Glass does not retain heat well. In the winter, your warm inside air meets your glass window and because heat moves from warm objects to cold ones, the heat moves through the glass and into the cold outside air. You have to run your heat continuously in winter because heat is escaping from the warm inside to the cold outside. The great news is that acrylic retains heat well. Because we use acrylic, Indow inserts transmit heat seven times more slowly than regular glass. As a result, heat moves from the insert and through the window frame to the cold outside air much more slowly. Warm inside air moving out more slowly means you don’t have to run your heating system as much to maintain your desired temperature. In turn, you save on energy bills. This is a benefit in summer as well. Since Indow inserts retain heat well, the hot outside air penetrates into your home much more slowly, so you don’t need to run your AC as much to maintain your desired temperature.

P polarised lightapp

*We want to ensure our inserts help solve your noise problem. Overall noise reduction depends on the amount of noise coming through your walls, ceilings, floors, doors, and existing windows. Noise reduction will be less when placed over double-pane windows. Read our full Noise Reduction Sheet to learn more.

Light is the interaction of electric and magnetic fields travelling through space. The electric and magnetic vibrations of a light wave occur perpendicularly to each other. The electric field moves in one direction and the magnetic field in another ‘perpendicular to each other. So, we have one plane occupied by an electric field, another plane of the magnetic field perpendicular to it, and the direction of travel is perpendicular to both. These electric and magnetic vibrations can occur in numerous planes. A light wave that is vibrating in more than one plane is known as unpolarized light. The light emitted by the sun, by a lamp or a tube light are all unpolarised light sources. As you can see in the image below, the direction of propagation is constant, but the planes on which the amplitude occurs are changing.

Circular polarization

There are two linear components in the electric field of light that are perpendicular to each other such that their amplitudes are equal, but the phase difference is π/2. The propagation of the occurring electric field will be in a circular motion.

The other kind of wave is a polarized wave. Polarized waves are light waves in which the vibrations occur in a single plane. Plane polarized light consists of waves in which the direction of vibration is the same for all waves. In the image above, you can see that a plane polarized light vibrates on only one plane. The process of transforming unpolarized light into polarized light is known as polarization. The devices like the polarizers you see are used for the polarization of light.

P polarised lightmeaning

Indow does not recommend our inserts as a window replacement product. They should always supplement an existing window. This is because, when compared 1:1, acrylic is not necessarily better than glass for noise reduction and scratch resistance. Indow inserts are designed to be a secondary window product, never a primary.

The insert fits like a glove and insulates the window! No more frost and condensation on the interior of the window! Thank you for an easy, effective and attractive fix!

Much thought and consideration went into the decision to use acrylic panels over glass. It was absolutely the right decision. As a result, Indow is able to offer a product that reduces heat loss, condensation, and noise and is easy and safe to handle. And because acrylic is cheaper than glass, we are able to offer it at a fraction of the cost of expensive window replacements. Take a look at all product types to learn about other issues Indow inserts can help you address.

Linearly polarizedlight

The electric field of light follows an elliptical propagation. The amplitude and phase difference between the two linear components are not equal.

Transverse waves are waves, in which the movement of the particles in the wave is perpendicular to the direction of motion of the wave.

Let’s talk about condensation and if glass or acrylic is better at combating it. To do so, we’re going to have to get a bit scientific again. Ready? The dew point is the temperature at which air cannot hold any more moisture. And that temperature is lower than the air temperature. When air hits a cold surface, its temperature drops. When the air reaches its dew point, water will form on the cold surface. We already learned that glass does not retain heat well, so when it’s cold outside, the glass is also cold. When the outside temperature cools the glass to the dew point of the inside air, condensation will form on the window when the inside air meets the glass. Indow inserts are great at reducing or eliminating condensation because it retains heat so well. The cold air will not be able to cool the acrylic to the indoor air’s dew point. For a less condensed explanation of this issue and how acrylic can eliminate it, read more here about removing window condensation.

