subject: Step by Step Guide to Picking Replacement Windows [print this page] Step by Step Guide to Picking Replacement Windows
It is inevitable these days that a conversation with friends is going to turn to the energy bills. The cost of heating and cooling a home has been as volatile as the price of a tank of gas. So why is it that your friends in the new home or condo seem to be paying less than you? There is any number of factors at place when calculating an energy bill. For instance, the sort of installation filling the outer walls or the age and state of the homes HVAC system can play a huge roll in month cost of heating or cooling a home. Making major changes to those can be expensive or even impossible. One of the easy changes that can be made to improve your monthly energy bill is the windows.
A home's windows are often the weakest link in its energy efficacy. Old or poorly installed windows can become drafty and these release conditioned air. Older windows may conduct heat and therefore act as a vector for energy. By replacing the old and inefficient windows, you will be able to reduce your monthly energy bill and improve your home's style!
The first step is to choose between operable and fixed windows. Operable windows can open and close. These windows will allow you to cool your home with a cool breeze but they are not as energy efficient as fixed windows. This is why you often see large office buildings with fixed windows. By sealing the building windows, they have greater control over the buildings environment.
The next step is to determine the style of window. The style you close is going to be dictated by the style of your home. This does not mean you do not have choices. Manufactures of windows have designed different sorts of windows within architectural styles. If you have a ranch style home, you will be able to find windows that fit your needs.
While you may be limited by the architectural style of your home, you do have some choice in the material that the window is made out from. The material you choose is going to be dictated by your budget and where you live. Wood framed windows are highly resistant to cold and moisture, but can swell, shrink and warp if you live in a place where temperature changes rapidly. Vinyl is durable and it too can but can become distorted with extreme temperature. Metal framed windows provide good installation, but humidity and salty air can cause the frames to break down.'
The third step is the overall efficiently of a new window. Energy Star, an EPA program, rates windows based on a number of factors. Energy Star breaks the US into climate zone and rates the window based on number of factors. It important to pick a window rated for your specific climate zone if you wish to quality for some state and federal tax credits. It is also important to keep in mind that a shaded window on the north side is going to need a different sort of window on an exposed south facing window.
Finally, it is important to think about cost. Taking all these other factors in mind determine what sort of window is right for you. With that knowledge you are shop around and find the best price. Installation is important. A poorly installed window makes the most energy efficient window inefficient.
