It is usually glaringly obvious when you need to replace your windows. However, the cost of replacing windows can cause homeowners to put off this project year after year.
High Energy Bills. Energy costs are abnormally high, yet you have done other non window-related repairs in an effort to save money (chiefly, insulation in walls and attic). In a lot of older homes, while replacing windows can be an expensive option, sometimes it’s actually cost-effective to replace them, and that’s because the windows eventually will pay for themselves through lowered heating and cooling costs.
Drafts. Chilly breezes in your house during the winter can come from even the tiniest cracks in window glass or window framing.
Window Glass Cold to the Touch. Single-pane windows will always feel cold to the touch, no matter their condition. But if you have double-paned windows, they should feel only moderately cold when the temperature outside is very cold.
Difficulty Opening or Closing Windows. Wood windows stuck to the frame by layers of paint. Settling of the foundation causing frames to twist, preventing the window sash from moving. Casement window hinges and latches rusted. Any of these might necessitate a full replacement rather than repair.
Window Painting and Repair Impossible. When your windows reach the point where the paint is alligatored, cracked, peeling, and the wood is rotting and falling apart, it becomes more cost-effective to replace the windows rather than repair.
You Get a Financial Windfall. If you have extra money that you can earmark for home remodeling (a work bonus, inheritance, home equity loan, etc.), it makes sense to put money into replacement windows.
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