Did you know that the color of your window tint can affect your energy efficiency? Different colors of window film absorb different amounts of light, and the darker the tint, the more it reduces heat and glare coming into your home. There are also other factors to consider when choosing window tint percentage for your home, such as what materials you want to use, how visible you want it to be, and whether or not you have pets or kids that will be living near the windows. Learn more about how to pick the perfect percentage for window tinting in San Antonio with these tips.
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)
The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) is a measurement of how well a window retains solar heat. This is calculated with thermal imaging and can be determined by dividing the solar heat on the outside by the amount of solar heat passing through. According to California law, light-colored homes that are susceptible to excessive sunlight can have a maximum SHGC value of 35. Darker colors will retain more heat than lighter colors because they do not allow as much light through.
Visible Light Transmission (VLT)
It’s crucial to know what a window’s VLT is because it tells you how much light from the sun that shines through your windows. As a general rule of window tinting in San Antonio, if you have a larger house or many tall, broad windows in certain rooms then you may want to opt for a higher VLT, around 35%. On the other hand, if you live in an apartment with several large south-facing windows then it may be worth opting for a lower VLT of 25%.
Heat Transfer Performance (HTR)
To maintain a level of heat transfer performance (HTR) that blocks UV rays and solar heat, you need to select the right heat-reducing film. The HTR properties will differ depending on how much solar heat is in the area where you live, how well insulated your windows are, and how much shade your windows get. You can determine which HTR rating will work best by using our simple chart or looking at local hardware stores for heat-blocking films.
Calculating Tint Percentage
The darkness of your window tint is typically measured by Visible Light Transmission (VLT). It’s a number from 0-100, with 100% being solid. For example, if you have 50% VLT, only half of all visible light will pass through the film. Some typical percentages are 70%, 20%, or 10%. This number will be on a sticker placed on one of the interior side windows.