| One of the most important areas in your home where | | | | Replacing the unit will usually be rather less expensive |
| you can reduce the flow of your heating or cooling | | | | than replacing the whole window. |
| dollars is through your windows. If you are looking at | | | | However, if a full window replacement is required, |
| buying a new home this is an area that is well worth | | | | there are many options that you can consider. Your |
| taking a good hard look at so that you know just what | | | | window frames can be constructed from energy |
| kind of heating bills to expect come winter time. | | | | efficient materials and your windows hung in a variety |
| The most obvious and least expensive way to | | | | of ways. Frames can be made from wood, aluminum, |
| decrease drafts around windows is to make sure | | | | and vinyl with wood and vinyl being far more energy |
| they're well sealed. Seal any gaps around the frame | | | | efficient than aluminum but more expensive as well. |
| with caulking or replace old weather stripping. When | | | | The less moving parts that a frame has will increase |
| windows get older, sometimes they don't slide as | | | | its efficiency as well because it has fewer places to |
| smoothly as they did when new, a good cleaning of | | | | leak heat through; a fixed-pane window is also |
| the tracks can help improve that which will allow them | | | | cheaper than one that opens. |
| to close more completely. This is a good minimal step | | | | The sealed unit of glass in a window can vary in |
| to take if you're selling your house, as you can be sure | | | | energy efficiency as well. The space between the |
| that prospective buyers will be checking out the | | | | glass can be as little as a quarter inch or as wide as 5 |
| condition of your windows. | | | | 8 of an inch wide and be filled with air or an inert |
| If your windows are in particularly poor condition, | | | | insulating gas like krypton or argon. You can choose to |
| consider replacing them with more energy efficient | | | | have low-e glass, heat-absorbing glass, or reflective |
| units. A combination of energy efficient frame and | | | | glass used in your new windows to help cut down on |
| sealed unit can greatly improve the comfort of your | | | | heat transfer through your windows as well. |
| home and reduce the heat transfer into or out of your | | | | Replacing windows can be a very expensive |
| home. If your window frames are in good shape but | | | | endeavor but can pay for itself over time. Take stock |
| your sealed units have failed, consider just replacing | | | | of where replacements might be needed the most |
| them with new ones. Often a homeowner will notice | | | | and tackle the project on a room by room basis as |
| that a sealed unit has failed because they can see | | | | you can afford to replace them so that you can start |
| condensation inside between the panes of glass. | | | | reaping the comfort benefits now. |