Knowing when it is time to replace your home windows is important for any homeowner. The longer you wait to replace your windows, the higher the chance that you are wasting money on energy costs or potentially doing damage to yourself or the furniture in your home. Windows provide a great deal of security to your home just as much as they provide a wonderful view of nature outside. In the end, knowing how often you should replace them can help you stay on top of them as they near the end foo their lifespan.
The Rule of Thumb in Years
Windows are not meant to last forever. You could buy the best brand name windows in the world and they are still going to eventually break down and need to be replaced. The fact of the matter is that the basic rule of thumb with windows is 15 to 20-years. Once you hit the 15-year mark with windows, it is time to think about and look into potentially having them replaced.
Advancements in Window Design
There are a lot of benefits to replacing your home windows thanks to advancement in window design. New windows have been advanced to the point where they can provide much more insulation than in the past. This means that they can do a great job of regulating temperature in the home and helping you save on any added energy costs you may endure.
Newer windows in this day and age are all being developed in an energy efficient manner. This means doing a job of keeping the temperature in your home consistent. When this occurs, the air conditioner in your home does not have to work as hard to keep the room cool. The new energy efficient double pane windows keep the hot air and UV rays outside.
Benefits of Adding Value to Your Home
Newer energy efficient windows can add a lot of value to your home. They are not inexpensive to install. The benefits that they provide though in saving you money on energy bills can help recoup some of that capital that you had to put out. The other benefit and the other way you get that money back is in the increased home vale that your home is going to have. Windows are a great asset to add to your home as they are seen as a valuable addition in any appraisal.
Deciding how often to replace your home windows is not a perfect science. Well-maintained windows may even be able to last beyond the 20-year mark. The key is to stay on top of the windows so that you can notice when you start getting heavy drafts through them, they start to cram or break, and so on. The more attention that you pay to them, the more proactive you are going to be able to be to replace them when the time is right.