With the mercury dropping and energy prices on the rise, homeowners are looking for ways to keep their homes comfortable. Installing new windows can help your home’s insulation this winter, but how does that work? What should homeowners know about choosing the right windows?
Do You Need New Windows?
First, make sure that your home genuinely needs new windows. You can do this in several ways:
- Look at the windows in your home. Do you see damage to the frames? Do you have any cracked panes? If you answered yes, then you need to invest in replacements.
- Inside your home, hold your hand near a window. Do you feel a temperature difference closer to the window? Do you feel air flowing from outside? These are definitely signs you need new windows.
It’s All About the Panes
If your home has old, single-pane windows, it’s well past time to upgrade to something newer. You have a couple of options, but both of them introduce multi-pane glass that can reduce heat transfer from inside your home to the outside world.
Most homeowners will benefit from double-paned windows that use two panes of glass with an inert gas like argon between them. The gap and the inclusion of argon help reduce the flow of heat outward and cold inward, ensuring that your home stays more comfortable in the winter. You’ll also notice the benefits in the summer!
You can also choose triple-paned windows. These add another pane of glass and another layer of inert gas to the mix. They’re definitely more energy efficient than single-paned windows, but the increased cost over double-paned windows means that they really only make sense for homeowners who live in areas where severe heat or cold are common.
Replacement Frames Help
While you’ll notice the greatest increase in efficiency with double-paned glass, don’t forget about the impact of new frames. If your old frames had gaps or were beginning to rot, it’s possible that air could move in and out of your home easily. New windows come with new frames (and the chance to repair any damage to your home around aging frames). That will also help keep conditioned air where you want it (inside) and cold air outside.
Not sure you need new windows? Unsure which window types to consider? Get in touch with us today to learn more about your options and how new windows can help you stay comfortable all winter long.