through an industry group such as the IWFA (the International Window Film Association). Apart from this, make sure they use the same brand of film, and that they fully support the manufacturer’s warranty. 

OEM tinted glass

This kind of glass is tinted within the glass as part of the actual glassmaking process, and lasts the life of the glass. OEM tinted glass normally has only a mild tint. It is more expensive to replace in case of shattering as the glass comes tinted right from the manufacturers. 

Coating tinting

A special tinted solution is applied to an existing glass, normally in form of a spray. This kind of a tint lasts longer than film tinting.

Whichever home window tinting option you go for, make sure that the installation is done by professionals as these have both the knowledge and tools to do a perfect job.

Call Happy Tint 1800 427 798 for a FAST quote.

Why You Should Use Window Tints If You have Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors are known by many homeowners as one of the most cost-effective and long lasting improvements they can make in their home that can improve their abode's value in terms of resale and provide ample comfort and warmth underfoot for years on end. However, this type of flooring covering also needs a fair share of maintenance on a regular basis, and you can significantly lengthen the lifespan of your hardwood floor by installing window tints and film in your home. Here are some ways on how such tints can safeguard your floors and create a more ideal space at home.

Complements your eco-friendly style

Hardwood floors are one of the most sustainable flooring options in the market today as the wood is mostly sourced from renewable forests. If one of your major concerns include going green, installing window tints at home would be the next logical step. With these tints, you can regulate the temperature in your space better as harmful ultraviolet rays are almost completely eliminated. The window tints can also reduce the carbon footprint of your home and allow you to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle in the long run.

Floor handles temperature changes with ease

Compared to other flooring types, hardwood floor is undoubtedly unique; thanks to its ability to expand and contract as the temperatures vary. Hardwood floors can easily expand during the warmer months and contract during the colder times of the year without sustaining any damage. However, the failure to facilitate proper climate control can wreak havoc on your hardwood floorboards. Certain window tints are known to reduce temperature loss in a room, thus your flooring will less likely be exposed to extreme conditions throughout the year.

Protect against premature fading and damage

A major contributor to hardwood flooring damage is none other than the sun. Its ultraviolet rays will gradually make your floor's finish fade over a prolonged period of time. Hence, you should use window tints to block up these harmful rays from entering your home in the first place. These tints can block up to 99.9 percent of the harmful sun rays, reduce or slow wear and tear on your hardwood floors and furnishings while constantly being exposed to the unforgiving sun.

You should keep in mind that buying window tints for your home is a good investment. The ROI can be realized in a short amount of time. If you share other concerns regarding things like privacy, here is a rule of thumb to keep in mind: There will be less privacy when the tint used is lighter. If the tint is reflective you will get more privacy during the day. The tints tend to become more or less reflective on the inside, and it depends on the brightness of your lighting indoors. Hence, you should pull your blinds or draperies closed at night.

At Happy Tint, we provide window tints that can suit various applications such as enhancing privacy, reduce sun and glare, as well as facilitate heat reduction. Simply call 1800 427 798 today to get your quotes fast! 

Call Happy Tint 1800 427 798 for a FAST quote.

How Bubbles Form On Tint And How To Prevent It From Happening

A common concern that many people often have when they are thinking of getting window tint for either a car or a building is the possibility of forming bubbles on the tint. There are many reasons why this can happen. However, the overriding issue is that with time, such bubbles will become unsightly, and they will definitely spoil the look of the car or the building you are putting the tint on. Fortunately, there is quite a lot you can do to reduce the risk of this happening.

What causes bubble formation?

To get an idea of why this is so, you need to consider why the bubbles often form on the tint. Knowing the process behind this can help you prevent the problem.

When the tint is first put in place, it’s normal to have bubbles forming. As the film sets, it is likely to become tauter, and this will then eliminate all the bubbles within it. However, the problem often arises when the bubbles form and last for much longer than this. This is usually the consequence of having dirt on the window before the tint is put in place. This traps some of the air around it, and as time goes by it expands particularly if the film is exposed to a lot of sunlight. As a result, it becomes more unsightly over time.

Preventing the problem from happening

One of the obvious ways of preventing the formation of bubbles is by using the correct standards. It’s particularly important that the surface of the glass the tint is being put on be thoroughly cleaned before application of the tint. This goes a long way in preventing the formation of the air pockets in the tint. In addition to that, you should also consider using high quality tint. These are usually manufactured using the highest standards possible, and will also reduce the risk of bubble formation.

The other potential issue is the quality of workmanship you use in the installation. Whether you are going to do the installation on your own or are thinking of consulting a firm to do it for you, always ensure that the correct guidelines are followed.

If you are going to install the tint on your own, try to read up on the standard operating procedures prior to installation of the film so that you can do it well. If you are going to call a company to do it for you, make sure you run a background check to make sure that they are skilled enough for the job. This will guarantee you more peace of mind in the few years following the installation.

In summary, there are many things you can do to increase the chances of bubbles not forming on the tint. The above are some of the most important. You should always remember that though tint installation seems simple, it’s actually a very technical process. The quality of the workmanship will always show in the quality of the outcome, so you should always insist on getting the best tint in the first place.

Call Happy Tint 1800 427 798 for a FAST quote.