Replacement Windows | US Home Improvement

Now I Have Home Replacement Windows: What Do I Do With My Storm Windows?

After having vinyl home replacement windows, fiberglass home replacement windows or wood home replacement windows installed, many homeowners find themselves asking: what in the world do I do with all of these storm windows?

Storm windows — a temporary, exterior window, designed to be fitted over existing windows during inclement weather — were once a necessity. Most homeowners are familiar with the routine of installing storm windows every fall and pulling them all down again once warm weather arrives. They provided that extra layer of insulation needed to keep the cold out and the warm in. Yet storm windows cannot conserve energy as well as modern replacement windows.

More than one home owner has pondered installing their storm windows over their new replacement windows, as a way to gild the lily. After all, if storm windows are good, and replacement windows are good, shouldn’t replacement windows and storm windows together be good?

The answer is not necessarily. There are a number of problems installing storm windows over new replacement windows. The first problem is the obvious issue of fit: your replacement windows may not be the same size, exactly, of the windows you replaced, which means your storms won’t fit. Installing storm windows annually will now be a bigger chore than it was before.

Storm windows are not designed to work with replacement windows. They trap heat and moisture between the panes of glass. This can result in fogging, obscuring your view and adding unwanted moisture. Additionally, the heat trapped by storm windows can actually damage your replacement windows, if you’re in a very warm region.

Meanwhile, you’ve doubled the number of surfaces you need to clean. While home replacement windows feature easy tilt-in cleaning, storm windows do not. You’ll be back on the ladder with the soap and water — or enjoying dirty, cloudy windows by the end of the winter!

At the same time, one has to consider how much benefit one is realizing by installing storm windows over thermal replacement windows. The answer to that question is “Not very much”. Adding another layer of glass to a double-pane or triple-pane thermal window does add mass to the entire unit, but it does not markedly increase the insulating capabilities of the window.
When one weighs the inconvenience, unsightly appearance (for many storm windows are far from attractive!), extra work, and difficulty maintaining storm windows against the minimal benefit gained by installing them, the choice becomes clear. There’s no reason to install storm windows over vinyl replacement windows, fiberglass replacement windows, or wood replacement windows.

Still, it’s a shame to see all of the still-perfectly good storm windows you have go to waste. Consider donating these windows to Habitat for Humanity or other local housing-oriented charity. They can certainly use the materials, particularly to upgrade homes that don’t have storm windows and don’t have the budget available for home window replacement. You’ll be doing real good in your community and you’ll enjoy a charitable tax deduction.

Home Replacement Windows and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: What You Need To Know

We’ve got to admit it: this one took us by surprise. Is there a relationship between home replacement windows and carbon monoxide poisoning? The answer may be yes — but the relationship’s not necessarily a bad one.

Every year, as winter approaches, the news is filled with stories about carbon monoxide poisoning. Fifteen hundred people die annually due to carbon monoxide poisoning, and several thousand more seek medical attention for the condition. Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs when individuals are exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide — a colorless, odorless gas put off when heat sources are improperly vented.

In homes with older, leaky windows, some of this carbon monoxide could escape to the outdoors through the windows — along with much of the home’s heating energy. Newer homes and homes that feature replacement windows are more airtight. Warmed air remains indoors. This is of course a benefit. Home replacement windows help you save energy and enjoy greater comfort in the home.

However, if carbon monoxide levels are rising in a home, that gas will not leak through a double pane or triple pane glass replacement window the way it will through a faulty, single pane older window.

The primary way to protect yourself from carbon monoxide poisoning is to ensure that all of your heating systems are properly vented and that your home has adequate air exchange with the outdoors. Fresh air needs to circulate through your home regularly for optimum health for the homeowners.

Home replacement windows can play a critical role in providing adequate air exchange. Unlike older, faulty windows that were often painted shut, had broken weights or faulty mechanisms, modern home replacement windows open and close easily. Because you do not need storm windows, much less the ugly, thick plastic some homeowners had to staple over their windows as soon as the leaves started changing color, you can take advantage of warmer winter days by opening your home replacement windows easily and letting fresh air in.

Every home should have a CO monitor. This monitor will sound an alarm if elevated carbon monoxide levels are detected. If this occurs, the experts recommend opening all of the windows in your home — far easier if you have replacement windows that open easily and stay open — and exit the residence. Call in the appropriate emergency response teams to address the problem.

Modern home replacement windows do play a critical role in creating a more airtight home. Whether you opt for vinyl home replacement windows, fiberglass home replacement windows, or wood home replacement windows, advances in replacement window technology makes it possible to virtually eliminate unwanted air penetration. This improves the home’s energy efficiency. However, it does point to the need to have adequate ventilation for the home’s heating system and the need to have one’s heating system maintained and inspected regularly. Carbon monoxide poisoning never has to happen. Prepare now to protect yourself as winter weather approaches.

It’s that time of year again: fall leaves are crimson and gold, temperatures are dropping, and home owners around the region are getting their storm windows out.

Storm windows are multi-layered glass windows applied over a home’s existing windows to protect an extra layer of protection during inclement weather. Storm windows are a necessity if you live in an area that has severe storms and hurricanes — every layer of protection between you and the worst weather is a good idea!

But what is the relationship between replacement windows and storm windows? Can one replace the other? Do replacement windows require storm windows? Can you use storm windows with replacement windows? Do you need replacement windows at all, or can storm windows do the job?

These are all great questions, and speak to the common confusion surrounding replacement windows and storm windows.

Let’s look at the last question first: can storm windows do the job of replacement windows?

The short answer is “No.” Storm windows in and of themselves cannot match the energy efficiency offered by vinyl home replacement windows, fiberglass home replacement windows, or wood home replacement windows. While some storm windows feature double pane glass, few offer the triple pane glass and insulating gas pockets available in the best home replacement windows. Storm windows do not stand a chance of meeting modern home replacement window’s energy efficiency, style, or quality of construction.

That being said, if your budget doesn’t currently allow for full window replacement, a high quality storm window can increase your home’s energy efficiency. When installed over a single pane, leaky window, a quality storm window can reduce air penetration, increase the retention of warm interior air, and repel a certain amount of moisture. All of this will increase the comfort and livability of your home, helping to eliminate chilly drafts.

The many benefits of storm windows is why top quality window manufacturers like Harvey and Champion pride themselves on their storm windows. These are well-built high quality storm windows, the pinnacle of modern window technology. If you’re only familiar with the flimsy storm windows of yesteryear, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the quality construction and structural integrity of modern storm windows.

Many times, replacement window dealers will tell you that after having full window replacement done, storm windows are no longer required. It’s also true that installing storm windows after having replacement windows installed can be problematic: wider window frames may no longer fit your existing storms.

However, modern storm windows can accommodate modern replacement windows. You’ll want to select storm windows with impact resistant glass — these windows can stand up to high water pressure and the extreme stresses that occur during weather events. Pay attention to the frames and sashes — while the majority of any storm window is of course the glass, you want quality frames and sashes to provide additional protection and stop leaks. Experts recommend matching framing materials to your existing or replacement windows– if you’ve got vinyl home replacement windows, you’ll want vinyl framed storm windows.