Are Your Old Windows Costing You Money?
How old are your windows? If they’re rather old, they may be costing you money. Today, new windows have technology included to insulate your home and keep it warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Older windows just don’t do that. There are a number of ways in which older windows could be costing you money. Here are a few to consider.
Higher Heating and Cooling Bills
Older windows may have single pane glass, which does virtually nothing to block air from coming into your home…and going out as well. Even if you have double pane glass, if they are older, they may have broken seals or leak air around the frames. Old frames can warp and crack, especially if they are wood and not well maintained. All of these issues can lead to higher heating and cooling bills. Your HVAC system has to work harder to keep the temperature you want inside which makes you pay more for something you aren’t even enjoying.
More Repair Bills
Older windows may have trouble opening or closing and maybe doesn’t lock. Those repairs are going to start to add up and cost you more than you would like to pay. Instead of paying for continuous repairs consider replacing your windows instead.
Getting new windows is a big investment but pays off in the long run. Energy efficient options seal your home up and keep the warm air in during the winter and out during the summer. You won’t have to worry about hot and cold spots in your home with new windows, which also cost less for maintenance. Even though you are paying for new windows upfront, they pay you back. First in energy and maintenance savings and later in a higher home value if you sell your house.
How to Know When It’s Time to Replace Old Windows
In an age when “smart” is used as an adjective to describe phones, gadgets and even appliances, it can be easy to look around your home and think how virtually everything around you could benefit from a little brain power.
Windows are different. They’re not “smart” – at least not yet – but they do come in energy-efficient varieties to help you preserve as much as 30% of the conditioned or heated air that could be seeping through your old windows right now.
So how do you know it’s time to replace your windows – maybe in favor of one of the energy-saving types favored by the U.S. Department of Energy? Heed these five warning signs and feel like one smart, savvy homeowner by scheduling a window consultation with Albuquerque’s foremost window experts.
- Rotting window frames are practically screaming for replacement because of their age or water damage. Window frames caving under the gentle pressure of a light touch are usually beyond repair. They will soon sag, if they haven’t already.
- Windows are difficult to open, close and lock are ready for a fix, beyond trying to keep them propped open with a book. Wood windows are particularly notorious for growing more stubborn to operate as they age.
- Condensation can be tempting to ignore because it doesn’t seem serious. In fact, the buildup of moisture between layers of glass means the seals have failed. Once this happens, any insulating gas that once made the window energy efficient is gone.
- Outdoor noise can be easy to ignore, especially the longer you put up with it. It may help to remember that windows should provide protection from outdoor noise. If your windows are closed and you can clearly hear a car passing or a next-door neighbor talking in the yard, your window seals may be broken.
Single-pane windows are typically drafty and inferior to double or triple-pane glass windows. And since glass is a poor insulator, you’re bound to feel the effect during hot Albuquerque summers.
These signs may point you to Millers – a full-service insulation and replacement window and door company that serves homeowners in central and northern New Mexico. Call us for an in-home consultation and you’ll feel like the smartest homeowner in town for choosing Albuquerque’s foremost window expert to assess the condition of your windows.
