Homeownership is full of decisions. There are the little, everyday decisions and the big, $10,000 new roof decisions. Of course, making any decision requires you to understand the facts, unclouded by myths and misconceptions. This is especially the case when making what’s potentially a major investment in your home, such as replacing your home windows. Well, it’s time to kick these false facts to the curb — here are just a few of the most common myths about residential window replacements.
New windows won’t affect energy efficiency
This is by far the biggest misconception homeowners believe regarding window replacements. According to the National Association of Home Builders 2012 Remodeling Market Index, 44% of renovation jobs that year were for window or door replacement, and the truth is that new windows can have a major impact on your home’s energy usage and your utility bills. Though it may be tricky to determine your exact savings potential, keep this in mind: in general, you’ll save up to 15% a year on your energy bill if older double-pane windows in a 2,600-square-foot house are replaced with energy-efficient windows with low-E coatings, according to the Efficient Windows Collaborative, a coalition of government agencies, research organizations, and manufacturers that promotes efficient window technology.
Replacement windows are expensive
Though this is certainly a subjective measurement, it’s important to keep in mind when determining new window costs that the energy and utility savings help to offset the initial investment over time. Though replacing a window costs an average of between $300 and $700 per window, you can expect your new windows to practically pay for themselves after a few years of use.
You can’t get your windows replaced during the winter
Finally, this is another false fact that deters many homeowners from investing in new windows. But it’s far from the truth — with today’s technology, window installers can easily replace your windows at any time of year. They’ll take all proper precautions to ensure your home is protected from the elements during the entire time, so it’s a virtually risk-free process for your home.
According to a recent survey, almost two-thirds of homeowners are planning on renovating. Now that you know the truth behind these misleading home window replacement misconceptions, you can decide whether or not new windows are the right investment for your home.