If you live in a colder climate, you know that heating your home in the winter months is hard, and if you have old, drafty windows, the heat escaping around them might as well be money slipping out through the cracks. Replacing the windows in your home is one way to help stop this heat loss, and it might make your home look nicer from the outside, too.
Testing For Leaks
If you suspect that you are losing heat through the windows in your home, take a minute to test the theory. It is pretty easy and almost fun at the same time. To start with, you need a candle. Light the candle and hold it near the window frame. Move it around the window frame, watching the flame as you go. If the flame pulls in toward the window, there is air moving around the window frame and leaking out of the home. That air movement is a perfect illustration of where your heat is going in the winter time—out the window.
Selecting New Windows
If you have decided to replace the windows, you might want to take a look at the options available to you. The best way to do that is to visit a home center or glass installer. They can show you the options and alternatives to your current windows and make a recommendation for you. This is the time to ask questions about the different kinds of windows and what will give you the best energy efficiency for your home.
Installing The New Glass
Installing the new windows that you have picked out is a big job. You can hire a contractor or opt to use the glass company's installers to replace all the windows because unless you have all the tools, equipment, and experience replacing windows, it is not really a homeowner job. Let the glass installers take care of the work for you, while you sit back and enjoy those new windows with less heat loss and a better view of the world.
Paying For New Windows
If you are concerned about the cost of all-new windows, there are some programs through the federal government that can help homeowners offset costs for new windows in your home. A little research online will produce many results and some contractors that work with these federal programs. If you need help with the costs, one of these federal programs can help. Talk to the contractor about what he or she knows, and make some calls to the agencies that offer the subsidies to find out if you can get new glass without the huge costs.
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