Important Things To Remember When You're Replacing Windows

The storms and intense temperatures that the country has seen recently are major factors in encouraging homeowners to replace their old, leaky windows. There are dozens of window manufacturers who provide good-quality windows but you'd be well advised to remember a few basic principles when you buy replacement windows.

If your original framing is sound and reasonably square you can save 50% - 100% of the cost of the window by installing a replacement window into the original opening. Along with the new sashes, jams and trim your replacement window will provide you with the same insulation, sound-proofing and weather-resistance that a new window would. However, if the original frame is warped or rotted you will need a new window.

Consumer Reports can provide you with a comprehensive overview of your window options including the efficiency of different window framing materials, the various glass alternatives, argon vs. krypton insulating gas between double-paned windows and your options for windows as they are dependent on the climate in which you live. It's worth the price of a subscription to the magazine since making the right window choice can, in the long run, save you thousands of dollars in future energy costs.

Buying a window with a cheap framing material will probably cost you significantly more money in the long-run than if you select replacement windows with good insulating framing materials. You have five framing material choices -- vinyl frames, aluminum frames, wood frames, wood-clad frames and composite frames. Aluminum frames are the cheapest but are the least resistant to temperature leakage. Vinyl frames offer more insulating resistance but are limited color- and style-wise. Wood frames must be treated annually to protect the wood. Wood-clad frames (wood frames which have treated aluminum or vinyl cladding on the exterior) offer good insulation and effective weather resistance. Composite frames have not been on the market for very long so their effectiveness is not certain but early reports indicate that they offer good weather resistance and insulation.

Insulating gas can be pumped in-between double- or triple-paned windows to increase their thermal performance. Argon is less-expensive and is more widely used. Krypton gas is used when the window profile is slim so as to leave less space between the window panes.

You can reduce your energy bills by selecting replacement windows with a low solar heat gain coefficient. This coefficient shades the window unit and keeps the home's temperature at a low level. This is accomplished by reducing the sun's rays, generally by using a Low-E coating which controls heat transfer through the glass. Low-E is an invisible metallic oxide layer which suppresses radiative heat flow. There are different grades of Low-E coating so you'll want to get the level of Low-E that matches the amount of direct sunlight that streams into your window. Even if you're replacing all of the windows in your house, the windows that face the sunlight will need a higher grade of Low-E than the other windows.

The main window styles are up-and-down double-hung windows (the most popular window on the market), back-and-forth sliders and inward-opening or outward-opening French windows. You'll want to make your choice based on your window opening's size and shape. Check the ratings on the locks for your chosen windows to make sure that they are secure locks.

An Energy Star certification provides information about a window's ability to resist weather, limit heat transfer and control the amount of solar gain that penetrates into a home through the window. Energy Star-qualified windows can lower energy bills between 7-15 percent. Energy Star is a joint program of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Department of Energy. Companies that sell Energy Star windows display the certification on the window. The Energy Star Product Finder allows you to identify Energy Star windows.

You should review a window's air leakage ratings to gather an assessment of the rate at which air leaks into or out of a home from gaps surrounding a window. Check the air leakage rating to ensure that your window choice offers the lowest possible amount of air leakage. Industry analysts suggest that you should select a window with an Air Leakage rating of 0.30 or less.

If you live in a cold climate you should look at the Condensation Resistance Rating to ensure that your replacement windows won't have condensation building up on the window frame. This rating, conducted by the National Fenestration Ratings Council, review the glass's center and edges as well as the frame to estimate the rate at which condensation builds up. The ratings span 1-100 with the highest numbers offering the least condensation build-ups.