Cost Advantages of Energy Efficient Windows
Your home is likely the most expensive purchase that you will ever make, and it is important to make sure that your heating and cooling bills do not add unnecessary expenses to your monthly budget. It is important for everyone to have their windows inspected by a professional to determine if energy efficient windows will help to decrease the monthly energy costs. It has been estimated that some people save between 7 and 18 percent each month on their home energy bills with new energy efficient windows.
Replacing Your Windows
The cost of replacement windows is not excruciatingly expensive, especially when you consider the amount of money that you will save when they are properly installed. New energy efficient windows keep your home’s temperature at a more desirable level throughout all seasons of the year. The biggest culprits for improper heating and cooling are outdated single pane windows. Single pane windows lack insulation, so they do not protect your home from loss of heat or hot weather outside. These windows instead allow the air to escape from your home, and it will cost you more money to keep your home at the comfort level that you desire. The average cost of energy efficient windows will vary, but you will definitely save money in the long run.
The Cost of Replacement
Many people fear that the cost of these highly advanced windows will be too expensive for them to reasonably afford, which is largely why people hesitate before installing them. There are many variables that affect the average cost of energy efficient windows. A typical window would average about $200.00-$300.00 each. The highest quality windows are usually about $600.00 each. Many window companies will actually do the installation for you if you purchase windows from them, so you should research which companies will give you this service before settling on any one. In any case, it has been estimated that the average home owner will break even for the cost of the windows in about six years due to the amount of money that will be saved on energy bills.
Forces that Energy Efficient Windows Protect Against
Windows lose heat and gain heat through conduction, convection, radiation, and leaks (a sealant problem). Conduction is basically the heating of an object. If you feel a hot pan, the heat you feel is from conduction. Windows work basically the same way. The energy efficient windows help to reduce the amount of heat that your windows get and receive. Radiation is how the heat moves through your window. Convection occurs when warm air makes contact with a colder window. This pushes the hot air down and creates a draft as more warm air hits the window. Leaking air is when air escapes your home through poor weather stripping or cracks in the window. Windows also come with U ratings that are a combination of the conduction, convection, radiation, and leaking air. The lower the U value is on a window, the more insulated it is. Purchase the lowest U rated windows you can afford to provide maximum savings and comfort.
In order to save on your home energy bills, these four aspects must be guarded against. The cost of replacement windows will pay for itself in the future, and you will be able to live more comfortably in your home in the meantime.
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