When To Get New Windows? 8 Signs It’s Time

When is it time to get new windows? More importantly, are new windows even worth it?

Windows are the looking glass into and out of your home. Not only do windows play a major role in the energy efficiency of your home, but they help you to feel comfortable, whether it’s through the safety they provide or opening them up on a nice slightly breezy day. If your windows are not working properly, it may be time to consider replacing them or at least having a professional take a look to ensure that everything is up to snuff.

Window deterioration is a process that can take years to take effect until one day, they are no longer what they once were. As the windows in your home age, they lose energy efficiency and curb appeal. That brings up several questions:

• How do you know when house windows need to be replaced?
• How do you know if the windows you have in your home are good quality?
• Should you replace windows in your home all at once?

It doesn’t matter if your windows have 20 year old windows that are almost old enough to drink. If you have ever thought about one of those questions and stumbled upon this blog article, that is no mere coincidence.

However, before we dive into all of that, we’ve compiled a list of the eight most common symptoms to check for yourself to see if you should get new windows.

How Do You Know When Your Windows Need Replacing?

Your Energy Bills Are Higher Than You Expected

There are a plethora of things that can cause higher than expected electricity bills; but if you’ve spent several years in your home and noticed that your bills are slowly creeping up year over year your windows might be the culprit.

By getting these windows inspected, you’ll be able to pinpoint the exact cause of your concern. If that’s the case, getting some new energy efficient windows is the solution.

Of course, there are different types of windows that are energy efficient. The most common and popular one is a double or triple-pane vinyl window with Low-E glass. This is the most energy efficient window available on the market.

The reason single pane windows are not advised for energy efficiency is because of argon gas, which is a great insulator. It’s also not recommended to get aluminum windows in your home because aluminum is a poor insulator and window frames tend to take on damage during times of extreme weather.

Your Windows Don’t Keep Sound In Or Out

If the entire neighborhood can hear you watching the nightly news, that’s not a good look. Old windows don’t do justice in the department of keeping the neighborhood peace. However, getting some double or triple-pane windows will certainly make a world of difference.

The way this works is as sound waves move through different substances, they may be reflected, captured, or dampened. By increasing the space between glass panes and by having multiple panes in and of themselves, the air gap helps to ensure sound doesn’t come inside or escape your home.

Your Allergies Are Feeling Rougher Than Normal – Allergies and Windows 

Do you experience any of the following? Sniffles, itching eyes, sneezing at the most inconvenient times? Well, it’s likely your allergies are calling. 

During certain times of the year, people’s allergies flare up. Now every individual human being on this planet has different allergies of course, but have you ever considered that allergens could be making their way into your lovely abode through your windows? Ineffectively sealed windows tend to be a major weak point for our immune systems. As the seal on older windows breaks down over time, more allergens enter your home. The seals to really take a look at are for windows over 15 years old. Maybe this is the year where you can finally give your nose a break with a new set of windows.

You Want Your Home’s Value To Increase

Your home, in fmost cases, is the largest investment that you will make in your lifetime. The thing about this investment in particular is that you can’t control what the market is like, what the city does, or what the state does that impacts your home’s value. However, one of the things that you can control is adding additional value to your home through the installation of some beautiful new windows.

It’s been proven that with the installation of new vinyl windows, much like they have at Victors Home Solutions, your properties value can increase by an average of $13,766, according to Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs Value report.

You Can Feel Or Hear The Wind

If you can feel or hear a draft coming through your windows, it’s pretty obvious that you have a real problem on your hands. It means the air that you are circulating throughout your home with your HVAC system is escaping faster than the prisoners from Alcatraz Island. It also means that all the air from outside is making its way into your humble abode.

When this is an issue, it means your HVAC system has to work harder than normal to maintain the consistency of your residence. It means that your energy consumption increases, and also decreases the working life of your HVAC system itself.

Your House Windows Are Fogging Up

If you’ve seen condensation or moisture on the inside of your windows it’s because your home is either too humid or your windows are leaking air. Getting into the world of double or triple pane windows, if you notice any moisture between the panes of glass it’s because the air-tight seal has failed, causing all the gas that’s between those panes to escape. The gas between your glass panes is argon or in some cases krypton. By putting this gas between the panes of glass, it displaces air. The best part about argon in particular is that it is completely harmless to humans and animals.

Your Windows Have Seen Better Days

Likely the most obvious scenario for when you need to replace windows is when your windows are looking rough. It may be that they have cracks, space between panes, or they’re broken from the neighborhood bad boy playing baseball in the middle of the street. But jokes aside, when you already have cracks in your window it is significantly more likely to break completely.

When you have a broken window in your home it can lead to all sorts of problems for you or your family inside the home. Water damage, mold, and pests are all considerations for some of the events that may occur, but also there is home security to worry about.

You Want Your Home To Look Better And Feel Safer

Let’s be real, everyone driving and walking by is checking out all the houses they pass. How does your house stack up against your neighbors? Do they put you to shame? Well, a new set of windows could change everything for you. Now, if you aren’t the type of person to care about appearances, new windows also provide a better sense of security.

In general, newer windows because of their double or triple panes improve the strength and security of your home. Additionally, many of these windows have locking functionality that was not available in the past. This new technology is called a multi-point lock and will keep intruders out of your home. There is no longer one lock to overlook but multiple.

When is the best time to install?

Assuming you’re ready to take the first step and get a custom quote, you need to determine what season works the the best for you. In many parts of the world, there is a best season to get windows replaced. However, in the United States and particularly in the midwest and northeast, getting new windows is a year round activity.

Each season has its pros and cons with installation as the way the windows are installed in each season is different. Professionals in the world of window replacement will be able to decipher for you the best time to get them and advise you on how to buy replacement windows that work for you. The important thing to note about using a professional is that you will never have to ask yourself: how do I know if my windows are good quality?

Most of the time the safest bet seasonally for replacing windows is the late spring through the early summer. This keeps too many insects or scorching weather from reaching the inside of your home and wreaking havoc in their own unique ways.

But if you’re looking for the best price the winter should also be a consideration. Many window installers may offer off-season discounts on their services due to their calendars being less booked.

Upgrade Your Windows with Victors Home Solutions

The goal of this entire article is to help you answer the question, when do house windows need to be replaced and you now have the information to make the best informed decision possible.

If any of the points resonated with you or you are looking for a perfect installation no matter what time of year you get your windows replaced, it’s time to schedule your free energy efficiency inspection through Victors Home Solutions. Reach out to us today and you’ll see the precise benefits a window replacement can bring to your home.