Does window tinting keep heat in?

People usually have a lot of questions about window tinting and with over 30 years in the tinting business, we’re happy to answer them. A few questions are more popular than others, so we’ve decided to answer some of your most popular window tinting questions here on the Tint World® blog.

One question we’ve heard a few times around our stores is “does window tinting reduce heat?” or “how much heat can tinting block?”. That’s a great question, and one that reveals one of the more comfortable advantages of window tinting.

Tint Question: Does Window Tint Reduce Heat?

Answer:

The short answer is yes, window tint does reduce thermal rays and, therefore, heat. In fact, that’s one of the top reasons for tinting windows in your vehicle, home, or office. Now that you know the short answer, we’ll go into more detail and answer some more specific questions about window tinting and thermal rejection properties.

How Does It Work?

Basically, window tint is designed to reject the thermal rays that make sunlight increase temperature. Tint World®‘s solar window tint is spectrally-selective, meaning that it only lets certain wavelengths of radiation pass through. By blocking the wavelengths that create heat, and passing the ones that create natural light, solar window tint acts as a filter that prevents interior heating without blocking the illuminating features of the sun’s rays.

How Much Heat Can Window Tint Block?

Heat rejection properties vary by tint type, shade, and quality. Different tint providers also offer differing types of solar tint, so be sure to inquire about heat rejection percentages wherever you purchase window tint or film. Tint World®‘s lowest solar rejection film blocks about 40% of heat, while Tint World® Ultimate Tint blocks up to 71% of thermal energy. If you aren’t sure what level of heat rejection you need, Tint World® representatives will work with you to determine your goals, and then help you decide the type of tint you need.

Does Window Tint Keep My Car Cooler?

Window tinting definitely keeps vehicle interiors cooler. The problem with car windows (the windshield in particular) is that they are designed to give you a wide view outside, but this also lets massive amounts of solar energy inside, heating your car to uncomfortable temperatures. Vehicle window tinting can filter sunlight and keep your interior cooler, and this can even be accomplished with windshields since solar tint doesn’t have to be dark in shade.

Can I Keep Homes and Buildings Cooler with Window Tint?

As with vehicle windows, solar tint blocks thermal rays just as well on homes, offices, and other buildings. We love buildings with large window views of the outdoors, but large amounts of sunlight can quickly heat up a room and significantly increase cooling costs. With residential and commercial solar window film, you can have your cake and eat it to with large windows that let in plenty of clear, natural light, but block the rays that leave you sweating in your chair. Solar tint even has insulative properties so it will prevent heat loss in colder months.

Hopefully we’ve answered most of your questions about solar window tint and heat rejection. If you still have questions about how window tint reduces heat, or how solar window film is used, don’t hesitate to contact a Tint World® representative who will be happy to provide more details and answer any other window tint questions.

Perth is one of the sunniest cities in the world and in fact it’s the sunniest city in Australia. On average Perth enjoys 147 sunny days, and 121 partly sunny days a year, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. All that sunlight is streaming in through your windows, including the dangerous UV light, that we go out of our way to avoid when we’re outside.

From a young age it’s drilled into us to “Slip, Slop and Slap” and what we’re now teaching our children is "Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, Slide". Avoiding sunburn and UV rays is one of our highest priorities in summer but it doesn’t extend to when we’re inside our homes, and it should.

Without house window tinting, 100% of the sun’s UV rays are penetrating your home’s windows and reaching your family. Adding house window tinting will reduce the UV rays through those windows by up to 99%, that’s more than SPF 50 sunscreen.

Just like car window tinting, there are pros and cons of house window tinting. If it's something you've not considered before, then here's all you need to know to help you make your decision.

Pros Of Tinted House Windows

There are lots of benefits to getting your house windows tinted. Here are a few of the most impactful.

Less Glare

If you've ever had to move from a comfy seat in your home because you can't read your phone, or had to shut a curtain to watch TV, then you can understand the benefit of tinted windows.

