Did you know that the single largest source of energy loss in a home is its windows? Moreover, older homes with standard windows typically have higher-than-normal energy bills – in part because of doors and windows that seal poorly or offer no insulation. Energy exits the windows in three different scenarios; infiltration, conduction, and radiation.
Infiltration occurs when cold air leaks into your house through your windows, making your home feel drafty and uncomfortable. As cold air is coming in through the leaks, and warm air is escaping through other leaks, the biggest leaks for escaping air are often found in the windows, entry doors, the attic, and recessed lights. Does this sound like your home?
Conduction occurs when Mother Nature is heating and cooling the glass from the outside, while your home is trying to do it from the inside. Guess who wins? An example of Mother Nature winning the conduction game is icicles forming around the edge of the window. It’s no accident that heating and cooling vents are placed in front of windows.
Radiation is just what it means. Like a car’s radiator, your windows, will radiate your heating or cooling dollars right out the window.
From 2004 to 2008, the price of natural gas tripled. We all know that it will never go down. So it’s a safe bet that replacing your windows is a sure investment. You can expect to save from 30% to 50% on your energy bills when replacing your windows.
Now, what makes windows energy efficient and saves you a ton of money on your energy bills? You might be surprised to learn that multi-pane glass is no longer the main measure of efficiency. New advanced technologies and designs have dramatically improved the performance of most energy efficient windows. Glass coatings, gas fills, warm edge spacer technology (which eliminates the icicles around the edge of the inside glass), and improved framing materials enable replacement windows to deliver more benefits than just simple double pane windows.
Bottom Line – Be sure to purchase energy efficient windows that will pay for themselves over time.
Are “maintenance-free” windows really maintenance-free? In the world of windows, many of us are familiar with the outlandish sales talk and advertising claims that we hear and see in the media everyday. They all tell us that replacement windows will save us money on energy and maintenance. They all tell us that our home will be more comfortable and cozy. They also tell us that our home will be more valuable. So what is the real truth about replacement windows being maintenance free? Most thermal replacement windows are made of wood, vinyl, or a combination of the two. Vinyl windows require no painting inside or out, therefore eliminating the need to paint windows. By switching to maintenance free vinyl windows, you could save on your painting bills up to 50%. The truth is that vinyl windows still have to be cleaned, so they are not completely maintenance free. This exposes another issue that most replacement window dealers don’t tell you or want you to know.
Bottom Line – Replacing your windows with new vinyl windows delivers large savings in maintenance costs and convenience, because newer windows don’t require the maintenance and upkeep of older wood or aluminum windows.
When you get right down to it—new windows offer more than just saving money on your energy bills. Out of 1000 people surveyed from the Consumer Energy Alliance, 67% of the respondents said that HOME COMFORT was most important. Let’s face it—you want your house to be comfortable. Don’t you?
On cold winter nights, do you avoid chairs near the window? Do drafts chase you from room to room? When temperatures drop to the single digits, even tightly sealed double pane windows can still make you shiver. The cold, inside surface of an inefficient window pulls heat away from your body, so you’re still cold if you’re close to a window, unless you have the thermostat turned way up. With the proper replacement windows, the inside window glass stays warmer, so you can relax in your favorite window seat, even when the temperatures drop below freezing.
In the hot summer months, do your windows seem like giant heat lamps? Do you find yourself, closing all of the blinds, turning off all of the lights—trying to keep your air conditioning unit from running 24/7? A typical double-paned, clear glass window allows approximately 60% of the sun’s heat into your home. That’s almost as much as a single pane window. New thermal replacement windows will only transmit 30 % of the sun’s heat without noticeably reducing any light coming into your home. (Information is based on NFRC solar heat gain coefficients.)
No matter if you’re battling the freezing cold or the dog days of summer, you can relax and be comfortable year round if you replace your old windows with new vinyl energy efficient windows.
Parts of our state are exposed to tough environmental conditions, such as areas of heavy industry, areas in wide open spaces, or neighborhoods with a large number of trees. Airborne particles are very common in these environments and stick to windows. That means frequent washing. Thankfully, there are now windows on the market that ease that cleaning process. Many double-hung windows feature tilt-in sash designs that allow the exterior glass to be cleaned from the inside. This is one feature that has made the double-hung window, one of the most widely chosen windows in the home improvement industry.
Bottom Line – If one of the most important factors for you replacing your windows is the ease of cleaning, then choosing the double-hung window with the tilt-in sash feature will accomplish this for you.
A recent national research study examined the cost of replacement windows in an average-sized home. They looked at how much the windows would add to a home’s value if sold a year later. This 2005 research study conducted by Remodeling Magazine (a Hanley-Wood, LLC trade publication) utilized professional opinions of over 200 real estate agents and determined that new windows will add 125% of their cost to the value of their home. The benefits start immediately when you replace your windows. From enhancing your home’s interior to adding to its curb appeal, new windows transform a home from ordinary to outstanding. What’s more, they provide one of the best returns on investment of any home improvement project. You should never buy windows that are not backed by a full Lifetime Guarantee on the frame, sash, moving parts and performance of the window. Read all guarantees carefully. What the large print gives, the fine print takes away.
Bottom Line – Carefully chosen, few investments can add more value to a home than new windows. Replacement windows add value from every perspective. Read the fine print carefully to determine the best value.
Every day you whisper a promise to your child, “I’ll always love you and keep you safe”. As you know, keeping your home and children safe requires more than promises. It can only be done with safety awareness, emergency planning and preventive action. Fires and falls of all kinds are among the leading causes of injury and death in young children. While some falls occur from windows, it’s important to realize that in a fire, a window can save a child’s life – if the window can be easily opened from the inside. That is why windows play a critical role in home safety. Fire is frightening. All too often, the bodies of young children are found after a fire in places where they tried to hide. Teach your children that they can’t hide from fire; they must escape it. Windows provide one of the fastest, easiest ways out of a burning home. Decide on at least two emergency escape routes from your home. Teach children how to safely escape through windows and take time to practice. Every family member should know how to operate the windows used for fire emergencies. Delays in escaping from a fire, cost lives and increase injuries. Often paint, dirt, or weathering can seal a window shut. Make sure your windows open easily from the inside and are not blocked by furniture or other objects. Remember that security bars, grilles, grates and window guards not only keep intruders out; they can also lock you in. Everyone should always be able to get out through a window without using tools, keys, special knowledge or effort.
Another important point to research is the amount of egress, or space that you would have to escape through a window. Windows with a block and tackle balance system will give you maximum egress versus constant force and spiral balance systems. You also get more space to escape through a window if the sash (the framed glass panel) can be tilted, removed, or opened quickly.
Bottom Line – Replacement windows can provide added safety to your family and your home.
