What Is Home Window Tint Film and Why Is It Important?

What Is Home Window Tint Film?

Home window films are extremely thin, lightweight films often made of polyester materials. They are usually self-adhesive, with some products using water-activated adhesives. Moreover, the best tint films out there boast incredible scratch-resistant surfaces.

What Important Roles Do Home Window Films Play?

Window films protect against ultraviolet radiation. They also act as a barrier against the sun's thermal (heat) energy and external forces. Moreover, they help retain conditioned air within buildings.



Let's take a closer look at these roles and benefits and how important they are.

Help Keep You Safe from Ultraviolet A (UVA) Rays

The sun's rays that reach the earth consist primarily of UVA and some UVB rays. However, sunlight contains about 500 times more UVA rays than the UVB kind.

As UVA rays have longer wavelengths than UVB, they reach the skin's epidermis faster. They do have lower energy levels than UVB radiation, though.

Despite that, UVA rays can still damage the skin, resulting in wrinkles and photoaging. Scientists have also found UVA to contribute to the development of skin cancer. They think that UVA rays may cause skin cell mutations, which may then cause melanoma.

If you hang out by untreated windows a lot, your skin can soak in a lot of those UVA rays. Granted, you do have an option to keep your curtains or drapes closed. However, that'd be a shame, especially if your windows give you a nice garden view or if you want to let natural light in.

The good news is that high-quality residential window films can block 99.9% of UV rays, including UVA. So, with these films, you can hang out as much as you want by your windows and worry less about UVA skin damage. You can also choose lightly dyed films to allow sunlight to stream into your home.

Protect Against UVB Rays

Many areas in Florida have moderate to high UV indices year-round. For example, in Orlando, FL, UV indices have an average range of 4 to 7, depending on the month. These UV levels are enough to damage the skin and cause sunburns.

If you stay by bare windows where direct sunlight streams in, it may not even take you an hour to get sunburns. That's because a sunburn can occur in about 45 minutes of direct exposure to a UV index of 3 or 4. By contrast, an index of 5 to 6 can cause sunburns in just half an hour, while a range of 7 to 10 can burn your skin in 15 minutes.

Unfortunately, UVB rays can do more damage than just sunburns; they can also cause cancers. In fact, health experts associate UVB exposure with most forms of skin cancers. Melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma are some examples.

Since residential window tinting in Orlando can block up to 99.9% of all UV rays, they protect you from UVB, too. So, as long as you pick high-quality window films, you can enjoy great UV protection.

Improve Regulation of Temperature and Energy Bills

Unprotected windows greatly affect utility bills, as they play a role in heat loss and gains.

For example, in the winter, bare glass allows heated air to escape outdoors. It even allows cold air to transmit from outside to the inside of the building. On top of that is the air infiltration that occurs within the gaps or edges of the windows.

Then, during summer, solar heat gains transpire through untreated windows. They absorb and then pass the heat off to the interiors of a home or office. Moreover, they allow cooled, conditioned air to exit the building.

All those effects can lead to you having to rely more on your space heater or cooler. Moreover, those heat gains and losses are a complete waste of heating and cooling energy.

High-performance tint films can help as they reduce thermal transfers in windows. They block the heat from the sun and the frostiness of winter air. They also stop conditioned air from escaping to the outdoors.

As a result, you can minimize heating and cooling energy waste and rely less on your HVAC system. This ultimately leads to reduced energy bills.

That can be a big help to Florida consumers, who in 2019 paid an average monthly electricity bill of almost $130. That's the fourth-highest in all of the South Atlantic area.

Reduce Glare-Related Woes

Glare can cause temporary blindness, eye discomfort, and impaired visual performance. On the road, glare can be a dangerous, even deadly distraction. That's why many Floridians opt to invest in car window tinting services.

At home, glare can occur through untreated windows that allow loads of sunlight in. This can occur when light that streams through bare glass hits reflective surfaces. These include TVs, smartphones, computers, mirrors, countertops, and floors.

Glare may also trigger or contribute to a condition known as digital eye strain (DES). Studies reveal that DES affects as many as 90% of folks who use digital devices. Headaches, eye pain, and heaviness are some of the top symptoms of DES.

Fortunately, the best home window tinting films are effective against glare. So much so that they can reduce up to 87% of glare that occurs indoors.

Invest in High-Performance Residential Window Films

As you can see, there are loads of benefits that come with home window tint film installation. From UV protection to lower energy bills, you can enjoy all these with top-of-the-line films. So, as early as today, consider investing in high-quality residential window tint films.

If you live in Orlando or anywhere in or near Orange County or Seminole County, we here at Winter Park Tint can help. Give us a call now, and we'll be happy to discuss all your home window film options and even throw in a free estimate.