Replacing Old Windows In Your Home

(HIT) - When this winter’s high heating bills begin to hit you where it counts, you may be surprised to find that cold air is leaking in (or warm air out) through holes in your walls that, combined, may be as large as a medium-size TV screen.

These "holes" are actually cracks and crevices that form, over time, in and around the frames of old windows in your home. Individually they may seem inconsequential, but a seemingly tiny one-sixteenth inch wide crack around the perimeter of a standard 3-foot by 5-foot window can add up to as much as 12 square inches of space.

Factor in the rest of the window frames in your home and you can see how these small cracks and crevices can grow into a major drain on your home's energy use ... and your wallet.

An annual caulking regimen is a good way to slow air infiltration and the resulting energy loss, but caulking products generally have poor insulating qualities and eventually will loose their grip on old, warped or loose-fitting windows. The long term solution is to replace old windows with new energy efficient replacements.

Shopping For Replacement Windows

When replacing old windows in your home, it pays to research window options carefully. Windows can be expensive, and much has changed over the years in replacement window technology. Fortunately, many manufacturers now offer high quality, energy efficient replacement windows, and replacing old windows with today's more energy efficient models is an investment that should pay dividends in both lower energy costs and an increase in the value of your home.

Wood windows are still quite popular, and new construction technologies make them much more energy efficient than their older counterparts. Vinyl replacement windows, pioneered by CertainTeed (www.CertainTeed.com), offer a combination of style, thermal efficiency, low maintenance and lasting performance—all at a competitive price.

Replacing Old Windows With Wood Replacements

Replacing drafty, single-pane windows with energy efficient wood windows pays you back in three different ways: you save on energy bills, you enhance the appearance of your home and you increase its resale value. But how fast replacement windows pay for themselves depends on how wisely you select and install them.

Many homeowners don’t realize that most wood "replacement" windows are just standard new construction windows with a different label. Installing them requires a complete tear-out to expose the original rough opening, so you almost always end up replacing all of the interior and exterior trim around your windows.

Not so with Classic View™ clad wood windows from Malta (www.maltawoodwindows.com). Classic View windows are true replacement windows designed to fit precisely into your home’s existing window openings. Because every window is custom sized to your exact requirements, installation can be completed quickly without damaging your interior casing and exterior brick mold. There’s no unnecessary labor costs, no mess, and it’s not even necessary to remove your draperies.

Classic View windows offer other benefits, too. They’re made of beautiful solid wood, nature’s best insulator. Foam-filled jamb lines, double-pane insulating glass and bulb-type weather stripping help create a classic window design that keeps heating and cooling costs to a minimum.

They’re not only energy efficient, but also ready for painting or staining to match your interior decor. Exteriors are clad with weather-resistant, low-maintenance vinyl and aluminum in a variety of colors that never need painting or refinishing. To make cleaning easy, both top and bottom sashes tilt for effortless access to outside glass from inside the home.

Replacing Old Windows With Vinyl Replacements

While shopping for vinyl replacement windows, keep in mind that all are not made the same. Learning some of the key points of distinction between vinyl window brands is important to finding the best possible window value. Inexpensive window brands abound, but as the saying goes, you often get what you pay for. Here are some things to consider:

• Double and triple pane replacement windows provide maximum thermal efficiency. They can also reduce or eliminate condensation problems that often plague less expensive alternatives.
• Low conductance spacers and argon gas used between panes of glass both provide additional energy efficiency.
• Double weatherstripping and integral glazing techniques help resist air and water infiltration.
• Tilt-in sashes make cleaning a breeze.
• For a perfect fit, look for window manufacturers that will custom build each window to your exact specifications.

The best manufacturers, like CertainTeed, offer all of the above features plus a lifetime warranty on their windows. Considering the size of the investment you're about to make, warranty comparison's should play an important role in your replacement window decision.

Don't Forget About Storm Windows

Even if you've just fitted your home with energy efficient replacement windows, storm windows can play an important role in the overall energy efficiency of your home. In fact, "insulating windows" might be a better term for storm windows, because that's exactly what they do.

A good storm window that fits over the entire frame of your existing window—forming a "dead air" space between—can reduce heat transfer by as much as one half. That's especially true if storm windows are fitted over older, single pane windows.

Storm windows also provide a measure of protection for new replacement windows, protecting them from the ravages of window and water. And storm windows can also reduce the amount of noise that gets inside your home.

Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center