In addition to providing natural light and shielding your home from outside weather, windows provide natural or passive ventilation. This is an important consideration when choosing windows for window replacement in Seattle because of its benefits. It provides fresh air; airs out odors, smoke, and airborne pollutants; and creates air movement for cooling and dehumidification. Most homes would have mechanical ventilation in the form of HVAC systems, but fresh air is more direct or natural and saves energy.
In urban areas, mechanical ventilation is necessary to protect the indoors from pollutants. However, in a residential setting, homeowners prefer passive ventilation because of several health benefits. You can achieve passive ventilation with just a single window. To be effective, however, there has to be two openings: an inlet and an outlet. The former should face the source of strong breeze. Some window styles are more effective than others when it comes to ventilation. Renewal by Andersen® of Seattle recommends the following styles.
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Casement – Casement windows in Seattle provide maximum ventilation because unlike most window styles, you can open these windows completely. This is especially useful if you need fresh air to quickly aerate a room. The opened window sash can also act as a breeze catcher if the wind happens to be in the right direction. If you’re concerned about insects getting in while the window is open, we offer a wide selection of insect screens for all window styles.
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Double-hung – Perhaps one of the most popular window styles, double-hung provides ventilation even if the room can only have one window. By positioning both sashes in the middle, a single double-hung window can have an inlet and an outlet. Two double-hung windows installed on different walls are doubly effective when opened at the same time.
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Bay and bow – In addition to the many aesthetic and practical benefits that bow and bay windows in Seattle offer, they also provide effective one-unit passive ventilation. Simply open the side windows simultaneously, and you have a system that catches the breeze regardless of direction.
Create a better home today with windows from Renewal by Andersen of Seattle. To learn more about the benefits of our replacement windows, call us at (206) 777-0954. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule your free in-home consultation.