Carson City, the Reno area, and Northern Nevada in general, presents weather that can get very hot in summer months and very cold in winter months. Because of this, energy saving home upgrades are especially important in our area. Have you ever wished you could lower your monthly payment when you took a look at your energy bill? Of course you have, and that’s the biggest reason why we’re writing this blog! Windows are the key to keeping money in your pocket without dramatically altering your lifestyle or energy consumption habits.
Did you know that most home windows are inefficient according to the U.S. Department of Energy? Your home most likely falls into this category. Most home construction companies do whatever they can to keep their costs low and their profits high, which is why most home windows are made to be inefficient by installing cheap, low-quality windows, and cutting corners on installation such as poorly sealed casing and frames.
The U.S. Department of Energy says that nearly 25% of the annual cooling and heating costs of the average American home is energy loss due to low quality windows. That number is huge, and that’s just the average! To make matters worse, time is not on your side. The older your house gets with the current inefficient windows in place, the worse it’s going to get. This is especially true for homes built more than 10 years ago. For a home 20+ years old, it is likely that your windows don’t have any of the energy-saving benefits of modern window technology.
There’s a good chance you already know you have issues with your residential windows but here are some of the signs it’s time to address the problem.
- Do your windows easily get hot in the summer and cold in the winter?
- Can you place your hand near the window when it is closed and feel a draft?
- Are your windows difficult to open or close?
- Have your windows become foggy or cloudy?
- Is your HV/AC system running most of the day just to keep your house at a comfortable temperature?
If any of the those applied to you, it means you should have those windows looked at by a professional.
The biggest obstacle home owners face to the idea of new windows, is thinking that the cost is going to be too high. That’s not the case! The savings over time can make the initial investment of new windows well worth that investment. Not to mention the general quality of life that goes with new windows that open and close smoothly, are aesthetically pleasing and don’t blow cold air at you as you walk by them in the winter.
So about how much money can you actually save after a window replacement? There’s no way to calculate an exact dollar amount, however, there is scientific data which proves that the savings are there. In the survey conducted by Energy Star, people can expect to save $126-465 on average per year when replacing single-pane windows and $27-111 on average per year with double-pane, clear glass replacement windows. Moreover, new windows have the function of reducing UV rays due to a low-e coating and Argon or Krypton which is designed to protect us from unwanted radiation.
Now, you understand how to save money on energy with new windows. Do you want to replace your windows? Are you in need of window repair in Reno, or window repair in Carson City? If you are looking for the top window replacement company in Northern Nevada, the choice is clear, call Capital Glass!