The windows in your home may look great, but are they really doing their job? Older homes often have original windows that are no energy-efficient, increasing energy costs, and lowering comfort levels.
Are Energy Bills are Through the Roof?
An excellent place to start is by looking at your heating and cooling costs. Older, single-pane windows are notorious for losing heat in the winter and letting heat in during summer months.
If your energy bills are through the roof and your older home has its original windows, upgrading to new, energy-efficient double or triple-paned windows could save you as much as 15 percent on your monthly heating and cooling costs.
Can You Feel a Breeze Indoors?
When it’s windy outside, stand near one of your windows. Feel around the edges of the frame and see if you can feel a draft. You can also use a stick of burning incense or a candle to check for air leakage around windows.
Is the Window Glass Single Pane
It’s easy to tell if a window has only one pane of glass or multiple layers. Just look closely at the glass to see how it is constructed.
If your windows have only one glass layer, upgrading to double-pane or triple-pane will definitely cut your energy bills and make your home more comfortable.
Are Your Windows Easy to Open, Close, and Lock?
Windows should not be hard to open and close, and the locking mechanism should work with ease and keep the window tightly shut.
Condensation and Trapped Moisture
Old double pane windows sometimes leak, and moisture gets trapped between the panes of glass. There is no way to fix this problem except by replacing the entire window.
If your windows fog up quickly or you see moisture trapped between the panes of glass, the solution is replacement windows.
