Tips For Choosing The Best Replacement Windows For Your Home | Fort Worth, TX

Tips For Choosing The Best Replacement Windows For Your Home | Fort Worth, TX

Photo By NiroDesign at istock

Replacement windows can benefit your home in many ways. First, they can give your house a lovely makeover, with many attractive options. They can also make your house quieter, blocking out more of the outside noise. They are much less drafty and Energy Star rated options can even lower your energy bills by seven to fifteen percent. Replacement windows are easier to clean, don’t need to be painted, and help reduce your carbon footprint.

If you are in the market for new windows for your home, you want to get the full value for your investment. To help you choose the best windows for your home, here are some things you should know before you buy.

You Should Match Your Windows with Your Climate

You should look at the overall ratings for your windows first, then focus on the results that are directly linked to your climate. Consider factors like the frequency of high winds, extreme temperatures, precipitation, and other things that apply to your environment. Having high ratings in what will affect your windows most can make a window with a lower overall rating a better deal for your specific needs.

High Price Does Not Mean High Performance

Price should never be the determining factor, either high or low, but to think that the price determines the quality is a big mistake. What you should be looking at are the performance ratings. Windows are tested to see how effective they are at keeping out the cold and rain. Find out how each brand is tested on a wide range of situations before you make your decision, so you will get the best protection from the outdoor climate.

Don’t Spend Too Much on Optional Features

The price you see listed on most replacement windows is the base price for a basic window unit. You can easily 50% or more to the cost of your new windows with optional upgrades. Make sure that the options you choose add value.

Examples of some more valuable options are Low-E coating, to improve efficiency, and double-hung sashes that tilt in, for easier cleaning. Full screens give you optimal airflow and screens with a finer mesh allow more light in with less visual obstruction.

Understanding the Numbers

When you are shopping for your replacement windows in Fort Worth, TX, you will run across many ratings and numbers. Here’s what these numbers that can be found on both Energy Star and National Fenestration Rating Council window labels mean:

U-Factor or U-Value: This generally ranges between 0.20 and 1.20. It refers to the window’s ability to hold in heat. In this case, the lower the number is, the better the window is at retaining heat.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient: This will be between 0 and 1. This refers to the window’s effectiveness at blocking out the heat from the sun. The lower the number, the better an option it is to fend off the hot summers in Fort Worth, TX.

Visible Transmittance: This will be somewhere between 0 and 1. It indicates how much visible light the window allows to enter. The higher the number, the more light the window lets into the room.

Picking Your Replacement Windows

Now that you have a basic understanding of how to choose your new replacement windows, it is time to get down to business. You can make the most of your purchase by creating a stylish statement at the same time.

Choose Your Window Style

Don’t just pick out windows that look good in the display. Consider what the windows will look like on the outside of your home. You want to make sure that the style of your replacement windows complements your home. Your home will give you indications regarding what style will blend in as though it was the original intention of the architect.

Double-hung windows are a great choice for numerous home styles. These windows open and close by using two sashes. The tilt-in windows are much easier to keep clean, making them a very popular option. Colonial homes, Craftsman, and ranch homes can benefit aesthetically, as well as functionally, from these replacement windows.

Pick Your Window Frame Material

The look of your window is important, but you also need to consider the maintenance of your windows. You have to choose the material your window frame is made of, and there are several options to consider.

Vinyl frames are the easiest to maintain. They are resistant to damage from termites and do not warp, rot, or peel. They also require no painting, staining, or sanding to keep them looking good for a lifetime. This makes them much easier to keep in good shape than wood window frames, and should be considered when choosing the best windows for your home.

Vinyl window frames are available in a wide variety of colors, so you can customize your windows to match your home’s trim. Talk to your window professional to find out if vinyl frames are the best option for your home.

Choose Your Glass Package

This is the most important part of your window replacement unit. If you are looking for an energy efficient window, here are a few things to make sure are included:

Double or Triple Pane Glass: You can choose either double or triple pane glass for your new windows. Triple pane windows can help block sound better and provide improved energy efficiency over double pane models.

Argon Gas: This odorless, invisible gas is denser than air. It is used to fill the space between the glass panes to increase the window’s thermal efficiency.

Krypton Gas: This is another invisible, odor-free gas used between glass panes in windows. It is denser than both air and argon gas, and helps make a window more energy efficient.

Low-E Glazing: This is an invisible coating that can be applied to the inside or outside of the glass. It reduces the transfer of heat in the home, keeping the sun from turning your house into an oven.

Contact us today at Energy Window Solutions for more information about finding the best replacement windows for your home.