Even though it’s only spring, the temps in the Twin Cities have already come close to the triple digits in recent days With summer just a few weeks off, the weather could be quickly warming up. Are your windows up to the challenge of helping to keep your home cool this summer, while still letting in the sunshine you waited all winter to enjoy?
Most homeowners are concerned about energy-wasting windows in the winter. Drafty rooms and frost build-up are a vivid reminder of how poorly those old windows keep the weather out, but in the warmer months of the year it’s not so easy to observe. But you could be wasting money on cooling bills nonetheless.
Do your rooms sometimes get uncomfortably warm on sunny days? If you try to compensate by closing drapes and blinds, you’re defeating two purposes of a window -letting the sunshine in and giving you a view out. Or if you try to adjust your indoor comfort level by adjusting the A/C, you could be spending more on energy than you need to.
If you’ve got an older home and you haven’t replaced the windows, most likely what you’ve got is single-pane glass and wood frames. Single-pane glass is a poor insulator, and wood frames shrink and warp over time, so they most likely don’t fit well in their openings and allow air in (and out) around the window. Hot, humid Minneapolis summers have taken their toll on those wood frames, and they may even be rotted. Hot sun leads to fading, cracking paint and failed caulk as well, which means regular window maintenance.
Was your home built in the ’60s or ’70s? By then builders were using mostly aluminum windows because buyers were looking for something that didn’t have to be frequently repainted. But still many of those windows only had single-pane glass. While aluminum frames were an improvement over wood, window technology has come a long way since then.
Today’s quality replacement windows offer much more energy-efficiency. Double- and triple-pane glass do a much better job of keeping the hot outside air outside, and your rooms remain pleasantly cool without adjusting the thermostat. And with options such as Low-E coatings, gas fillings, and window tinting, you can increase the energy efficiency of those windows even more.
Fiberglass and vinyl window frames are great for those who are looking for a low-maintenance window. If you like the look of real wood but not its drawbacks, you can choose a clad window which has the beauty of wood on the interior but a maintenance-free coating on the outside to protect the frame from the ravages of summer’s hot sun and humidity.
As you look at the forecast, if you’re already getting uncomfortable thinking about another summer of high A/C bills, perhaps it’s time to consider an energy-efficient alternative to your old windows. And by the way, your wallet will thank you this winter as well – those same windows that keep out summer’s heat also do a great job of stopping old man winter in his tracks.
To take a look at the beautiful energy-efficient replacement window lines we offer, please call us today to schedule a personal appointment at our showroom.
Window Outfitters is a premier Window Replacement, doors, siding contractor and installer. As Contractor in the St Paul, Minneapolis, (Twin Cities) Minnesota (MN) metro, we proudly serve, but are not limited to, the following areas: Minneapolis Energy Efficient Vinyl Windows, Replacement Window Contractors Minnesota, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Savage, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eagan, St Paul, Hastings, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Farmington MN, Chaska, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Victoria, Mendota Heights Anderson Windows Minneapolis, Marvin Windows Minneapolis.
