When you are thinking about replacement windows in San Jose, CA, one of the questions you may have is whether replacement windows will save you money. Having replacement windows installed in your home is a significant investment, so you want to make sure that you reap all the benefits that you can from that investment.
Replacement windows can make your home more energy efficient, and that will save you money, not only now, but for the next two or three decades, on your energy bills. When you consider the investment of replacement windows in this light, it’s easy to see how they are a very smart addition to your home.
If you have older windows installed in your home, they are probably responsible for a significant portion of the energy your home loses each year. As your home’s windows age, their frames can deteriorate, which can mean that your windows don’t close correctly or securely. This can create gaps that allow warm or cool air, depending on the season, to escape your home.
Once your windows become drafty, maintaining a constant and comfortable temperature inside your home is more difficult. Because of that, your HVAC system must work harder to maintain your thermostat setting. This causes your power bills to go up and it also increases the cost of maintaining your HVAC system.
When you start considering window replacements, you may be simply trying to increase your home’s curb appeal, or you want windows that function properly. You may not even consider energy consumption as a factor.
But you should. Therefore, one of the things that you’ll want to look for in replacement windows is how energy efficient they are.
One way to get better energy efficiency with your replacement windows is to choose windows with multiple panes. Double pane and triple pane windows have insulation layers (filled with an inert gas like argon or krypton) built into them to increase their energy efficiency.
Double pane windows are a good choice for energy efficient replacement windows, but if you live in an area where temperatures tend to be colder or hotter in the winter and summer, you will find that triple pane windows are a better option.
There are several additional ways that you can make your replacement windows, even more, energy efficient.
One of these is to add a low emissivity (Low-E) coating to them. Low-E coating is a very thin coating that is applied to the replacement window. This coating elevates the window’s ability to reduce the amount of heat transferred.
Low-E coating has the advantage of reducing the amount of ultraviolet (UV) rays that are allowed into your home while allowing in an abundant amount of natural light. This not only increases the energy efficiency of your home, but it also protects you and the interior of your home from the harmful effects of UV rays.
Be sure to choose replacement windows that have Energy Star ratings. This gives you the assurance that the windows are energy efficient.
There are many different styles of energy efficient replacement windows.
If your home currently has single hung windows (windows where the lower sash is the only one that can be raised or lower), double hung windows are an excellent choice for replacement windows.
With double hung windows, both the top and bottom sashes of the window can be opened and closed. Not only does this give you better ventilation when your windows are open when the weather is perfect outside, but it also offers more security for your family.
To learn more about replacement windows in San Jose, CA, you can talk with our expert team at California Custom Creations.
