Signs it’s Time to Replace your Windows
Texas homeowners have an extra incentive to spring for new windows: the American Taxpayer Relief Act offers up to $200 in tax credits for installing ENERGY STAR-rated windows from now until Dec. 31.
“This is an incredible opportunity,” says Chris Pickering, spokesman for Ply Gem Windows. “Old and outdated windows and doors are not only an eyesore, they can cost homeowners energy through leaks, cracks, and poorly insulated glass every month.”
Adds Pella’s Kathy Krafka Harkema: “Upgrading from single-pane windows to double-pane ENERGY STAR windows can help you save money on your heating and cooling bills.” She also notes that double- or triple-pane windows with Low-E insulating glass can help keep your home’s interior temperature more comfortable year-round as well as protect your belongings from the sun’s fading rays.
Window warning signs
So how do you know your home needs new windows? Search for the following problems:
- Air leaks
- Fogging between panes of glass
- Windows are difficult to open or close, a potential safety hazard
- Window frames are chipped or deteriorated
- Glass is cracked
- Fading with furniture, carpet, rugs and/or window treatments that get heavy doses of sunshine
- Water stains appear on or around the window
New window designs
Don’t discount the importance of appearance in your decision to improve your windows, either.
Mark Clement, co-host of the national home improvement radio show My Fix It Up Life, endorses the idea of “taking advantage of newer, more aesthetically pleasing products that are on the market.” That’s what he did in upgrading the windows on his home. “Our product choices not only make our home more livable right now, but also add more value to the home and make it more ‘sellable’ when it comes time for us to put the house on the market.”
