Q: I know that new window installation can help lower utility bills and even increase my home’s value, but how do you know when to replace your windows?
A: This is one of the most common questions for those searching for replacement windows in MA. While the best way to know when to replace windows is by evaluation from a window company, there are several telltale signs that point to outdated—and ultimately inefficient—windows.
Sign #1: Rising Utility Bills
Some signs of how to know when to replace your windows are invisible to the naked eye. This is especially the case with utility bills.
In fact, New England is the top area of the country where window replacement offers the highest energy savings.
While seasonal fluctuations are normal with energy costs, you’ll want to look for a pattern of utilities continuously increasing.
According to Massachusetts.gov, these are the projected average heating bills in the state between 2016 and 2018:
If your heating bills exceeded this amount through the duration of the winter, you might be dealing with outdated windows. The Department of Energy states that outdated windows can lose 25%-30% of a home’s energy, which can dramatically increase utility bills during the coldest and hottest months of the year.
High energy bills are related to energy loss in the home for several reasons, including:
- Drafts making their way through the window in areas such as the frame and the sash.
- The windows do not contain argon or krypton gas, which is essential to increasing the thermal efficiency of a window. It provides much-needed insulation for the hottest and coldest times of the year here in New England. Windows without these gases will not maximize indoor comfort or lower utility bills.
- The windows are single pane. New England is full of historic homes with single pane windows. Some homeowners install storm windows as an attempt to save energy, but the truth is that dual or even triple pane glass is best for lowering energy bills. Triple pane windows with argon or krypton gas are proven to save hundreds of dollars per year, according to Energy Star.
- The window is improperly installed, which leads to excess drafts and even moisture getting into the home.
Sign #2: Warped or Damaged Windows
The physical state can also determine of how to know when to replace your windows. When a window is physically damaged it makes it very easy for energy to escape.
Keep in mind that this isn’t referring to a simple upgrade such as replacing weatherstripping. A window will need replaced if it’s warping or the frame is broken. Even if the damaged window is still operable, it’s smart to move forward with replacement than living with a Band-Aid approach.
If a window is warping, you’ll notice a few of the following issues:
- Bowing along the face of the window
- Bending along the edge of the window
- Kinking along areas of the sash
- The window creating a cup-like bend
- Twisting of the edges of the window
Warping is typically the result of moisture unevenly being absorbed into the windows.
If the windows are rotting, this is an urgent indicator that the windows need replaced immediately. Wood window frames are highly susceptible to rot if left untreated.
An easy test to detect if window frames are rotting is by using a screwdriver. Probe the screwdriver along the wood frame and feel for soft spots. If you find soft areas in the wood or the screwdriver sinks into the frame, contact a window company to start the replacement process. Remember that rotted window sills make the window highly susceptible to energy loss, since the frames are incapable of blocking moisture or airflow into the home.
Sign #3: Your Windows are Painted Shut
If you have windows that are painted shut, proceed with caution before opening. Windows can even be accidentally sealed shut when homeowners are attempting to paint the window frame. Opening the window that’s painted shut can result in broken wood frames or even broken glass. If the window is salvaged from the paint, it might be difficult to open and close the sash.
Lead paint is also a serious issue with old windows. According to the EPA, older homes are most likely to contain lead paint:
According to Mass.gov, children absorb lead more easily than adults. Lead in the body can:
- Hurt the brain, kidneys, and nervous system
- Slow down growth and development
- Make it hard to learn
- Damage hearing and speech
- Cause behavior problems
Windows containing lead paint or windows that are simply old and inefficient are a clear way to know when to replace your windows.
Sign #4: Your Windows are Drafty
Drafts are a primary source of discomfort in the home. Not only will they send your utility costs through the roof, but you can sometimes feel the drafts if you’re close enough to the window.
A drafty window is often a result of improper window installation or poor air infiltration control and a key indicator of how to know when to replace your windows.
This graphic represents the areas of a window where air leakage is most common. To reduce air infiltration (and therefore drafts), it’s important to select a window with an air infiltration rating that’s as low as possible. Air leakage is measured by how much outside air comes into the home through a closed window. Rates can fall in a range between 0.1 and 0.3. It’s important to note that the lower the number, the lower the draft through the window. Our window has a CFM as low as .01, but what does that mean?
Our windows only allow .01 CFM of air leakage per minute.
How do others compare?
- Wood: Our windows are over 20 times more airtight than the average traditional wood double hung windows such as Pella, Marvin, and Andersen. For example, it would take 23 of our windows combined to leak the same amount of air as just ONE wood window using an average of 220.8 oz. air filtration.
- Other Vinyl: Our windows are 15 times more airtight than the average range of traditional vinyl double hung windows such as Champion. For example, it would take 15 of our windows combined to leak the same amount of air as just ONE traditional vinyl double hung windows using an average of 144 oz. of air infiltration.
Air leakage occurs in poorly designed windows—wood or lower quality non-virgin vinyl windows. You want to make sure you choose a window that minimizes infiltration with innovative sill and sash design as well as the best weatherstripping.
Sign #5: Condensation Forms Inside of the Glass
Condensation is a normal occurrence that’s the result of air meeting a surface of the opposite temperature. In the summer, window condensation forms on the outside of the window. In the winter, you’ll sometimes find condensation on the inside of the window if indoor humidity levels are high.
However, if condensation is forming inside of the glass and you can’t remove it, this is a sign of seal failure. This moisture can ultimately promote mold growth and result in moisture damage. If this occurs, the window has lost all air leakage prevention and needs to be replaced as its function to protect against the outside elements ceases to work.
Contact Coastal Windows & Exteriors To Discuss Further How to know When To Replace Your Windows
Coastal Windows & Exteriors services many areas of Massachusetts and New England with quality home windows. If you need help with determining if your windows need replaced, get in touch with us. Contact John today to learn more at svanderbilt@mycoastalwindows.com or call 978-304-0495.
Get started on replacing your windows today and save 50% on installations!
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