My wife and I have put money aside for a couple of years now and are finally ready to make the big replacement window investment to update our home. This is going to be a considerable expense and we absolutely have to get it right the first time.
I’m hoping anyone with personal experience in selecting a window company can answer these questions for us – or provide additional comments and information.
1. In terms of energy efficiency, are there ratings or grades assigned to specific companies or window types that I should be looking for?
2. Can the average replacement window be made to fit any home or should we expect additional costs for some sort of customization?
3. Will the energy bill savings ever really cover the cost of the new windows? How long did it take some of you to recoup the expense?
Thanks very much in advance if you choose to help out!
Dave & Janine
aluminum storm window
Comments
The window will have a R -value, which will tell you how insulative it will be. The higher the value, the more insulative. If you were going to look a the basics, single panel< double pane< double pane with membrane, etc.
Your windows may or may not be standard.., the window company will measure them and tell you what they are.
The window people will also be able to help you with the payback period. Have several companies give you a quote and work through the math for each bid. In general, unless you have really bad windows, you’re looking at a # of years till you get to the break even point. As a very crude estimate, look at your heating bill for the coldest six months and see what that totals, and then say you saved 10% of that value, how long to pay back the windows, what if 20%, etc.
You will be looking into…
Duel pane or triple pane
Tinting for sun glare
Vinyl, vinyl over aluminum, vinyl over wood or wood
Style of grid inserts
I wish I put grids in! Glad I tinted. Look into any local rebate plans your city or electric company has to offer. Find a very reputable company to install. It will be a nightmare if not done correcty.
You will get much of your investment back through resale value and will enjoy the soundproofing effect of the windows.