Have you been thinking about the windows in your home a lot? Many homeowners often mull over the necessity of replacing home windows. There are instances when it may be just fine to keep the windows in your home as-is. In some other cases, though, it could be absolutely necessary to replace them as soon as possible. Failing to replace windows in your home when it is necessary can result in other added home costs, especially in the area of energy in cooling or heating your home. Here are some warning signs to look for.
Check the Windows for Drafts
The first sign that it is necessary to replace the windows in your home is when you feel drafts. All windows are going to allow some air to get through them; that is just the reality. Windows should not let in so much draft, though, that you can actually feel the air coming through. When this happens, you are going to really be compromising the comfort of your home and the overall home insulation. When air gets through in the winter, you’ll end up spending more on energy costs to keep your home heated. The same goes for the summer months with the air conditioner.
Windows Get Stuck Opening or Closing
Windows should not put up a fight when you want to open or close them. If you can’t open or close your windows properly, now is the time to replace them. The older-style double-hung and single-hung windows will wear down over time. This forces them to become unbalanced over time. When this occurs, the windows may not open properly, or they may open and close on their own in some instances. Windows can also rot or rust out as time progresses, further driving home the point that it is time to replace them.
Analyzing Energy Costs over the Years
Have you noticed that your energy bill has gone up significantly over the past three or four years? Chances are it is not because of rising energy costs or because someone left the heat on too high. The reality is that this is likely due to a lack of insulation from the windows. If your home has windows that are considered inefficient from an energy perspective, you are going to spend more to heat or cool your home. Energy efficient windows are actually going to pay for themselves over time as a result of saving homeowners on energy and cooling costs. Checking for these signs will help you gauge whether or not it is time to replace the windows in your home. If you determine it is time, there are many options out there for energy efficient windows that will make for a worthwhile investment on your part. The key is to pay attention to your windows and to act on replacing them once you notice these downfalls, before it is too late and you are wasting money on added energy costs.