With winter here, and utility rate increases are predicted to drive home heating costs higher than ever. Stanford Blanck, co-owner of Taylor-based Wallside Windows thinks now is the perfect time to look at the windows on your house. Windows that have deteriorated – or worse yet, been improperly installed – can cost homeowners thousands of dollars per year. With natural gas prices predicted to increase, now is a perfect time to inspect your windows.
Consider this: if condensation forms on the inside of your window and freezes in the wintertime, your home is losing as much heat through that window as it would if the wall had a hole in it the size of a brick. And if you think that drafty windows are only costing you a few dollars a month on your heating bills, think again, according to a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy, by converting from single-pane to double-pane clear glass windows, an average homeowner can cut his or her heating bill by as much as 25 percent. By converting to argon filled, double-pane windows with a low-E coating, the heating bill could be cut as much as 35 percent.
When considering the long-term return on your investment, you could easily be looking at thousands of dollars saved in less than five years. Blanck and Wallside Windows, a manufacturer and installer of vinyl replacement windows, has more than 30 years of window replacement experience.
‘If your windows are loose and rattling,’ said Blanck, ‘it means it is no longer sealed properly. And if you can feel air drafts around the window, whether in winter or summer, the window is not doing what it’s supposed to do. Rotting wood and peeling paint are results of condensation and also a sign that the windows no longer work properly.’
How well windows keep heat in and cold out is measured by something known as the U-Factor-the lower the U-Factor, the more energy efficient the glass.
But the single most important factor in window efficiency, according to Blanck, is installation. ‘No matter how well a window is made,’ he said, ‘if it is not installed correctly, you bought a problem, not a solution.’ If windows are not fitted correctly or properly installed, an excessive amount of the home’s heat can be lost through even the slightest breach or opening. To ensure proper installation, hire a professional. A good rule of thumb is to seek out window companies that have been in business at least as long their guarantee. Remember, no matter how expensive your windows or how great they look in the showroom, you’re wasting your money if they’re not installed properly in your home.
Founded in 1944, Wallside Windows is the largest retailer-manufacturer of windows in a single geographic market. Each year Wallside manufactures more than a quarter million windows that are installed in more than 25,000 homes and businesses throughout Southeastern Michigan, the Michigan Thumb region, Greater Lansing, Port Huron, Jackson, and Northern Ohio. Detailed information can be found at wallsidewindows.com.
