So you had some work done on your roof and installed siding as well, hoping that those can help improve your home’s insulation and lower your energy consumption. After a few months, you were shocked to learn that your bill barely changed. At this moment, it’s probably safe to assume that your roof and walls are not to blame for the spike in your power use. Something else must be causing it.
There’s another part of your home with a significant impact on your home’s energy efficiency that you should check as well—your windows. Like your roof and walls, they, too, serve as insulation for your home, and if damaged or worn down, they can cause temperature leak that adds pressure to your HVAC system. Inefficient or dysfunctional windows not only lead to high electricity bills but also to some issues related to poor cooling and ventilation.
Signs that You Need New Windows
Deciding to replace your windows isn’t as straightforward as it seems. Certain essential factors have to be considered to make sure you are not ripping to shreds healthy windows and installing even less efficient ones. To help you verify the urgency of your decision, here are some tell-tale signs that you should watch out for.
- Difficulty Opening or Closing
- . If opening or closing your windows seems harder than usual, check if a foreign object accidentally got caught in the pivot’s path. If there’s none and the issue persists, then there must be something wrong with the frame. It must have lost alignment after an earthquake or due to improper handling. Find out if other windows have the same problem, and if so, it’s time for a major window replacement project.
- Foggy Glass Panes
- . Windows turn murky from time to time, especially when the weather is bad. If the cloudiness occurs between the glass panes, however, it’s not a good sign. This means outside air has already broken in to the panes and caused a buildup of condensation, consequently rendering them totally useless against the sun’s radiation. Even if you try to fix this kind of damage, it will simply boil down to replacing the glass panes, which can be no less expensive than a complete replacement.
- Outside Noise Is Seeping Through
- . The best thing about windows is that they can also shut out outside noise. So if you’re living in the city, amidst a bustling neighborhood, you can greatly benefit from soundproof windows. If you notice a sudden increase in the loudness of outside noise, it could be a red flag that your windows are starting to fail. Better inspect them and find out what caused them to loosen up and allow sound to leak either way.
- Draft Doesn’t Go Away Even When the Windows Are Closed
- . You may check the condition of your home windows by feeling the sides of the frame or any corner that was caulked to shut air out. If you feel draft coming in from more than one side and from more than one window, start thinking about repair. Call in a window expert to find out whether or not the windows can still be fixed or salvaged.
- Damaged Frame
- . Regardless of the material, the frame of your windows are expected to stay in shape for many years. So if you discover chips, mold growth, or soft portions on them, it means they are probably in their final years and it’s time to replace them with new windows. Damage on window frames is usually caused by poor coating, which allows water to seep through open fissures.
When choosing replacement windows, appearance should be the least of your concern. Your first priority should be energy efficiency, especially if one of the reasons you are replacing your old windows in the first place is the inexplicable spike in your electricity bill. Energy-efficient windows can help lower your energy consumption. You won’t have to worry about aesthetics anyway because energy-efficient windows are just as appealing, if not better-looking, as their conventional counterparts.
In fact, that’s where home improvement can be confusing. Because it’s hard to see the difference between a regular window and an energy-efficient window, you can be tempted to stick to the former, especially because the latter is a little bit costlier due to its additional features. Then again, shifting to the energy-efficient option can save you a lot of money in the long run, so it’s apparently the better choice. Here’s some basic information to give you a good sense of what an energy-efficient window looks like and how it works.
- It has a glass coating
- . Windows with Energy Star normally have low-emissivity (or Low-E) glass panes. These glass panes can block up to 90% of the sun’s rays, keeping the heat inside the home when it’s cold and outside when it’s hot. They can also be glazed, tinted, filled with gas, and applied with a reflective coating to further improve their heat tolerances and emissivity.
- It has spacers
- . Traditional windows are recognizable through their thick glass panes. This design adopts the idea that increasing the thickness of the glass helps block more light and heat from the sun. In truth, this doesn’t make that much of a difference. Having two glass panes with a sufficient space between them filled with argon happens to be a much better alternative. This design helps keep a window thermally efficient and condensation free. The spacer that keeps the two panes apart must be made of a polymer structural foam for better insulation.
- Its frame has higher corrosion resistance
- . One of the downside to traditional windows with metal frame is the damage corrosion can cause them. Rust can rapidly eat through the frame, creating gaps along the wall, sill, and even the glass panes. Today’s metal window frames are more durable because they are made from tough, corrosion-resistant metal. Even with regular protective coating, the frame can withstand whatever nature throws at it.
Ready to replace your windows? Don’t be hasty. Make sure to find the right contractor for the job first. With the multitudes of residential window replacement companies out there, it can be hard to find one that can meet your specific needs. Muller Exteriors, one of the best window replacement companies in Chicago, has the proper skill and means to accomplish such an important project with excellence. Partnering with an experienced contractor guarantees the success of your project.
