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Home Show

Make sure you stop in and see us at the Monroeville Home Show at the Monroeville Convention Center for special offers and see our sunrooms and windows on display.  Starting today, February 23rd through the February 26th. See you there!

Visit us at the Strongland Home Expo

Stop by our store in the Pittsburgh Mills Mall during the Strongland Home Expo for exciting offers. We're next to the kid's play area in suite 508. The Home Expo is February 10th through the 12th. See you there.

Holiday Season 2011

Over the holiday season this year, Employee Owned Thermo-Twin will be closed from Friday, December 23rd through January 2nd. We will reopen for business on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012 at 8 AM. Please enjoy the holidays with your families and friends. Please join us on Facebook and Twitter for updates and friendly advice.

Severe Winter Weather & Ice Damming

What is an Ice Dam?

Ice dams occur when heavy snow builds up on your roof and gutter systems. This heavy snow melts during the day and freezes when temperatures drop overnight. After Several days of melting/freezing cycles it is very common for the melted water and ice to work under the shingles until water enters the attic.

The melting snow fills the downspouts and gutters with ice. The ice builds up and causes what is called an ice dam. The additional water from melting snow has no place to go; the water backs up under your shingles, roofing paper and enters your roof. The water runs down your roof trusses and stud walls and enters your home.

The above diagram demonstrates how water may enter your home and then leak from windows and doors. If you have an ice dam formed on your roof it is the reason your windows or doors may appear to be leaking. The water is actually entering through your roof, running down the walls and leaking out at window and door openings.

To avoid ice dams you should always keep your gutters free of debris and ice.

For more information we recommend the following links:

http://www.homeimprovementhelper.com/roof/icedam.htm

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home_solutions.hm_improvement_icedams

http://www.askthebuilder.com/NH026_-_Preventing_Ice_Dams_Before_They_Start.shtml

http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/article/Homeowner/Ice_Damming_Leaks

http://www.doityourself.com/stry/icedamremoval

Window Glass: Getting to know the most important part of a window

With over 90% of a windows surface area being the glass, the insulated glass unit is the most important part of a new replacement window.  The insulated glass unit or IG unit of a new window can be easily overlooked by style, look, and price. When you apply logic to the reason why you are replacing your old windows in the first place, the IG unit should be the most important feature about the windows you choose to replace your old ones.

1.  What type of window unit should I choose?

In all but the most tropical parts of North America, the standard now is double-paned windows. Double-paned window glass is held together by what is called a "spacer". Spacers differ in materials such as metallic or non-metallic materials. Non-metallic spacers transmit energy far less than any metallic spacer. Think about touching an ice cube with a metal fork for a few minutes. Now think about touching the same ice cube with a piece of foam. Which of the two do you think you would feel the cold faster from? Now apply that logic to your window spacer. Thermo-Twin Windows uses Super Spacer® a non-metallic window spacer which transfers far less energy than any of its competitors. Mainly because Super Spacer®'s competitors are comprised of some, or all metal with a thin layer of Butyl tape around the metal. If there is any metal at all in a window spacer, it will transfer energy faster than a spacer without. For that reason Thermo-Twin chose to use Super Spacer® in their IG units. Thermo-Twin was the first company in North America to install and use the Lisec, automated, Super Spacer®, IG unit machine in their factory.

2.  Should I get Low-E glass?

Low-E glass is a thin coating on the inside of the outer pane of glass that repels harmful UV rays and slows the energy transfer rate of glass.  The energy ratings of a non-Low-E window are not as good and many won't meet the Energy Star® requirements. Low-E does cut down the sunlight compared to uncoated window glass. So if clear glass is important it is possible to get windows without Low-E depending on where you live. Many municipalities have passed laws requiring you to purchase windows that have Low-E coatings to achieve certain energy ratings. 

3.  Should I get Argon gas?

Argon filled glass units further enhances the performance of IG units. Since Argon is denser than air it slows down the energy transfer even more than just Low-E alone.

If ultimate performance is what you want out of a replacement window then Low-E and argon gas is the way to go.

Thanksgiving

We hope that your holiday with your families will be fulfilling and filled with love. During this time of the year, we here at Thermo Twin Windows & Sunrooms would like to take time to thank all of our customers who were kind enough to choose us. We are honored to provide you with our services.

Thank you.