Are Leaky Windows Stealing Your Financial Security?
How much money do you lose due to leaky windows in your home? It may be more than you think, according to the Department of Energy. And surprisingly, while a great deal of energy escapes through older windows, particularly single pane windows, even more escapes around the windows. Leaky seals, improperly installed replacement windows, failed caulk, and bad window seals can be to blame.
How Can I Tell If My Windows Are Leaking?
It is not difficult to determine if your windows are leaking. This is a job you can do yourself. Simply hold a lighted candle or incense stick near the window on windy days. The flame or smoke will move where there are gaps. Exercise common sense and refrain from burning your house down. Don’t rely on glass temperature or the presence of condensation alone to find drafts.
What Should I Do About Leaky Windows?
There are some stop-gap measures you can take to help the immediate loss of heated air from your home. Caulking or weatherstripping can help cut down on drafts — but if you truly want to remedy the situation, it’s probably time to start looking for replacement windows. Vinyl replacement windows can be easily and affordably installed and begin paying for themselves almost immediately! The payoff period for replacement windows (the period of time from installation until the costs are recouped by energy savings) varies from house to house: if you have significantly leaky windows, you could ‘pay off’ your windows in a handful of years.
Replacement Windows Save You Money On Energy Costs
By eliminating leaks and drafts, replacement windows allow you to retain more heated air. This means your heating system runs less often, conserving fuel and energy. This saves you money! If you act now, qualified replacement windows can help you at tax time: eligible windows can help you secure a substantial tax credit.
Ensure Tax Savings By Buying The Right Replacement Windows!
Energy efficiency has gained national importance. Window replacement is recognized as one stellar way to aid in energy independence and the reduction of harmful global emissions. Choosing the right replacement windows is a way to save money and the environment.
Choosing replacement windows with energy-saving benefits is simple and the federal government also made it less expensive for homeowners with the signing of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The bill includes the opportunity for homeowners to claim a tax credit of 30 percent of the cost of eligible energy-efficient products to a maximum of $1,500 per household for 2009 and 2010 combined when used for remodeling and replacement. According to the IRS, a tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in your tax liability and can be deducted directly from your taxes owed.
While energy efficient replacement windows are included in this tax credit, not all replacement windows will qualify. Now is the best time to replace your leaky, worn-out windows. However, before you go running off after replacement windows, you want to do your homework to make sure the windows you purchase will qualify for the tax credit.
To qualify for the tax credit, windows must provide high levels of energy efficiency in two categories. They must offer reduced heat loss and reduced heat gain. The measurement for heat loss is called U-Factor and the measurement for heat gain is called Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, or SHGC. To meet the performance requirements, the window or door must have both a U-Factor and SHGC rating equal to or less than 0.30 in all climate zones in the U.S. When you work with your replacement window specialist, ask specifically about the U-Factor and the SHGC: if the windows they’re offering don’t meet these standards, you need different windows!
When comparing windows for energy performance — and the 2009/2010 tax credit — be sure to check the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) label that is displayed on the product. This label displays the U-Factor and SHGC ratings for the window or patio door. If the product does not have this label, then the unit does not have a certified NFRC value. Again, windows that don’t have this label are not going to qualify for the tax credit: this is imperative. It’s important to note that vinyl replacement windows, fiberglass replacement windows, and wood replacement windows are all available in the appropriate rating.
Qualifying replacement windows must be purchased and installed in a primary residence between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010. While quality installation is a critical component of any successful window replacement project, installation costs are not included in the 2009/2010 tax credit. Your sales receipt should break out qualifying product costs separately. Bear in mind that many replacement window manufacturer’s warranties are dependent upon having the installation performed by an approved contractor or replacement window installation team. Make sure to read your replacement window warranty and make your replacement window installation choices appropriately.
In addition to your sales receipt, you will also need to save the NFRC label from each window or the Manufacturer’s Certification Statement with your tax documents. Consult with your accountant or tax preparer for further information. In addition, many reputable replacement window specialists can provide you with more insight.
Choosing Replacement Windows: Vinyl Window Maintenance
One of the primary considerations homeowners must take into account when selecting the best replacement windows is the upkeep and maintenance those windows require. Despite what advertisers like to tell you, no replacement window is completely maintenance free: all windows get dirty, get exposed to the elements, and need a little attention from time to time.
However, not all replacement windows need the same amount of care. Homeowners who opt for traditional wood windows soon find themselves needing to paint frames and sills. Random scratches and dings look terrible until they’re addressed — and addressing that damage can be problematic if the window is on the second or third floor!
A large question to consider is who will be doing the upkeep and maintenance on your replacement windows. For most people, this is a job they do themselves. If you’re not physically fit, have impaired balance, or limited mobility the thought of climbing up on a ladder to clean or paint windows is not an appealing one.
Vinyl replacement windows offer the ultimate in easy maintenance. Most high quality vinyl replacement windows are designed to tilt in for easy cleaning. This is a must-have feature for the aging homeowner who plans to stay in their residence: while it may not seem like a big deal to clean the windows when you’re forty, at sixty-five or seventy, the task becomes much more involved.
Cleaning vinyl replacement windows requires nothing more than your favorite glass cleaner. The sash, sill and frame can easily be wiped down with warm water. A mild detergent can be used if your windows have been marred with stubborn sticky materials, such as bird droppings, sap and pollen from surrounding trees, or the results of pollution.
Additionally, the color on vinyl replacement windows goes all the way through. That means that if a stray branch or piece of wind-blown debris scratches or dings your window frame, it is not immediately visible. The wound doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb for all the world to see. You don’t have to worry about the flaw being visible to the neighbors or passers by. The same is not true for wood replacement windows: you’d find yourself out there with a paintbrush, either trying to match the existing finish and cover the ding (good luck!) or repainting the entire frame.
Hands down, vinyl replacement windows offer the easiest maintenance. This makes them appealing to homeowners who plan to be in their homes for the long haul, who like to eliminate unneccessary chores and who like to make cleaning quick and easy!
Drawing the Curtain: Saying Farewell to One of the Replacement Window Industry's Leaders
It is with great sorrow that we note the passing of William Marvin, the founder of Marvin Windows and Doors. Mr. Marvin passed away earlier this week, at the age of 92. He leaves behind a proud legacy as the man who built Marvin Windows and Doors from a small regional business to a company that now employs more than 5,300 people.
Leaving behind a legacy is so important to many of us. We want to know that after we’re gone, all of our life’s works and passions have been passed along to our family members and loved ones. There are many elements to leaving a legacy: the work we do — just as Mr. Marvin did — the people we connect with, and the home we leave behind. It’s part of the American dream to create the home that will passed down to children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Your windows are important part of ensuring that your home is around for the long haul. So much of the damage that happens to older homes — mildew, moisture penetration, air infiltration, even pest issues — can be traced to inadequate original construction windows and doors. This is especially true in older homes: technology that was adequate at the time simply wasn’t engineered well enough to stand the test of time.
Replacement windows are key in helping ensure your home can stand the test of time. Mr. Marvin’s company certainly helped countless homeowners make the upgrades that added years of life and an immeasurable amount of comfort and enjoyment to many homes. Vinyl replacement windows, wood replacement windows, and fiberglass replacement windows can all be used to the same effect. Selecting high quality replacement windows is one way to ensure that your home will be around for your lifetime and for your children: a tangible legacy to be enjoyed for generations to come.