How To Decide When To Replace Your Utah Windows
It isn’t necessarily easy to decide about the right time to replace your Utah windows. (Except that it’s never the right time in the winter.) If you were to consult window repairing and replacement professionals, you would find divergent opinions on this timing issue.
Some of these professionals would be of the opinion that windows should mostly be repaired, and not replaced. (However, one issue with the repairing option is that not every window repairman has access to enough used parts for repairs.) Others believe that repairing windows is equivalent to using Band Aids on the problems and that replacing windows is always preferable. One important factor in the repair versus replace decision is money. In other words, if you can’t comfortably afford to buy new replacement windows, you probably should do repairs instead. Other than that, there aren’t any hard-and-fast rules for fixing, versus replacing, decisions-except that rotten windows obviously need to be replaced and can’t be repaired.
The reasons for window replacement fall into four categories: performance, energy efficiency, maintenance, and aesthetics. Performance reasons are usually the most compelling-sticking windows are annoying, inefficient, inconvenient, and unsafe. Old windows can be drafty, wasting a lot of energy, and new windows can save a lot on heating and cooling costs (from 20-30 percent). The maintenance on older windows includes scraping, painting, and caulking, but newer windows are generally low maintenance, sometimes including tilt features for ease of cleaning from within the house. Aesthetically, new windows add value to a property and help a home to sell. They also help owners enjoy their property more.
Some professionals recommend window replacements if any of these signs are present: peeling paint on the house or frame exterior because of faulty sealing of the windows; cool spots near the inside of the window on cold days and warm spots on hot days; ice or frost on the glass because of inadequate insulation; and inadequate insulation around the window, which lets in unwanted drafts and sounds. Also, these simple tests can indicate the need for replacement windows: tapping the window frame cautiously to show any softness in the wood that would demonstrate decay; opening and closing to discover any swollen-shut sashes or the need for propping when open; holding a lit candle around the edge to find any flickers from drafts; and shining a light around the frame to see any light that comes through to the inside.
Other professionals advise putting in replacement windows if there are three or more of the following problems: rotting, missing, split, or loose wooden parts; broken or cracked glass; excessive water infiltration; or brittle or missing putty. All of these issues are fixable, however, at probably half the expense or less of Utah replacement windows. Most of the time old Utah windows can be frugally converted into easily cleaned, safe, and energy efficient Utah windows. Many companies make conversion kits for putting tilt sashes in old windows. When to do replacement Utah windows is really a multi-factored personal decision.
Looking to find the best Salt Lake replacement windows, then visit www.awp-window.com to find the best advice on Salt Lake window replacement products for you.
