Thermal bridges are weak points in certain areas of a home's envelope, such as joints in facades and roofs, which produce thermal losses between the interior and exterior (hence the name bridge because they easily join two extremes, interior and exterior), which can lead to energy losses and increased heating and cooling costs.
In Revicasa we are able to detect these weak points and a critical point where our inspectors find these thermal bridges are the windows of the house.
In this article, we will explain why thermal breaks in windows are necessary, the importance of good insulation and how to detect thermal bridges in a home inspection.
Don't think twice, inspect your home
What is a thermal bridge: Definition
A thermal bridge is an area of a building envelope where heat transfer is significantly higher than the rest of the surface. This is due to the presence of conductive materials that allow heat to escape or enter easily, creating hot or cold spots inside the home.
What causes a thermal bridge?
The lack of adequate insulation or the absence of it, the presence of conductive materials such as metal and poor designs of slab edges or pillars in the facade are some of the most common causes of thermal bridges in a house. The most frequent causes are listed below:
- The construction element is continuous, i.e. the same material is in contact with the exterior and the interior.
Defects in the joints of materials, i.e. the union of the different materials is not well sealed.
In the two images shown, the thermal bridge in the windows is clearly visible. In the image (A) there is this transmission of temperature from the outside in the lower frame of the window. On the other hand, in (B) the thermal bridge is clearly seen in blue color and leaving visible only one material in the window frame.
Importance of good insulation in the windows of our home
Good window insulation is critical to maintaining a home's interior temperature and reducing energy loss. Poorly insulated windows can significantly increase heating and cooling costs and cause thermal discomfort for occupants.
Why is there a thermal bridge in aluminum windows?
Aluminum windows are prone to thermal bridging due to the inherent thermal conductivity of this material. Without proper treatment, aluminum can easily transfer heat from the interior to the exterior, creating thermal bridges and increasing energy loss.
How to detect thermal bridges in a home inspection.
To correctly detect thermal bridges in a house during an inspection, Revicasa follows the following steps:
- Visual inspection: Look for areas where there is a temperature difference on interior surfaces, such as near windows.
- Use of infrared thermometers: These thermal cameras can detect temperature variations on surfaces, revealing possible thermal bridges by showing temperature differences in the captured images.
Use of a thermal camera to detect thermal bridges
At Revicasa we understand that thermographic cameras are an invaluable tool for our inspectors when detecting thermal bridges in a home. These cameras can capture thermal images that clearly show the areas where heat loss occurs, which facilitates the identification and diagnosis of thermal bridges in the windows or in the rest of the inspected house.
Possible solutions for thermal bridges in windows
Some solutions to address thermal bridging in windows include:
- Thermal Break Windows (RPT): These windows are designed with a system that interrupts heat transfer through the aluminum frame, using insulating materials inside.
- Improved Insulation: Adding insulation around existing windows can help reduce energy loss and improve thermal efficiency.
- Window Replacement: In severe cases, it may be necessary to replace aluminum windows with more energy efficient models, such as PVC or wood.
Thermal bridges in windows can have a significant impact on the energy efficiency of a home, but with the right measures, it is possible to minimize their effect and improve thermal comfort in the home.
Conclusion
As you will see, in order to detect faults in the insulation of our home, such as the existence of thermal bridges in windows, it is necessary to have an expert in home inspection analyze and identify the origin so that he/she can provide you with a detailed report where the different solutions that should be taken are shown. That is why before or after acquiring a property it is convenient to know the state of the insulation, in Revicasa in this sense, we inspect the entire house so that you know in detail every element of your property.
