How Can Windows Improve Your Home?

Good windows improve your home. Great windows improve your life.

Windows are integral to the home. They perform several functions that together make your home experience better. If you own lackluster, old, or damaged units, you should consider replacing your windows. Here are four ways that windows can benefit you and your home:

Natural light is a source of healthy living.

Natural light is a great source for our body, mind, spirit. Aside from the emotional benefits, daylight has been shown to have a significant impact on productivity and health. Our eyes and brains simply function more optimally with natural light versus artificial lighting. Regardless of how your window looks, ensure your home has a source of natural light in every room, when possible.

Windows can make your home more energy-efficient.

The right windows can help you save on energy costs. Energy-efficient windows in central and eastern Pennsylvania area reduce the need for heating and cooling, which makes them great investments for your home.

Windows can enhance your home's curb appeal.

Upgrading or changing your windows can not only add more value to your home, the correct type of windows can massively enhance the architectural style of your home, whether the style is traditional, contemporary, simplistic, or modern.

Windows can improve indoor air quality.

Because we spend many of our days indoors, it’s important to make sure that the air we’re breathing in is fresh and safe. The best replacement units protects against moisture and condensation concerns, which may lead to mold formation and accumulation of harmful substances. With new windows, a healthier living environment is possible.

Ready to improve your home with new windows?

Let Aspen Home Improvements help you! Contact us today to speak with our experts and schedule your free estimate.

Energy-Efficient Windows vs. Traditional Windows

Are you paying high energy bills?

Most homeowners might be unhappy with the cost of their monthly energy bills but aren’t sure what to do about it other than complain about losing money. But did you know that the windows in your home greatly impact your energy bills?

In winter, your heat may be leaking through cracks in your windows, resulting in a rise in your heating bill. Some even see an increase of up to 25% percent.

In summer, the opposite happens. The strong UV rays from the sun enter in through poorly insulated glass windows, causing the interior of your home to become hotter. This causes your air conditioning units to work twice as hard to keep your home to your desired temperature.

The solution?

Energy-efficient windows!

Energy-Efficient Windows vs. Traditional Windows

Glass Coating

If low-emissivity coatings are applied to glass, it can help control the temperature within your home. A coating on the outside will reflect sunlight, thus keeping your home cooler. A coating on interior glass will keep the warm air inside your home.

Structure

The material of your window frame can also affect the temperature of your home. Traditional windows made from materials such as aluminum conduct a lot of heat, causing them to warm your home. This causes energy bills to increase during the summer. Also, most traditional windows are reported to leak air a lot because they are not properly sealed. Energy-efficient windows are filled with nontoxic gas that help prevent hot or cool air from escaping.

Energy Star

We are proud to carry Energy Star windows! It is guaranteed that every product with the Energy Star label has met strict federal guidelines for energy efficiency. Not only do these windows save homeowners a significant amount on monthly utility bills, they also reduce greenhouse emission gases, leaving a lighter carbon footprint than traditional windows.

Other Benefits

When you install energy-efficient windows in your home, you can spend less on heating and cooling equipment. And, because they won’t be working as hard to maintain your home’s temperature, they will require less maintenance and last much longer. It is also possible to obtain cash rebates for installing energy-efficient windows.

Are you ready to replace your traditional windows with top-quality energy-efficient windows from Energy Star? Contact our team! We will schedule a consultation so that we can begin prepping your home for new windows!

The 3 G's of Replacement Windows: Glass, Gas, & Glazing

Quick: what type of glass do you have in your current windows?

If you’re like many other homeowners, your answer is probably: “I don't know.”

Choosing the right glass for your window replacement is incredibly important. Not all windows are created equal, and the glass is a big reason why this is true.

The types of glass used in your window replacement are all found on the NFRC Window Label, which can sometimes to be difficult to decipher. To help out our customers, we wanted to share with them the 3 G’s that make up their window: Glass, Gas, and Glazing.

Here’s a quick guide for the different glass, gas, and glazing options that makes your window replacement unique –

Glass

Double-Pane. Double pane-windows have become the standard in home building and window replacement. Double-pane windows have two panes of glass with a space in between (filled with gas, but we’re getting to that) that provides a layer of insulation.

Triple-Pane. Triple-pane windows are exactly like double-pane windows, but they have an additional pane of glass and an additional layer of insulated space. This provides an even greater amount of insulation for your window replacement.

Gas

Remember our mention of gas earlier? The space in between the panes of glass is usually filled with argon or krypton gas to provide more insulation. These two gases are both denser than air, which makes them better insulators than what’d you normally find.

Glazing/Coating

Low-e (Low-Emissivity). Low-Emissivity coating is a microscopically-thin layer of coating on windows that reflects heat. It acts as an additional insulator for your home; the low-e coating can reflect the temperature of your home back inside, or even prevent the heat/cold from entering your home.

High-Performance. High-performance glazing is a great indicator of high-performing windows. High-performance glazing combines several of the features mentioned above to give you the best windows possible.

Do you have questions about your current windows? Or are you thinking about replacing them with new, energy-efficient windows? Contact our home improvement specialists today!

Related Articles: Replacement Window Benefits, Reading Energy-Efficient Window Labels