subject: How To Replace Windows And Save Energy [print this page] Replacing your old windows may be the best thing you could do whether you are staying in your house or selling it, or live in a cold or warm climate. This qualifies you for a tax credit, saves between 10 and 25 percent every year on energy bills regardless if you're heating or cooling and increases the value of your home if you decide to put it on the market in the future.
If you have issues with budget and can only do a room or a few columns at a time, this can be a do-it-yourself project. Start with an inconspicuous window in the back of the house so you can learn the ropes before you tackle the rest.
First consideration would be to pick the right kind of material for the frame: vinyl, wood, or fiberglass?. As usual, you get what you pay for. Vinyl might be the lowest in terms of cost, is relatively maintenance free and comes in a wide range of colors to choose from. But it won't do as good a job keeping out cold and heat as wood and fiberglass. Painted or stained wood looks better on a classic house. Fiberglass frames, on the other hand, lasts longer than wood, requires less maintenance and can also be painted with any color.
Before you head to the home improvement store, take careful measurements of the window sizes you need. Use a measuring tape and run it from the inside jamb (window jambs make up the top, bottom, and sides of the window like a frame) on the right of the window to the inside jamb on the left; double check at the top and bottom, just in case there are warps present and go with the smallest measurements. Then get the height by measuring from the inside of the window sill to the inside of the top window jamb.
Take out the old window once you have the new one. Remove the thin, vertical pieces of wood that hold the sashes (the framed part of the window that holds the glass in place). You may need to use a pry bar, a screwdriver and a utility knife. Set the stops aside, you'll need them for later.
Clip the inside sash cords, the ropes that allow the window to go up and down. Let the weights fall into their pockets. Slide down the outside sash and remove the vertical strips holding the sashes in place. Leave the outside stops in place.
Inspect all around the window opening, looking for holes and cracks. Sand the wood to remove any small cracks, and fill larger ones as well as holes with wood filler or putty.
Cross your fingers and see if you measured correctly and your new replacement window is the right fit. Center the window sashes by moving the bumper stops toward the middle and locate the four spots for side mounting holes. Apply caulk to both sides as well as to the inside of the jamb's outside stops. On top of the window, place the header and caulk before screwing it into place.
When you put the replacement in the hole, use a level to make sure all corners are square. To help make sure all four corners are at 90-degree angles, tap in the shims. Make sure there are no spaces in between the window and the frames, adjust the header across the top as you tighten the mounting screws at the top and bottom.
Verify that the sashes slide smoothly before installing the inside stops and caulk inside the windows, and then it's mission accomplished.
Replacement windows will come with a step-by-step guide, and all major dealers have online videos to help you through the process. After putting in the first window, the rest should be relatively easy.