The tint reduces the amount of light that enters and makes it a lot easier to enjoy technology in your home without having to shut the light out completely.

Blocked UV rays

With tinted windows, only 1% of the UV rays from the sun will make it into your house!

This can give you added peace of mind that you are protecting yourself and your family. With tinted windows, you can still enjoy the natural light that fills your home, but you don't have to worry about what else you're letting in at the same time.

Lower Electricity Bills

Tinted windows don't just stop UV light. They also get rid of infrared light!

This is the energy from the sun that heats your home. With tinted windows, you can keep your home cooler without using curtains to block the light. If your home is cooler in the heat of summer, you'll have much less need for air conditioning, fans and even frozen treats from the fridge. This will reduce your energy use and save you money.

Because tinted windows provide you with an economic benefit, you can look at them as an investment. Over time, they will pay for themselves.

It can also be worth checking if your local authority is offering an energy incentive for home improvements. Tinted windows are often included in these schemes, so you may be able to get some help with the costs.

Increased Privacy

Tinted windows shield your home from outside eyes. If your home is overlooked or near a busy street, it can make you feel more comfortable to have a little extra layer of privacy.

Reducing the light from outside can also be helpful if you have anxious pets.

For instance, if you live on a road and your dog barks whenever someone goes by, tinted windows can help. With the reduced amount of light, you may find your pet is less bothered by people moving around outside. In addition, you can get frosted window tints that let light through but obscure the detail outside if you want to go further. This can entirely remove the triggers for some animals giving you all some more peace.

Tinted windows can also help to deter thefts. If a thief can't look into your home to see what you have, they are less likely to break in. So it essentially reduces the temptation.

Window tint on large glass windows such as these sliding doors make north-facing rooms much cooler in summer.

Darkness For Sleeping

If you struggle to sleep when it's light out, especially in the height of summer, then tinted windows can be a great option. By choosing a dark tint on your bedroom windows, your room will always be at a comfortable lighting level for sleeping all year round.

The advantage over curtains is that you don't have to worry about the tiny sliver you missed. It's just easy!

Disadvantages Of Home Window Tinting

Before you dive in and get ALL your windows tinted, there are a few other things that you need to be aware of.

Expertise is Essential

It takes a lot of training and experience to learn how to effectively install window tint. The window glass must be cleaned to a pristine surface and the tint film applied in a specific way to avoid unsightly bubbles. Also, the film needs to be trimmed in the final step to minimise the gap between film and window edges while avoiding any overlap.

The good news is that the friendly staff at Tint Mart Strathpine are experts at the professional installation of window tints in residential and commercial buildings of all shapes and sizes. Give us a call for your free measure and quote for Brisbane Northside home window tinting.

Cooler In Winter

You will save on cooling costs over the long summer period, but you may spend a little more on heating during the shorter cool months. It's certainly not a bad trade-off! Also, because of the radiative heat works, you will have much better insulation against external heat in summer, while also retaining any internal heating in winter.

Less Effective At Night

If you are choosing to get your windows tinted purely for privacy benefits, then you need to be aware that at night time, the tint is less effective. The way tints work is that they reduce the amount of light passing through.

The effect is always most substantial when you stand on the side of the window with more light. So during the day, that means your view from the outside is obscured, but you can still see out well.

However, at night time, when it's dark out, and you have lights on, the effect is reversed. Of course, this is true whether you have tint on your windows or not.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does tinting your house windows reduce heat?

Yes! Tinting your windows reduces the amount of heat AND light that can enter your home. This does mean that the average indoor temperature will be lower.

How long does home tint last?

A high-quality tint applied well should last 15-20 years.

Can you see through tinted house windows at night?

Like most windows, if you have lights on inside and it's dark outside, you won't be able to see much outside. However, people looking from the outside will see inside more easily during the night than the day when looking through tinted windows.

What are the disadvantages of tinted windows?

Does window tinting reduce temperature?