We are thrilled with our Indow window inserts! I'd been on the lookout for a more permanent solution to leaky windows in our third floor living space. I discovered Indow on social media but since then have learned of friends who'd had Indow recommended to them by their rennovation contractor. The entire process went smoothly with friendly reps at hand to talk through questions during measuring, etc. They fit perfectly and help us to maintain the beautiful design of the windows on our 100 year old home! Highly recommend!!

Brian was very helpful & informative. He helped me order the correct windows for my needs. They were shipped with the utmost of care & arrived ahead of schedule. Ultimately, the Indow Windows have been very helpful in muffling unwanted noises & they have helped save on our energy costs. Thank you, Indow Window!

Now that we know what acrylic is, let’s talk about why Indow chose acrylic over glass for their interior storm window inserts. Performance and aesthetic were key in making this decision.

They are great. We live next to a busy street, so noise abatement was our primary interest. They have signicantly reduced street noise, and we'd definitely recommend these to anyone.

From start to finish, we were very pleased with our rep, Reed, and the other staff at the PDX will call! The inserts themselves are stupendous! We purchased six total for the noisiest, road side(s) of our home. The outcome was beyond our expectations! Not only did the three rooms that bordered the road become at least 70% quieter, the other end of our home did as well! I cannot recommend Indow inserts more! The technology makes sense to add the inserts rather than purchasing new windows. Great results and thank you! Paul and Paula Spilsbury

Another reason why we chose acrylic over any type of glass insert is because of the weight and clarity. The weight of ⅛’’-thick glass is 1.62 pounds per square foot. The weight of ⅛’’-thick acrylic is 1 pound per square foot. A 3×4’ Indow insert will weigh 12 pounds, while a 3×4’ glass insert will weigh around 19.44. 3×4’ is considered an average window, but you may have larger windows. Using the lighter acrylic for our inserts allows for much easier handling during installation and removal. Additionally, acrylic can withstand high impact and pressure. On the off chance that it breaks, it won’t shatter into sharp shards like glass does. That’s why it’s used on submarines and airplanes.

Plane polarizedlight

Polarization, in Physics, is defined as a phenomenon caused due to the wave nature of electromagnetic radiation. Sunlight travels through the vacuum to reach the Earth, which is an example of an electromagnetic wave. These waves are called electromagnetic waves because they form when an electric field interacts with a magnetic field. In this article, you will learn about two types of waves, transverse waves and longitudinal waves. You will also learn about polarization and plane polarised light.

The Commercial Grade insert comes with an additional one-sided or two-sided film that makes it more abrasion resistant. It performs better than anti-scratch window film, making it an appropriate solution for sports facilities and other highly trafficked areas in which they might be bumped much more than in your home. While the Commercial Grade is available to all Indow clients, including those with residential projects, the additional abrasion-resistant film is not absolutely necessary if you plan to keep your inserts in place and you do not have children or pets running out. For those who do have energetic children and lively pets, the Commercial Grade is a great solution.

You’ve likely heard of plexiglass. What you may not know is that “plexiglass” is a word that came into being through the brand Plexiglas®. When a company dominates the market for a product, the brand name can become the name used for the product itself. The last time you had a paper cut, you probably walked to the medicine cabinet for a Band-Aid instead of a bandage. Plexiglas® is the brand that dominated the market for acrylic, a plastic material that is extremely difficult to break. Even when it does break, it does not shatter. Additionally, acrylic has a very high clarity. Hey, that sounds like it might be the ideal material for a window insert!

Unpolarizedlight

To address noise issues, Indow created the Acoustic Grade insert. It is the thickest insert offered at ¼’’ and reduces noise coming through your window opening by 50-70%*. When your Indow representative considers solutions to your noise issues, they want to know how much space you are able to put between your window and your insert, the type of noise that is bothering you, and the distance from the source of the noise. The bigger the air gap between the window and insert you can create, the better noise reduction you are going to observe.

