Low-E glass

[Scott Schultz]

kenton,

scroll up and you will see a link that I provided.

[phinsperger]

Scott,

That unit you are refering to uses a radio frequency to sense a conductive coating. A non-invasive (pinless) type moisture meter works on the same principle. I have used my moisture meter many times to determine if low-e was present. One less tool to buy. One less tool to carry.

[phinsperger]

I thought my windows had low-e but when I phoned the Microsoft support line they didn't know what I was taking about.

[Mario A. Kyriacou, CHI]

Originally Posted by phinsperger

I thought my windows had low-e but when I phoned the Microsoft support line they didn't know what I was taking about.

Good one Paul!!

[Scott Schultz]

Paul,

Although the moisture meter will tell the PRESENCE of low-e, will it also tell on which side of the glass it is installed?

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Originally Posted by phinsperger

The low-e coating is reversed depending on if you are in a primarily heating or primarily cooling climate. Perhaps the windows you saw were shipped from the other climate zone than you are located. Up here, they are aways on the inside.

The surface location of the low-e coating plays an important role in solar performance. Optimal performance can be achieved when low-e coatings are applied to mumber -two surface of a unit of insulating glass.

Heat Gain

The surface designation of the coating is extremely important for controlling heat transfer.
By placing the coating on the number-two surface of the insulating unit, one can reduce the amount of gain.

Surface choice

When a coating is moved from the number-two surface to the number-three surface, the shading coefficient will increase. This will cause passive soar heat gain_sometimes dramatically.

http://www.csinet.org/s_csi/docs/11200/11116.pdf

Marcel

[phinsperger]

Originally Posted by Scott Schultz

Paul,

Although the moisture meter will tell the PRESENCE of low-e, will it also tell on which side of the glass it is installed?

I suppose it depends on the depth that your moisture meter can read. Mine is a Protimeter Surveymaster. On a double glazed window I can tell which glass has the coating but you are correct that I would not be able to tell which side of a single peice of glass its on. So I can tell if the unit has been construted for warm or cold climates.

In the unlikely event that the window was constructed wrong with the coating on either of the exposed sides, unless its a newer window, its probably warn off by now anyway in which I would get no reading on either side.

For home inspectors I just can't see the point of buying another tool esp. when your moisture meter (if its pinless) can do the same thing and in addition this being beyond any SOP.

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

Originally Posted by phinsperger

I suppose it depends on the depth that your moisture meter can read. Mine is a Protimeter Surveymaster. On a double glazed window I can tell which glass has the coating ....

Paul, I use the surveymast too. What do you look for when you look for low-e coatings with it?

[Scott Schultz]

Marcel,

You know of any studies done that show the difference in solar gain by having the low-e on different panes?

[Barry Adair]

http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/consumer/...indows/q_a.htm

Different climates and styles of homes require different glazing options to maximize their energy efficiency. Some glazing options can also help reduce outdoor traffic noise from entering the home. Options range from single glazed glass, as in historic homes (minimal insulating value), up to R10, which features dual-sealed, triple-insulated glass with two Low E surfaces and two krypton/argon gas-filled insulated airspaces for maximum efficiency.

N = Northern (mostly heating)
C = Central (heating and cooling)
S = Southern (mostly cooling)
Northern
U-Value <= 0.35
SHGC < = No requirement
Central
U-Value <= 0.40
SHGC < = 0.55

Southern
U-Value < = 0.75
SHGC <= 0.40

[phinsperger]

Originally Posted by kshepard

Paul, I use the surveymast too. What do you look for when you look for low-e coatings with it?

If low-e is present it will max out. Just like if you put it on the palm of you hand. If there is no low-e it just reads normal like any dry wall would. Try it on your own windows
Other pinless meters would work as well.