Window replacement comes with many benefits.
Replacing your windows can add to the curb appeal of your home, making it easier to sell and adding to your home’s value. It can also help you save more on your monthly energy bills and make your home more comfortable year-round, and make your home quieter and more insulated against the world around you.
The truth is that there are so many reasons to replace your windows, but it’s not exactly a cheap upgrade. There’s no doubt about it, window replacement is expensive, which is why most homeowners aren’t overly excited about the prospect of completing this upgrade until they absolutely have to.
7 Signs That it’s Time to Replace Your Windows
Sign #1. It’s no longer easy to open and close your windows.
There’s nothing more pleasant than opening all of the windows on a warm, slightly breezy day, or falling asleep with the windows open on a cool summer night. But, in order to enjoy these small life pleasures, your windows actually have to be able to open and close properly.
Does it take the strength of an army to heave your windows open? Do you have to use a block of wood to keep your windows propped open? Do you have to lock your windows in order to keep them closed?
There are lots of issues that can make opening and closing your windows difficult. For instance, if the frames have been warped or have started rotting, or if the frames have been displaced because of shifts in your home. Whatever the reason, if your windows are inoperable, you need to replace them.
Sign #2. You’ve got single-pane windows.
If you live in an older home, you may have single-pane windows. Single-pane windows are affordable, which is great, but they are extremely poor insulators. This can result in high energy bills.
Single-pane windows also negatively impact how comfortable you are in your home. In the summer, they allow warm outside air to leak into your home, and in the winter, they allow the heated air in your home to leak out.
If your home has single-pane windows, it’s time to consider replacing them.
Sign #3. Your energy bills are high.
Single-pane — or otherwise old, outdated, or damaged windows — can have a significant impact on your energy bills. As I mentioned, cheap, inefficient windows let outside air leak in, making your HVAC system work a lot harder to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.
The EnergyStar program from the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the average home in the United States could save between $126 and $465 a year by replacing single-pane windows with EnergyStar-qualified replacement windows.
The energy savings from replacing single-pane windows is significant, but I won’t pretend that window replacement will pay for itself from energy savings alone. It won’t, but you’ll be more comfortable and your home will be more energy-efficient.
Sign #4. You can hear a lot of outside noise.
Your windows are how you connect to the world around you, but the great thing about windows is that they can be closed and shutters can be drawn. They allow you to let as much or as little of the world around you into your life and into your home. But, if your windows are old and inadequate, they may let a lot of outside noise into your home, which cannot be so easily dealt with by closing the blinds.
Double-pane windows that are properly insulated do a much better job of keeping outside noise outside than outdated single-pane windows do. This can enhance your quality of life in so many ways, including a better night’s sleep, even if your neighbors are having a party or are noisily sitting around the fire pit.
Sign #5. There’s a buildup of condensation on your windows.
Have you noticed condensation building up between the panes in your double-pane windows or on the inside of your single-pane windows? In the winter, does that condensation turn into frost?
This is a surefire sign that any insulating gas that was previously keeping your windows sealed is now gone. Windows that are no longer properly sealed will make your home much less comfortable and wreak havoc on your energy bills.
Sign #6. Your window panes are decaying.
The condensation that sits on the glass can be wiped away, but it’s the condensation that you don’t see, and can’t be so easily wiped away, that causes the most damage. When the condensation starts building up on wooden window frames, it leads to rot, mold, and decay.
Decaying window frames no longer hold their seal and don’t often operate properly. If you’ve had issues with condensation building up on your windows, make sure to keep a close eye on your window panes for signs of rot.
Sign #7. Your window frames are warped, broken, or otherwise damaged.
The integrity of the window frames is just as important as the integrity of the glass on the windows. Window frames that are chipped, water damaged, or have started to decay won’t be able to provide you with the seal you need against the outside world.
Your windows, like your exterior walls, are standing between you and the outside world, which means that they are constantly exposed to the elements. Over time, the elements can damage your windows, making it impossible for them to do their job.
If you’ve decided that the time has come to replace your windows, it’s important that you find the right local home contractor for the job. With the right contractor, you can maximize the benefits of window replacement, therefore, maximizing your investment.
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