Whether you’re selling your home or looking to make improvements, new windows can go a long way toward improving the aesthetic of your home, reducing energy costs, and increasing your home’s safety. In fact, recent studies show that investing in new windows can add up to $12,000 to the value of your home. Unless you live in an older, restored home where you want to preserve the original look, there is little reason to keep your outdated wooden or metal windows. Old windows can cause damage to your home while raising your energy bills month after month.
The added value to your home is just the start of the many benefits that vinyl replacement windows offer. If you’re thinking about making the switch, check out these eight signs that it may be time for vinyl replacement windows in your home.
Hot and Cold Air Creeps In
Older, cracked windows do little to keep out wind drafts and heat. This can lead to increased energy bills, as cold drafts in the winter will force you to increase the temperature in your home, and heat in the summer will make you run your air conditioning nonstop. The modern technology used in vinyl windows adds a protective layer that the elements won’t penetrate, no matter how bad the weather. With vinyl windows, you don’t have to worry about wasting money on bills or being miserably hot or cold.
Mold or Mildew Has Formed in Your Home
Old, leaking windows may be letting in more than just hot or cold air; moisture may be seeping in as well. This moisture can lead to mold or mildew forming on the walls, floor, and ceiling near the leaking windows. If you’ve seen or smelled any mold or mildew in your home, it’s time to replace your windows. If you wait until the mold sets, it can lead to many costly repairs, not to mention put you and your family at risk.
Windows Stick When You Try to Open Them
Over time, wooden windows break, and mechanisms fail. This can leave you constantly having to pry your windows just to get them open. In addition, if you or any previous owner of your home ever painted your wooden windows, those windows may be extremely difficult to open, as the paint has dried them shut. It can be so hard to open painted wooden windows, that you may find yourself opting to keep them closed rather than putting up with the struggle of opening them. Opening your windows should be simple. If you’re sick of forcing them open, it’s time for an upgrade.
You Have to Prop Your Windows Open
Once your windows are open, you shouldn’t have to prop something under them to keep them from slamming shut. It’s not only annoying to prop open windows but potentially dangerous as well. If your child or pet knocks the item you use to prop the window open, the window could slam shut and cause serious harm to someone’s fingers or hands. Slamming windows can also cause the glass in the windows to break, creating a hazard.
Window Locks are Broken
New vinyl replacement windows provide more security for your home than you realize. The locks on older windows can break over time, or, at the very least, they will be easier to force open after several years of wear and tear. Check your window locks regularly. If they show any signs of damage or failure to work, replace your windows immediately.
They Don’t Block Outside Noise
Modern windows are made of reinforced glass; they feature thick glass coated with protective layers of silicone or urethane sealant coating. This design helps to protect windows from weather elements, but it also helps block outside noise as well.
If you’ve lived in the same home for a while, you may not realize how much noise your current windows are letting in. But once you make the switch to new windows, you’ll enjoy the added quiet that they offer.
You Need a Ladder to Clean Windows
New vinyl windows can be tilted inward for easy cleaning. With this new feature, you can regularly clean the outside of your windows without requiring the use of a ladder. This will remove the inherent dangers that come from cleaning windows located on a the upper floor of your home.
The Wood Around Windows is Cracked
As discussed, there are many safety issues related to old windows, but beyond those, many older windows create eyesores in your home. If the wood around your windows is cracked, chipped, or rotting, the windows will look unsightly. Vinyl replacement windows will instantly add value and appeal to your home.
Time For New Vinyl Replacement Windows
If your windows are displaying any of the signs listed above, it may be time for new windows. Replacing your old wooden or metal windows with new vinyl replacement windows can go a long way toward improving the look of your home, saving on energy costs, and helping your family stay safe. An investment in new windows now will mean years of efficient, reliable windows. If you think your home is in need of replacement windows, contact DryHome today to learn more.
