What Are the Homeownership Benefits of Installing Home Window Tints?

The global window film market had an estimated value of $10.59 billion in 2021. Moreover, experts project the sector’s revenues to grow and reach $14.97 billion by 2028. The rising demand for home window tints, they say, is a primary driver of that growth.

What’s so special about residential tints, though? Why are more homeowners opting for them, and why should you do the same?

This guide lists all the top answers to those questions, so keep reading to learn more.

Protection From Ultraviolet Radiation

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is electromagnetic radiation carried by sunlight. There are three types: UVA, UVB, and UVC, although only the first two reach the Earth.

UVA rays are the weakest, but sunlight contains about 500 times more of them than UVB. In addition, they can still cause photoaging and wrinkles, despite their lower energy. They may also be powerful enough to mutate skin cells and contribute to melanoma.

UVB rays contain more energy than UVA, so they can cause the skin to burn. Experts believe they’re behind most skin cancers, including squamous and basal cell carcinomas.

The thing is, untreated standard window glass allows UVA rays to pass. It blocks most (but not all) UVB rays. Thus, hanging out by your windows can put you at risk of the health effects of UV radiation.

Fortunately, the best solar window film can block up to 99% of the sun’s UV radiation, including UVA and UVB. So with these residential tints on your windows, you can worry less about skin damage.

Minimize Heat Gains and Losses

Heat gain refers to the transfer of warmth from outdoors to indoors. Heat loss is the opposite; it occurs when heat from inside leaves a building. Both occur through windows, accounting for 25% up to 30% of home heating and cooling energy use.

You can prevent such waste by installing the best window tints, as they help cut heat gains and losses. That’s because they can minimize heat transfer from outside to inside and vice versa.

For example, during summer, the films can prevent much of the sun’s heat from entering windows. They also act as a barrier, helping keep conditioned air from leaving your home.

In the winter, tinting films block warm air from your heating system from leaving the windows. They also help lessen the degree of cold transfer from the outdoor air.

All that can result in your windows wasting less heating and cooling energy. That, in itself, already helps you achieve a more sustainable home.

Improve HVAC Efficiency

The decrease in heat gains and losses also helps boost your HVAC system’s efficiency. After all, the less hot your home is in the summer, the easier it is for your air conditioner to cool the air in it. Then, come winter, the less cold your home is, the faster your furnace, boiler, or heat pump can warm your space.

You want a more efficient HVAC system, seeing as it accounts for about half of your household’s energy use. Since window films can help you with that, they can help you create a more eco-friendly home.

Reducing the loads you place on your HVAC system can help extend its lifespan, too. The longer it performs efficiently, the less you can worry about having to replace it sooner. That also lessens your environmental impact since old HVAC systems are hazardous waste.

Lower Energy Use, Fewer GHG Emissions

Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are either natural or anthropogenic (human-caused). Natural GHGs are vital to keeping Earth at a suitable temperature for survival. Those include carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, to name a few.

On the other hand, anthropogenic GHGs make the planet warm alarmingly fast. These are the gases behind global warming, which, in turn, is causing deadly climate change.

Energy consumption is the primary source of human-caused GHGs. That includes burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and vehicles.

In any case, the higher your fossil fuel and electricity consumption, the more GHGs you emit. That’s why it’s vital to increase your home’s energy efficiency, as doing so cuts your GHG emissions.

Since tints help boost window and HVAC efficiency, they can help reduce your energy use. That then translates to fewer GHG emissions.

Sunscreen for Fabrics and Furnishings

UV radiation isn’t only harmful to human skin; it can also damage furnishings. For instance, it’s one of the primary factors behind fading, contributing up to 40% to the process.

Fabrics (i.e., curtains and drapes), carpets, and upholstery can fade and discolor due to UV rays. Exposure to UV can even dry out wood materials, like window frames, furniture, and flooring.

Leather is also susceptible to the sun’s damaging radiation and heat. Both can remove the moisture from the fabric, causing it to become brittle. Such damages can occur in as little as four to six months.

With their UV protection, window tints can safeguard your furnishings, too. That can help your fabrics, carpets, upholstery, furniture, and floors last longer. As a result, you may have to spend less on their repairs or replacements.

Reduces Glare

Glare refers to any light entering your eye and interfering with your vision. It can be distracting, uncomfortable, disabling, or worse, blinding.

Untreated home windows contribute to glare when they allow sunlight to enter. When the light streaming through them hits a reflective surface, it bounces back.

Surfaces that often create glare include TV, smartphone, and computer screens. The light can also come from shiny floors, countertops, and mirrors.

Tints effectively reduce glare, limiting the amount of light that enters windows. However, unlike curtains that rob your home of natural light, they still permit some light to pass.

Time to Install Home Window Tints

As you can see, home window tints offer many benefits, from UV protection to energy efficiency. Some even help increase glass safety and security by reinforcing the panes.

All that makes window tinting an excellent home improvement project you should consider. Besides, they’re cheaper than new windows that cost several hundreds of dollars apiece.

Are you looking for other tips and tricks on becoming a smart homeowner? If so, then be sure to check out our latest informative news and blog posts!