3 Overlooked Reasons to Replace Windows Before Winter
It's fall time. The leaves are changing colors, the holiday season is coming, and the temperature starts dropping. You begin feeling a draft in the house and notice the air is coming from several windows. You begin thinking about replacing windows and wonder if it is a project worth doing. The simple answer is yes.
You can find a plethora of reasons from various places online, which most are the same. However, in this article, I talk about 3 Overlooked Reasons To Replace Windows Before Winter.
Reason #1 - Condensation
Condensation is the act of water changing physical states from a vapor to a liquid. Without going into too much detail, the process is initiated when the water's temperature is cooled, which is when the molecules slow-down and begin to get closer together, which eventually leads to the formation of liquid water.
In a home, condensation generally occurs on windows because of a combination of two reasons.
The humidity (aka the amount of water vapor in the air) in the home is high
The temperature outside is cold
The typical home, in the summertime, will have a relative humidity of 60-70%, and during the winter time, the relative humidity will be between 40-50%. However, if you have several house plants (that are watered regularly) or a wet basement, these reasons can cause more condensation to occur. Plus, closing curtains traps cold air, causing condensation to occur.
When condensation occurs, the newly formed water will sit on the edge of the window and the window sill. Overtime, this will moisture will cause the window to decay faster, especially if the window is made from wood; so, it is preferable to not have condensation on the windows. The good news is that window manufacturers have worked diligently to create windows that are less likely to have condensation occur. As a matter of fact, window manufacturers now include a rating for condensation levels called Condensation Resistance Factor (or CRF).
The CRF scale ranges from 0-100. The higher the number, the better the window has been proven to resist condensation. Most windows test between 30-80. Make sure to ask your window supplier about the CRF rating, so you can ensure your windows are properly protected from the long-term effects of recurring condensation.
Reason #2 - Cold Air
If you owned a boat and I decided to cut a 3-foot by 4-foot hole in the bottom of the boat and replaced it with a piece of glass, what would be your concern? After the shock of seeing your beautiful boat with a new viewport, your first question would be about leaking. Will this boat leak?
Most homeowners don't look at windows with this type of shock because it is common to see openings (or holes) in homes. Plus, water is not pouring in if windows are not properly sealed. However, air does. Cold air.
If a window is not properly sealed, cold air will pour into the interior of the home, causing the furnace to operate constantly to maintain the desired indoor temperature. On average, a homeowner will spend about $549 per winter. In order to seal new windows, the materials needed are insulation and a couple of tubes of caulk, which cost about $15 in total. With a leaky window, the cost to run the furnace to compensate for the cold air coming into the home would easily be 5x the amount of sealing one window.
Reason #3 - Good Deals
A good time to purchase windows is during the fall. Big Box stores such as Home Depot and Lowe's know that customers are getting ready for winter and one of the ways to prepare is by replacing windows, so the stores will offer discounts to entice homeowners to move forward with their windows replacement.
If a store is running a 15% off promotion for vinyl, replacement windows, then if your windows normally would cost $4,000, the windows now only cost $3,400. That's a $600 savings! Then, the money saved can go back into the labor and possibly another project. And, if savings isn't enough, then the return on investment would be.
Would you believe me if I told you that replacing windows (vinyl and wood) are second and third, respectively, on RIS's report of the Top 5 home improvement projects with the best return on investment?
Replacing vinyl windows, on average, cost $15,282. However, with a return of 73.9%, you will receive $11,286 in resale value. That is one of the best returns! So, in our example above, if the windows cost $3,400 and the install cost $2,000, if you were to sell your home, you would see a $3,990 return. That means that you will have only paid $1,400 for brand new windows. Plus, you will have saved $600 from the sale on the windows. This is a phenomenal deal!
If winter is coming and you need to replace your windows, then fall is the perfect time to complete the project. You will be able to take advantage of great deals from stores. You will be able to seal the gaps where air was seeping in. You will have a peace of mind. And, you will have new beautiful, windows to look at when your pulling into the driveway. Replacing windows is a really good, home improvement project that provides a warm home and a solid return on investment.
If you are considering replacing your windows, call DDT Home Transformations for a free, in-home estimate. The phone number is (630) 200-3945 and the email is sales.ddthomepros@gmail.com.
