You may have moved into an older home and notice that the windows are showing signs of aging and are a bit drafty. Our maybe you have owned your home for 15 or 20 years and want a new look for your home.
If you are trying to decide if you should replace them, you should consult the help of a local window company in your area so they can help you determine the needs of your home along with your personal taste when before buying replacement windows.
An important thing to consider is the climate that you live in and what weather conditions your home in exposed to. Window companies make windows specific to certain climates and weather conditions, and they also make sure that the outside seals surrounding your windows are made with materials that keep away the outside elements from getting inside your home. For example, if you are in Bethesda, Md you would want to consider installing different windows than someone from southern California. By the way, if you are in Bethesda – we have a great Bethesda Window Replacement company you can contact for a free in-home evaluation. Contact me here or click above.
If you live in a colder climate and have some windy conditions a double hung window in a wooden frame is best for low temperatures, the outside wood is clad in either vinyl or aluminum, which keeps out the cold air. Prices run from $260 to $400 per window.
For rainy climates, there are specific weather shield double hung windows where the outside wood is clad in fiberglass or vinyl to keep the rain out of your home. Prices range from $170 to $460 per window.
For warm climates a good double hung window clad in vinyl is a good choice, it will keep out the rain and will keep in your air conditioning from getting outside, and prices start at $190.
Nowadays many windows carry an energy rating label which helps home owners choose more energy efficient windows. The labels have been developed by the National Fenestration Rating Council where window companies can register their windows with the council through a certification program that measures heat loss and gain methods through U factors, the lower the U factor a window has the more energy efficient a window is. It’s sort of like buying appliances now, everything comes with a label explaining their energy efficiency.
The most efficient windows keep heat trapped inside in the winter and keep heat trapped outside during summer, and a special window coating can help provide that. Spectrally selective coatings are placed on the windows and are virtually invisible, they are rated by the amount of heat they allow to penetrate through the window, the lower the number the less heat that will be able to get through. You should check with your city or utility company to see if they offer any rebates for buying more energy efficient windows, some cities do offer rebates.
If you are going to invest in new windows make sure you do your homework and research different window brands that offer more energy efficiency, or talk with a window company about your needs, they can help you pick out the best windows for your home and the climate of your home.
By keeping the weather elements outside of your home and your cooling and heating inside of your home you will save on your utility bills and enjoy a comfortable climate in your home.