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With the large majority of homes in Western Pennsylvania being more than 15 years old, many homeowners are looking to replace their worn-out windows.
Most people look at new windows as an expense, they’re not. New windows and doors are an investment in your home which, if made wisely, not only increases the value of your home, but cuts your energy bills, increases your comfort and reduces maintenance costs. costs. With energy and material costs skyrocketing, now may the best time to make the move to replace those old windows. However, like any investment decision you need to educate yourself so you really understand what you are getting for your money.
Since it represents the largest area of the window, glass obviously has the biggest impact on energy loss. Glass technology has made tremendous strides. Things like low conductivity spacers, low emissivity, or Low-E coatings and gas filling have cut the amount of energy that flows through the glass.
Low-E is an almost invisible metallic coating that works like a one-way mirror, reflecting heat back into your home during the winter and reflecting it out during the summer. There are different types of Low-E coatings with different performance levels. Better performing coatings, like Titanium, cost a more, but are worth the money.
Inert gases, like argon and krypton, are also used to improve the energy efficiency of the glass. They are less conductive than normal air, reducing energy losses across the air space between the two panes of glass. Warm edge spacers that separate the glass pains decrease heat losses through the spacer channel and also reduce condensation on the edges of the glass compared to conventional metal spacers.
Windows are also available with different framing materials. Overall vinyl is the most widely used material for residential applications. Today’s vinyl compounds have great weatherability, are easy to clean and are virtually maintenance free. The low thermal conductivity of vinyl also makes it a great material for minimizing energy losses through the framing materials. By itself, vinyl tends not to be as strong as some other materials and screws in vinyl can tend to loosen under stress. However, if the vinyl shapes are designed with multi-hollow cavities for stiffness, and properly reinforced with aluminum in all the major structural areas, it does a great job.
There are a number of other design details to consider. For example, be sure the windows are custom made to precisely fit the existing openings in your home. Are they easy to open and operate for cleaning? How are the windows weather-stripped? Is it trapped in a track or does it try to seal on an edge, which makes the quality of the installation more critical.
Find out about the interior and exterior trim packages. Is the exposed wood on the exterior covered with custom formed trim? What about the interior? Make sure that fiberglass batt insulation is added in any space created between the new window and the frame of the opening. Doing this cuts air leakage around the window and insulates the space. Even the quality of the caulking is important.
Warranties
Warranties are also very important. Be sure you understand them fully. Just because it says Lifetime don’t assume every component of the window and installation is covered forever.
Bottom Line:
Take the time to understand what you’re getting for your money. Take the time to look for the investment that gives you the greatest value, not the lowest price. It’s also important that all concerned buying parties be present for any discussions. It eliminates confusion and allows everyone to be clear on what you are getting and agree on what options make your investment complete.
Good resource information:
“The Dozen Things to Know Before Investing In New Windows”,
Energy Swing Windows - 724-387-2991
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