5 Hidden Costs of Living with Drafty Windows

Drafty windows are a common issue for many homeowners across the Pacific Northwest. They frequently go unnoticed until the cold winds of winter or intense summer heat waves begin to seep through the cracks. More than just a source of discomfort, drafty windows can inflict significant costs on your home.

This article delves into the many ways poorly sealed windows can hurt your home and your wallet!

1. Increased Energy Bills

Drafty windows can drastically affect your home’s thermal efficiency. Cold air will find its way into your space during the wintertime, introducing potential allergens, dust, and humidity. Meanwhile, valuable cool air escapes during the summer, leaving your home feeling muggy and uncomfortable. This forces your heating and cooling system to work even harder, increasing your energy bills in the process.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can save anywhere from 10 to 20% per year by reducing drafts in your home. Not only are you saving money, but you’re providing more comfort all year-long!

2. Poor Quality of Life

Living with drafty windows can lead to major discomfort and health issues. In particular, cold drafts in the winter can bring respiratory problems since your body can’t adapt to the constant fluctuations in temperature. Moisture seeping through your windows can also encourage mold growth, posing additional health risks and costly repairs in the future.
So if you find it challenging to keep your home warm in the winter and cool in summer, it’s likely that your window seals are compromised. Installing quality, energy-efficient windows provide more consistent insulation and strong protection from the elements. While it may seem like an investment, it’s definitely worthwhile for both your health and your overall quality of life.

3. Higher HVAC Wear & Tear

The extra stress that’s being placed on your heating and cooling system can lead to more frequent breakdowns and a shorter lifespan for your HVAC equipment. The constant need to heat or cool your home due to drafty windows can force your system to operate beyond its intended capacity, which not only increases your utility bills but also accelerates the wear and tear on your system’s components.

The cost associated with HVAC repairs and premature replacement can be considerable. Fixing or replacing your drafty windows will help you save big on energy costs and will allow you to avoid the higher expenses of HVAC maintenance and replacement.

4. Negative Environmental Impacts

Energy efficiency isn’t just about reducing your utility bills – you can also minimize your environmental footprint. At Renewal by Andersen, our Minnesota warehouse operates entirely on renewable energy. Plus, our products are made from recycled wood fiber, helping to prevent the harvesting of over 90 million board feet of lumber.

Drafty windows also contribute to higher energy consumption, which directly increases our carbon emissions. By addressing these inefficiencies, you can play a part in reducing the overall demand for non-renewable sources, making your windows a smart choice for your home and the planet!

5. Decrease in Property Value

The quality of your windows play a significant role in determining your home’s market value. Old and drafty windows are often seen as a drawback for many potential homebuyers, as they may be perceived as a huge investment upfront.
On the other hand, upgrading to high-quality and energy-efficient windows can be a major selling point. Not only do they improve the aesthetic appeal of your home, but they also signal to prospective buyers that this home is well-maintained and is more likely to offer superior performance all year-round.

The Solution

At Renewal by Andersen of Oregon & SW Washington, we believe that the combination of superior framing materials, high-quality glass, and professional installation results in windows that will enhance the beauty and longevity of your home.

But what makes our windows so special?

Superior Materials

Common window materials like aluminum can pit and corrode over time, transferring heat out of your home and allowing outdoor temperatures to seep into your space. Meanwhile, wood windows have a tendency to rot, and vinyl lacks structural integrity when exposed to fluctuating temperatures – causing cracks, bowing, and water leakage. To combat these challenges, we decided to create a material that blends the insulating properties of wood with the low-maintenance features of vinyl. We call it Fibrex® material.

Fibrex is twice as strong as vinyl and insulates 700 times better than aluminum, ensuring your space is well-insulated and that your windows will last a lifetime! So, whenever you purchase a new window from Renewal by Andersen, you get the best quality and most efficiency in every frame.

High-Performance Glass

Renewal by Andersen’s specialty glass features a low-emissivity coating that acts as a thermal barrier against all types of weather. That way, heat stays insulated throughout your home during the cold winter months and is reflected away from your home in the summertime.

For example, our SmartSun™ glass is 70% more efficient in summer and 49% more efficient in winter compared to ordinary dual pane glass.1 It will also block 84% of harmful UV rays, helping to protect your drapes, artwork, and furniture from sun damage.

Expert Insulation

Rather than just relying on a single pane of glass, Renewal by Andersen offers two panes with optimal spacing between them – allowing for better efficiency and thermal performance. On top of that, we use a low-conductivity spacer made of stainless steel that works to resist heat transfer, conduct less energy, and provide a stronger support system to avoid seal failure. Installing a spacer with inferior materials, such as plastic, can release a gas that creates significant fogging between the panes.

So if you’re looking for the best materials with the most-efficient benefits for your home, look no further than the window experts at Renewal by Andersen!

Full-Service Installation

All of these perks are rounded out by our all-inclusive signature service, which gives us the opportunity to take care of our customers throughout the entire process. From the first meeting with our design consultant down to the custom-made windows that are measured and installed to fit your space, you’re receiving a five-star experience the whole way through. This streamlined approach removes any middleman or subcontractor, so you can rest easy knowing you’re always working with a highly-qualified Renewal by Andersen employee.

However, we understand that things happen – which is why we offer the Nation’s Best Warranty Coverage2. This includes a 2-year warranty on all our window and door-branded products, a 10-year warranty for the frames and sashes, and 20-year coverage on all our glass from the day it’s added to your home. It’s also non-prorated, meaning the warranty transfers to the next owner if you ever decide to sell your home in the future.

Choose the Best in Window Replacement Services

Ignoring drafty windows can lead to more discomfort, higher energy bills, and even a decrease in your home’s property value. By understanding these impacts, you can take proactive steps to assess and replace your old windows with effective, energy-efficient solutions. If you’re interested in bringing more sustainable and eco-friendly benefits to your home, don’t hesitate to call us or schedule your free consultation today!

And for more information on finding long-term solutions for your home, visit our website to find a variety of high-quality windows and doors.

 

1 Values are based on comparison of Renewal by Andersen® double-hung window U-factor to the U-factor for clear dual pane glass non-metal frame default values from the 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015 and 2018 International Energy Conservation Code “Glazed Fenestration” Default Tables.

2 Renewal by Andersen has the Nation’s Best Warranty coverage. It is the only warranty among top selling window companies that meets all of the following requirements: easy to understand terms, unrestricted transferability, installation coverage, labor coverage, geographically unrestricted, coverage for exterior color, insect screens and hardware, and no maintenance requirement. Visit renewalbyandersen.com/nationsbest for details.