It might come as a surprise to hear that glass has a visible light transmittance score of less than 100%. However, if you think about driving in a car with a clean window that’s rolled up, you have great visibility through the window, but if you roll it down the picture outside of the window is even clearer. It might also come as a surprise that acrylic has a higher visible light transmittance than glass. A single-pane window has a transmittance of 90%, while a Standard Grade Indow insert is 92%. Yet another reason Indow chose acrylic for our inserts: we want you to feel results without seeing the technology behind them.

This is a 5 star company from beginning to end. I purchased the I inserts in 2017 because the bedroom on the second story faced the street. These are very effective for street noise. Noticed a problem on one of the windows recently and they quickly took care of it due to their warranty. Customer service personnel are very helpful. The price of the windows was acceptable for top quality of sleep and less noise during the day

Circularly polarizedlight

The process for ordering and installing the Indow Widnow inserts was so easy. They sent the measuring information and it had great instructions. The inserts were delivered by UPS was crushed on one corner, but the company had packed them well, so there was no damage. We installed them the same day. It works best if you have two people completing the installation. We felt the results immediately and are glad we spent the money to make our home just a little more efficient.

For townhouse living, this solved my problem with noise from my neighbor's with my kitchen window. A considerable decrease of noise indeed! Measurements were a bit frustrating so I recommend using a laser measurement device and following directions to use a string for the diagonal. They look great and were easy to push into place. I highly recommend as an alternative to buying a new window.

Our home was built in 1913 and has beautiful old wavy glass single-paned windows. I’m so glad we were told about Indows and didn’t have to replace the original windows. We live in Canada but had no difficulty placing the order and were very impressed by how accurately the company met its deadlines, including cross border delivery. The Indows inserts blend in perfectly with our home and the existing window frames. You don’t see them unless you’re actually looking for them. But what we did notice was how much warmer the rooms feel the minute the inserts were installed! I can’t speak to any heating bill savings because they just went in this week, but our home feels much, much cozier. Our contractor who took all the measurements and installed the Indows says: “Excellent instructional videos: clear and informative. Very impressed with the design and the product. Overall, the ease of installation is quite impressive. Working with all the staff at the company was great – everyone was very helpful.” I’m already recommending this company to any of my friends who live in drafty older homes and want to reduce their heating/cooling bills and do some good for the environment.

The process could've been smoother with the sending of the measuring kit. There was a delay with weather in Oregon but then it felt like my kit was still delayed due to other reasons. Most new homes (like mine) have textured paint and it can also be inside your window frames. I measured everything out but I still have little tiny gaps due to the texturing. Not indows problem but just be aware you made need to sand or fill in those gaps yourself to get a perfect seal. I did the acoustic grade inserts and they have reduced some noise but they will not completely block or significantly reduce road noise. This is most apparent with deep or lower frequencies like truck exhausts or modified street racing cars that are quite popular these days. Taking the inserts out to open your windows isn't an easy task. The little metal hook they provide needs to be either bigger or you can attach something to it as a way to leverage yourself. Overall the process was average. I think they're definitely a good option for weatherproofing and some sound reduction depending on the type of windows you have. I would purchase again.

Don't be afraid of buying an older home with single pane windows. This company has you covered. Their inserts are super high quality and fit well thanks to the laser measuring kit they send. Highly recommended!

s-polarization vsppolarization

Do you mind chatting about science for a moment? We promise it will be quick and painless. Heat flows from warmer objects to colder objects. Imagine holding an ice cube. Because heat moves from warmer objects to colder ones, heat moves from your hand to the ice cube, causing it to melt. If heat moved from colder objects to warmer ones, then your hand would warm up while holding ice and the ice would remain intact.

Indow is proud to work with local recyclers within Portland for our leftover acrylic materials. We also donate materials to Scrap. Scrap upcycles already manufactured materials for artistic purposes and to create new use for these existing items.

Right window fitted with Indow insert, left window has no insert. The white thermal imaging of the left window indicates that heat is escaping through the window more quickly than the right window with its insert keeping heat in.