Im highly considering Thermotech casement windows, and im curious to hear from people that have used them in cold climates if they are happy with the product, sales, service and ultimately, if you had to do it over again, would you use them again.

Thanks

Guess noone is happy with them :)

windowrookie - Thermotech is a Canadian window manufacturer - I'm not sure if Energy Star even applies to them. In any case, Canadian window manufacturers in general are so far above energy star requirements that they can't even see down that far! U of 0.35 is energy star - Thermotch, Inline, Accurate Dorwin and others are making window with U values down to 0.14 or so - WAY better than Energy Star.

I'm watching this thread closely, waiting for replies too! I'm pricing Thermotech along with Inline Fiberglass, Accurate Dorwin, Serious Materials (only US window that competes with Canadian windows). I'm waiting for Thermotech's quote - but of the other ones mentioned, Inline is the one to beat right now. Still about 2k more than Marvin Integrity for 11 windows, but I should easily make that up in reduced energy costs over the window's lifetimes. What I don't like is the lack of feedback about Canadian windows!!

Energy Star applies to everyone, both US and Canada. How can you verify their numbers without a objective 3rd party verifying that the information is actually correct. Btw my mother has told me that I am the most handsome man in the world...lol. catch my drift. Why wouldn't a company have this done, I mean it is such a basic thing to have done.  In Canada, No Energy Star= No Governement rebate($60.00/window frame) that's alot of money! But they do sell a vinyl window that is Energy Star... I am really confused.

read this to understand why Energy Star ratings for windows are garbage:

http://www.thermotechfiberglass.com/Column8.htm#def

also read:

http://www.thermotechfiberglass.com/elephant_article.pdf

You are probably right about Energy Star's validity. But half of their products are certified and half isn't. You cannot suck and blow at the same time. Either you are independently tested or you are not. Simply put, you get your certification and then educate people about the proper way of purchasing windows.

That same argument is probably used by windows that cannot achieve Energy Star Certification. This is just a starting point that 80% of the windows out there can meet. If you can't achieve the minimum, why talk about anything more?

Check out the National Fenestration Rating Council.

http://www.nfrc.org/

Independent third party testing of windows - these are the guys that make the little stickers that come on your windows. Brutal website to negotiate, but a lot of good info on there. Check out the windows I mentioned before - to see Serious Windows, look under 'Alpen' - Serious bought out Alpen a bit ago and that's who's making their windows....

Personally, I think Energy Star is mostly a joke - I can buy a POS exterior door from a big box home improvement store that I know is junk, but it has an energy star rating...

Oh - BTW - the thermo-tech you are talking about that sells a vinyl window - that is thermo-tech out of Minnesota. Totally different company than Thermotech Canada - The Canadian firm only sells fiberglass framed windows...

richntiff, oh btw you are 100% wrong! Go on their website and see for yourself in the supplier category. They carry North Star vinyl windows, unless North Star make fiberglass????? Thermotech does not carry a fiberglass slider and therefore have to sell vinyl.  See for yourself and thanks for coming out!


Also they just changed their website, no longer do they say they have the world's best window!

Richntiff is talking about:
http://www.thermotechfiberglass.com/thermotechAdv.htm

Their manufacturing plant is in Carp, ON and their showroom and head office is in Ottawa at this web site:

http://www.thermotechwindows.com/index.htm

They only manufacture fibreglass windows.

But they also sell North Star vinyl windows because some people cannot afford fibreglass frames. Simply a matter of the bottom line and keeping their installers busy.

And yes at: http://www.thermotechwindows.com/index.htm

it still says "The World's most Energy Efficient Windows and Doors".

Now windowrookie is richntiff still 100& wrong?

Terry - thanks for that, I honestly didn't realize they sell vinyl as well.

windowrookie - err, ok. whatever.

Remember there are 2 Thermotech's in Ontario. Thermotech manufacturing and Thermotech retailer, they are two separate companies. The manufacturer imports the fiberglass lineals, makes the windows and sells it to the retailer who sells it to the consumer. The retailer sells both Energy Star vinyl windows and Non Energy Star fiberglass windows, which doesn't make a lot of sense. If they are "the World's most energy efficient window's and doors" shouldn't they be able to meet and/or exceed Energy Star standards, I mean in Canada you are not eligible for the $60.00/window home audit for supposedly such a good window. Any news of a fiberglass slider Terry or just vinyl?

In Canada, to get a rebate on upgrades to energy efficiency, first you must have an energy audit - door blower test etc. Your house is then given a score.

Then do the upgrades - new furnace, doors, windows etc then another blower door test is done and the amount of the difference determines amount of rebate.

I was once told it is not possible to make an energy efficient slider window.

It is impossible to make a slider that is as efficient as a fixed window because you have moving parts, but you can compare the nfrc tested u-value of sliders by different manufacturers to see that some companies manufacture sliding windows that perform much better than others.

Richntiff - What are the u-values of the windows you are getting qoutes on (Thermotech, Inline, Serious, etc.)?

SoCalScott, check out the slider made by Schucco windows. The windows are viinyl but their slider works better than most double hungs.

I suggest anyone looking into Canadian Windows first look here for Thermal Performance>

http://www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential/business/manufacturers/search/windows-search.cfm?attr=4

And here for Structural (Air, Water, and Deflection)

http://directories.csa-international.org/cert_rec_srch.asp?txtDir=Building&Submit=Search&txtCustomer=&txtProvState=&txtCountry=&txtFile=&txtMajorClass=&txtMinorClass=&txtClassDesc=&txtKeyword

Scott - U values I've been getting quoted on are .17-.21 depending on manufacturer. Typically, I'm looking at a triple glazed, dual Low-E with hard or soft coat depending on where on the building they are located. South facing windows are spec'ed for higher SHGC as I have a sort of passive solar design going on.

Sliders and double hungs are just inherently less efficient in design than casements. Not sure you can ever work around all the obstacles to make one that is going to perform like a casement - especially when it comes to air infilitration.

Casements are definitely the way to go if you can meet the aesthetic and operational criteria.

It is not too difficult to find triple pane windows in the 0.15 U-factor range these days.