If you're considering having new windows installed in your home, you should know that getting UV filtering windows can make a big difference to your life. Reducing the amount of UV radiation that enters your home can help to protect you, your home, and your pets from harm. Keep reading to learn the kind of damage UV radiation can do and why you should act to reduce exposure to it.

UV Damage To Pets

Seeing a pet happily sunning itself in a puddle of light coming through a window is a sweet sight, but it could potentially harm your pet. UV radiation can cause skin cancer in pets, just like humans, and light-colored pets are especially at risk. Although windows can filter out a good amount of UVB radiation, they don't filter out very much UVA radiation at all. Considering that UVA radiation is responsible for the deeper form of skin damage that's generally cited as the cause of many types of skin cancers, even a pet enjoying sunlight indoors could be at risk.

UV Damage To Your Eyes

Wearing sunglasses indoors isn't very practical, but without UV filtering windows, it might be necessary. UVA radiation can cause long-term damage to your eyes and increase your risk of developing macular degeneration later on in life. Unfortunately, while many people wear sunglasses outdoors, doing so indoors isn't common practice, so choosing windows made out of a glass that filters out all forms of UV radiation is ideal.

UV Damage To Objects

If harming you and your pets isn't enough, UV radiation also damages objects. UV radiation is the main culprit that's responsible for causing objects to fade due to sun exposure. You've probably pulled a book off a shelf at some point and noticed that its spine was a vastly different color from the rest of the book's cover: this is UV radiation in action. The damage isn't limited to books, either, as tapestries, photos, and even paint can be altered by UV radiation over time.

If you'd like to avoid these problems in your home, the best thing you can do is to choose glass that filters out UV rays. This type of window is a valuable long-term investment and can protect you, your loved ones, and your home for years to come. Find out what UV-filtering options your local window installation company offers when you next buy new windows for your home.