Windows and Doors Renovation Blog
Replacement Windows: When should I change my windows?
Change is inevitable. We change our oil. We change our sheets. Even the cells in our bodies are on a rhythmic cycle of change. But “changing the windows” doesn’t come up much in the regular day-to-day chore list.
The problem is that windows are rarely cheap and so unlike some of the other small changes we make in our homes, replacement windows are an investment you might need to prepare for.
In terms of the changes you can make to improve overall energy efficiency, windows rarely pay for themselves. However, they can still be a large source of energy loss. Poorly performing windows will drive your energy bills up – air leaks are the major source of energy loss in a home – and can create an uncomfortable interior during the hottest and coldest parts of the year. So that brings us to the big question:
When Should I Change My Windows?
1. The window is shut so where’s that breeze coming from?
One sign that replacement windows are in order is when you pass by a window on a cold winter’s day and feel that cold winter day seeping into your home via a leaky window. Perhaps you found a draft [Read more...]
Air Duct Cleaning and Repairing Another Way to Save Energy
Have you ever turned on the water to your garden hose and been rudely squirted in the face by a leaky hose-bib?
Or maybe you have been in the process of watering your plants when the hose began to resemble a sprinkler, as holes and cracks leaked water willy-nilly. Either way, you probably replaced your hose, or sealed the leaks, to prevent water waste.
Unfortunately, leaky air ducts aren’t so easy to detect. Duct work that guides your warm and cool air through household vents is hidden in walls and ceiling spaces. When ducts get dirty, or develop leaks, you usually remain oblivious. They leave you sneezing in ignorance while pondering the reason your utility bills continue to rise.
Surprise! It’s air duct cleaning time.
Air Ducts 101
Air ducts? What air ducts? You have a network of air ducts living just on the other side of your walls, ceilings, and/or your floors. These ducts are tubes, usually [Read more...]
Simple Ways to Better the Heating and Cooling Efficiency in Your House
If you are trying to live on a budget these days, you may have eliminated some of your favorite daily pleasures. Gone is the morning ritual of ordering a “double-skinny-marble-mocha-machiatto with a-dollop-of-whip-cream” from a favorite coffee shop. It can be downright depressing.
Wait! Never fear. Before giving up your favorite pleasures, why not take a closer examination of one of your other daily luxuries: your home heating and cooling system. You’d be amazed at the dollars that are – maybe literally – flying out the window on a daily basis.
Energy Efficiency $aves You Money
It may come as a surprise to you that on average, up to 54% of your utility bills are spent on heating and cooling your home. Unfortunately for your wallet, [Read more...]
