How Efficient Are Your Windows?
A pair of newly installed windows by the Retex Roofing team in Bon Air, Virginia. (Katelyn Lewis/Retex Roofing)
Did you know that windows are one of the most-common places for you to lose your home’s heat?
Maybe that’s unsurprising, as they’re made of glass and glass is not a great insulator. But not all windows are equal, and non-efficient windows are a common problem that can cause you to lose hundreds to thousands of dollars every year on your heating and cooling bills. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates heat gain and loss through windows are responsible for 25% to 30% of residential heating and cooling energy use.
Knowing whether your windows are performing optimally, therefore, is critical for your home’s comfortability and energy efficiency.
One of the most simple methods for checking your windows’ efficiency is to look at them with a critical eye. If any of your windows show gaps between the frames and your home’s siding, your caulking may have disintegrated. If you notice any cracks or dryness in your window’s glazing – the hard, putty-like substance holding the individual glass panes in place – water and wind may infiltrate your home, causing heat loss and water damage. Infrared laser thermometers and U-Value kits offer a more high-tech option for testing the temperatures and insulation capabilities, respectively, around your windows. You could also try a smoke test, using your exhaust fans and a burning stick of incense as you walk around the edges of your windows to see whether the smoke is blown inward by outside air, identifying a leak.
Don’t toss money straight out your windows, so to speak. If you’re a homeowner in the Richmond, Virginia, area and you need to replace your windows , Retex Roofing is here to help. Our exterior consultants will give you a free estimate for new windows designed for energy efficiency, saving you money on your energy bills, preventing air from free-flowing through your home, and boosting your home’s curb appeal.
Give our Retex team a call at (804)-442-3314 or click the button below to tell us more about your window needs. We’d love to help you out.
