Change your window without issues
With low wintertime temperatures the cold will creep in and pool at windows in need of repair or maintenance, plus drive up wintertime electricity bills. Just like any other part of a house, windows require maintenance and repair, and sometimes replacing, if the damage is too great. Windows are the most vulnerable point in a home for heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer.
How will you know if windows just need maintenance or require replacing?
The general rule of thumb to follow for window repair versus replacement is to repair windows with spotty damage and replace with damage throughout. Take the example of a fogged window. We would repair a fogged window that has lost it's seal.
What about newer super efficient windows - Why not just replace all of the windows at once?
It would seem like the best solution might be newer, more energy efficient windows. Advances in technology and the Low-E double pane type are much more efficient now, than they were years ago. But do they pay for themselves if replaced with more efficient models?
The short answer is no, you're better off repairing. Most homeowners only replace windows when there is no other option.
Window efficiency: plugging in the numbers for window repairs Winnipeg
Let's take an example and be generous with the numbers favoring replacing windows.
Here we will replace older, double paned windows, to more efficient Low-E, double pane models. With this upgrade you'll get a 15% savings on your energy bill. On an energy bill of 4800 a year that's 720 dollars a year, for all the windows in your home. This is a modest amount if you break it down per window. For my house that would be 48 dollars each, per year. In this case newer, energy efficient, models won't drive the cost of changing out the windows for the entire home. However, energy efficiency could be one determining factor.
So what are the best options for getting the most efficiency out of my windows? Best answer is: it varies and depends on your specific setting.
Take a home sitting on a lot with no shade. This type of unshaded home is what we call in the industry, sun-struck. Where I live, In Austin, Texas, the summer heat is a real problem. For this real world example repairing windows and then adding instant shade with solar screens will greatly increase the window efficiency throughout the course of the year and save more energy dollars over time for the homeowner than replacing the windows. Compare this example to a home in a northern clime with a lot of shade. The same solution would not work for both homes.
Every home is different. Find a specific solution modeled to your home needs by calling a professional. Some offer free estimates with an onsite evaluation.
Planned Obsolescence and forced Replacement Window
There are some cases due to the myriad types of window models changing throughout the years, where a window may require replacement due to lack of repair parts availability. Planned obsolescence, or the manufacturer no longer being in business may make it impossible to locate a random, very necessary, replacement part. In that case of course, you will be driven to replace a window rather than repair. In those cases most homeowners choose to replace the single window or two matching windows if close together and repair other windows in the home.
In conclusion, it usually makes sense to repair when the damage to a window has spotty damage and replace only when the window is un-repairable. All homes are individual and for specific advice tailored to your home call a window professional for a free onsite evaluation.