Frequently Asked Questions
If You’ve Got Questions. We’ve Got Answers!
Yes, our inserts are perfect for that. Our claim to fame is that we reduce air infiltration to approximately .03cfm. If you stop air infiltration, then you stop drafts. By putting our window on the inside, we don’t care how ineffective your existing window is – it’s behind us.
The putty lines, the window weights, the shrinkage that’s built into your window from over the years all contribute to drafty windows. Even replacement windows suffer from air leaks.
By utilizing our magnetic attachment system, we are basically creating a refrigerator door-like seal for your window, which is easily removed if necessary.
The Acoustical Series offers excellent noise abatement solution for your existing window problem. Because our molding incorporates a “bellowed” system we are not creating a drum effect, which amplifies noise transmittance. And by utilizing acrylic as our glazing and a dead air space between the primary window and our panel, we are able to greatly muffle a wide spectrum of noise pollution. Some of these examples include aircraft, automobile traffic, trains, etc.
Our standard 1/8th″ has been tested to effectively reduce sound transmission by 46 to 55 percent. We also manufacture a panel specifically designed for noise abatement. Results have shown a 65 to 70 percent noise reduction within the existing window cavity.
The Climate Seal™ is as easily removed as it is attached. Because of our unique magnetic attachment system, we do not need special screws, clips or fasteners to keep it in place. Fresh air ventilation can be achieved by either removing a full size panel from the opening or just the lower window insert in our 2-panel self-storing option, a popular choice among those clients who frequently open their primary windows.
The Climate Seal system is also egress/ingress approved for most building fire codes. Egress/Ingress simply means that occupants trying to escape due to a fire or another emergency will not be impeded by our window system due to its unique magnetic attachment system. It also means that firefighters can easily access the building through the windows with the same ease by pushing the panels in and releasing the Climate Seal’s magnetic hold.
Our product is highly effective in both hot and cold climates. Although the greatest payback is to utilize the insert in all seasons, you will see an even greater return in the summer months than in the winter months. It’s actually more expensive to take the heat out of the air for air conditioning purposes than to introduce warm air for heating purposes. We also offer tinted acrylic (not a film) for additional sun control.
This is a loaded question, which is not easily answered. Acrylic does have the ability to scratch if it is abused and not cared for properly. Acrylic is a softer glazing material than glass, which can also scratch. That is why we recommend Brillianize Cleaner®, which is recommended for all reflective surfaces including glass. We also recommend soft, re-usable cloths such as a Wypall® rather than paper towels, which are abrasive.
With respects to clouding and yellowing, acrylic is often confused with polycarbonate, which is also in the plastic glazing family. Both have their benefits, as polycarbonate is virtually unbreakable and a good option for security purposes. The difference between acrylic and polycarbonate is that acrylic filters the sun’s UV rays while standard polycarbonate absorbs the sun’s UV rays. Because of this, standard polycarbonate will yellow quickly over time, while acrylic exhibits excellent resistance to discoloration when exposed to the sun’s UV rays.
The glass industry would have you believe that acrylic is the worst thing you could possibly use for any type of window. This is simply not true. We use acrylic on the interior of the building where it is not exposed to the elements. Acrylic has higher insulation properties than glass, it can be 1/3 the weight of glass, and it is 17 times stronger than glass of equal thickness.
Replacement window manufacturers are now recognizing acrylic’s benefits as an insulator. In fact, replacement window manufacturers are implementing acrylic sandwiched between two pieces of glass to form a triple pane window.
Molding is definitely a unique feature for Climate Seal. In fact, there have been many attempts to produce a similar version of this molding because of its superior performance. Climate Seal, however, has perfected a molding based on a concept from the early 1970’s that was designed to reduce fuel consumption during the energy crisis.
Our molding uses an exterior grade PVC with a UV stabilizer, has the strongest magnetic pull in the industry, and our unique “bellows” design eliminates the need for additional attachment clips or screws.
The molding is a trademark of Climate Seal, Inc. and we have a patent pending on the product. It is unquestionably the most superior product available for an interior magnetic insulating window system!
Our Climate Seal window is available through our national dealer network. Please contact us to find a dealer in your region. If we do not currently have a dealer in your area, then we suggest having a local contractor contact us. We will also sell factory-direct to an aspiring DIYer (do-it-yourselfer) for a self-install.
