Like any other part of your home, from the roof to the siding, your windows have a useful lifespan. After that, you’ll need to start looking into window replacement if you want to maintain the protection your windows offer your family in terms of the outdoor elements (heat, cold, moisture, dust, pollen), noise and safety. New windows are also usually an aesthetic upgrade for your home — giving your house a facelift and increasing its value and curb appeal.
Eventually, you’ll need to replace your windows if you want to keep the outdoors outside and the indoors inside. And this is an expensive proposition, under any circumstance. But there are benefits to consider, and aspects to keep in mind to make sure you’re getting a great value, no matter what type of replacement windows you choose.
Benefits
Energy Efficiency
With older windows, part of your daily investment in heating and cooling your home leaks out around every window. If you’ve noticed your energy bills are creeping upwards (not just due to inflation, but the actual energy used for heating and cooling), or you can feel the drafts of hot or cool air entering from outside, your windows probably need to be replaced. Installing new windows can cut down on this energy expense as soon as the installation is complete. Most homeowners notice an immediate improvement in their home’s energy bills after a window replacement.
Environmental Impact
Alongside a reduction in the cost of your home’s heating and cooling bills, every bit of energy saved in your home translates to less energy used which reduces your family’s environmental impact. Making good choices for the planet can help you sleep more comfortably at night, knowing you’re reducing your impact on the planet.
Safety
Updated replacement windows are more secure against intruders and break-ins, helping to keep your home secure and your family safe.
Health
When your windows are leaking air (and heating and cooling) out, that means that they are also letting air in, along with dust, pollen, and other outdoor contaminants. This outdoor pollution coming inside can be particularly problematic for babies, the elderly, or anyone with asthma or other breathing problems. Updated windows help to keep outdoor air out and indoor air in.
Curb Appeal
Not only will new windows give your home’s appearance an instant upgrade, it’s also so much easier to keep modern windows clean. With most models, there’s no longer a need to climb up on a ladder — most types can be cleaned by tilting the windows, eliminating the dangerous and stressful work of upper floor window cleaning, and allowing this task to be taken care of much more often, keeping your home looking its best.
Considerations
Choose the Right Window Replacement Company
Not all window replacement companies are the same. For the best value, you want to choose a local energy efficient window company with a great reputation. When you hire a window replacement company, you aren’t just buying the windows, you’re also investing in the installation work and any future service or repairs from the window contractor itself. Choosing a local, reputable company helps to ensure that the work will be done correctly the first time, and helps to give you peace of mind that if any problems crop up, you’ll have someone nearby to call to get it fixed.
Communicate Your Priorities and Budget Restraints
However great your window replacement company is, they can only provide top-notch recommendations and products if they really know what you’re looking for. Make sure your replacement window company knows which of the benefits of new windows are most driving your decision to install new windows, and make sure you’ve communicated what a comfortable budget is for you. Given these parameters, they’ll be able to make the right recommendations for you and your home.
If you’re in the Cincinnati area and are interested in learning more about replacement energy-efficient windows for your home, give us a call here at Harper Siding & Roofing. We can give you personalized advice on the benefits of adding energy efficient windows to your home, and can help you make the right choice for your home and budget.