These days, more and more people are taking steps to make their homes more energy efficient by upgrading their HVAC systems, adding insulation, and replacing their old windows with ones that are energy efficient. If you’re looking to get a piece of the energy-efficiency action, then your best bet might be to start with your windows. Not only can a new set of windows improve your home from a visual perspective, it can also help you save money on heating and cooling bills down the line. And given the fact that most household rooms do tend to come equipped with windows, by upgrading yours to ones that are more energy efficient, you could end up improving the internal comfort level of your house on a whole.
Of course, the only problem with window replacement is that it does tend to be rather expensive. Today’s windows are being produced in a manner that makes them more energy efficient than ever before, but the quality materials used in such products will usually come at a price. As a result, the idea of paying for a complete window-related overhaul can seem overwhelming or even impossible to some.
As the owner of Northwest Energy Savers, a window company that has been serving the Portland, Oregon, area for the past three years, Joe Yosso understands that the act of replacing one’s windows is easier said than done. After all, window replacement does cost money, and a lot of it at that. Additionally, Yosso is of the opinion that the act of replacing windows is a huge home investment, so if you’re going to do it, then you might as well do it right.
If you can’t afford to replace all of your windows at once, then it’s better to swap out your windows on a room by room basis rather than skimp on overall window quality. In order to determine which windows ought to get replaced first, you’ll need to take a step back to identify the rooms in which new windows are likely to have the greatest impact. If you tend to spend the majority of your time in your bedroom, kitchen, and living room, then you might want to start by replacing the windows in those areas. On the other hand, if you’re not much of a cook and you happen to work from home, then you might want to begin the window replacement process in your den or office.
Another way to approach the window replacement process is to evaluate the effects of the outdoors on the various rooms in your home. If you happen to live in a warm climate and find that certain areas of your home are usually uncomfortably hot as the result of too much sun exposure, then you might want to start by replacing the windows in those areas with ones that will work better to block out the sun. On the other hand, if you happen to have a couple of perpetually cold rooms, then you could try replacing the associated windows with ones that will do a better job of providing insulation. Remember, the goal of replacing your windows is to not only lower your utility costs, but to make your home more physically comfortable in the process. By catering to the areas in need of the most help, you can make your initial investment one that is worthwhile.
Finally, if you’re looking to sell your home in the relatively near future and can’t afford to replace all of your windows, then you might want to focus on the ones that sit at the front of your house. Anyone in tune with the real estate market will tell you that when it comes to making your home more marketable, nothing speaks louder than curb appeal. By putting in new, energy efficient windows where buyers are most likely to notice, you’ll be making the most of your window-related budget.
One thing to be aware of regarding window replacement is that while you certainly don’t have to swap out all of your windows at once, most window companies do require a four-window minimum in order to make it worthwhile to send out installers for any given job. Therefore, if your budget can only handle a couple of new windows, then you’ll probably need to wait a little awhile to begin the replacement process.
Remember, as nice as it might be to replace all of your house’s windows at once, there’s no rule stating that you’re obligated to do so, nor is there any sense in compromising on window quality in favor of a rush job. By getting your priorities straight, you’ll end up slowly but surely replacing all of your windows in a manner that serves your home well in the long run.
