It’s no secret that old windows in a home can be a huge drain on your energy expenses. Leaky windows essentially make you work harder to heat or cool your home and can end up costing you a ton of money over the course of the year. If you have an older home or have just moved into a new home on the start of your homesteading journey, replacing inefficient windows can be a smart investment.
Should I Replace Old Windows?
Yes. While replacing windows can be expensive, it’s almost always a good investment to do so. Switching to energy efficient windows can save you between $126-$465 a year according to the U.S. Department of Energy. While this doesn’t seem like a ton of money given the cost associated with window replacements in the first place, over the life time of a window it’s a big savings.
On top of energy efficient windows saving you money, they also improve the value of your home. While they won’t increase the price much, bad windows can often nix a home sale entirely. As a simple change they’re one of the easiest ways to add some small value to your home that has tangible benefits and seems enticing and visible to future buyers.
In the case you aren’t planning on selling your home a benefit many people give too little importance to is comfort. Better windows can reduce drafts, keep your home more evenly heated, and just overall are more pleasant. While this may not seem like a big improvement, it’s still on of the nicer things you can do to make your home a little better.
How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Window?
When fully replacing a window the costs can vary widely on many factors such as the size and type of window as well the region you are in. A fair estimate at the time of this writing is that replacing a window can cost between $200 and $1800. That’s a big range, but the $1800 extreme is for the highest labor costs and largest windows people are likely to use.
If you’re planning on replacing all the windows in your home it’s a good idea to estimate the expense by counting up your windows and creating a range. This can help you see if it’s something that fits in your budget or not before you even call a contractor for an estimate. If you’re replacing 10 large windows entirely you could be looking at an expense between $2000 and $18000 dollars. Again a big swing, but usually individuals fall somewhere in the middle. A modest homestead usually can get its windows replaced for around $10,000.
Should I Replace All of My Windows?
Typically when you are replacing windows in an effort to obtain energy savings it is a good idea to replace all of them. Not only can you get all your windows to match, you can also get the fastest return on your investment. If you place some or even just one window you might reduce the energy loss you had from that specific spot, but you could still be loosing conditioned air somewhere else. Leaving even one leaky window can have a disproportionate effect on the energy savings of the whole house.
That being said, not everyone can afford to replace everything right away. If this is the case for you, it is a good idea to work with a contractor or inspector to identify which windows need replacing first to maximize your benefits. Additionally, establishing a relationship with a contractor who can do the work over a longer period of time will help you get consistent results on the replacements.
What Makes a Window Energy Efficient?
There are several factors that come into play when choosing an energy efficient window. First and foremost is the glass and number of panes.
Single, Double, and Triple Pane Glass
Single pane glass is not energy efficient as it provides a surface for heat to be directly transferred from inside air to the outside environment, both of which contact the glass. Double pane glass has a sealed set of panes with inert gasses like argon between them. This reduces the energy transfer between from the glass to the outside environment. Triple pane glass is the essentially the same idea as double pane glass, but one step up and provides the best thermal efficiency for your home.
Window Installation Matters
When you are choosing a window to get installed you also need to take into consideration how it’s going to be installed. Windows that are not right fit can leave gaps in your insulation. Windows that are installed poorly can similarly reduce the energy efficiency of the window as well. Because of this you want to make sure you work with licensed professionals who have a good portfolio of work to show that they’ve got the experience necessary for the job.
Placement Matters with Windows
We’re talking about replacing windows, so where you put in new ones is almost assuredly decided already, but if you have the opportunity to add or remove windows from your home you’ll want to consider the placement of them just as much as the windows themselves. Well placed windows can help reflect the suns heat in the summer and absorb more heat in the winter (due to some complicated earth to sun relational positioning). It’s a complicated matter, but an expert contractor can help you figure out if there are any windows that should go when you’re considering the job.
Glass Type and Region
While a highly efficient window tends to be universally efficient, different glass types offer more or less insulation and UV protection. In hotter sunnier regions you may want different glass than you would want in colder darker regions. Because of this you can find yourself with way more choices than you expected, but again the advantage here is that an expert can help you pick the windows that are going to be best for your particular house and region. What is best for you is a rather narrow band of options, so you should get the same information when you talk to different experts.
Frames Are Not All the Same
Frames can be constructed out of many different materials and each have their place. Wood frames are the original frame of choice, but modern fiberglass and vinyl frames are also options that exist today. In general wood is a fairly good insulator, fiberglass is often the most durable, and vinyl is the most energy efficient. These are not hard rules as the construction of the fame will change these qualities, but overall reputable windows will line up with these general assertions.
How to Find a Good Window Installer
If you’re ready to replace your windows you’ll suddenly have a need to find a reputable replacement company. This can be tricky, especially if there are not many contractors in your area that can do the job. In general you’re going to want to look for individuals with certifications from manufacturers, the American Window and Door Institute, and or InstallationMasters.
In addition to getting trusted certified installers you should be able to get references for any installer you do work with. Beyond that, you are looking for an installer that is willing to spend the time talking through the details of the process and answering questions. If an installer is argumentative or won’t spend time talking through the process it isn’t likely to get better once work begins.
Finally, you should look for someone who can give you realistic time estimates and explain how long the installation will take. No one wants to have their home torn up for an extended period of time, so knowing how long the installation will be upfront can be a huge burden to take off your mind. Bad installers will do a lot of hand waving and be very non-committal about time frames, so be sure to look out for that.
Changing Windows is a Big Choice With Clear Value
Replacing the windows in your home is an undertaking. While it still can be costly and have it’s challenges, long run it is almost always worth it as it can help you save money throughout the year as well improve the quality of your home. If you’re ready to make the jump, your first step is talking to contractors and manufactures to even find out what’s available. Energy efficiency is worth the effort, but you’ll have to commit to the process to see it through.