WHEN SHOULD YOU REPLACE OLD WINDOWS?
We often get asked if it is a good idea to replace old windows with new and better performing windows to save money. Usually to the surprise and relief of homeowners we most often tell them to stick with the ones they’ve got. Not to say that the idea of replacing windows is always ‘green washing’, but it’s not necessarily going to save energy and money once you run all the numbers, so we recommend that windows should only be replaced when renovating a home when they are in an “unsalvageable” state of disrepair or wood decay & rot.
Yes, old windows will leak more air and lose more heat than new ones, but there is an energy variable to consider with replacement of windows as well. Purchasing a new window will also have its own energy and carbon footprint in terms of raw material extraction, manufacturing and transportation.
The cost of replacing windows is pretty high and predominantly labour based; partly in manufacturing, but you have to factor in the cost of installation and finishing as well. So if you’re going to replace old leaky windows, you might as well get good ones. To go to all that effort and install a low-quality double-pane window doesn’t make sense from a financial point of view, or even quality of life. If you want to learn why we get condensation on windows and how to stop it, see here.
Upgrading a potential purchase from double to triple pane usually means an additional 20-25% on the sticker price, and there is a relatively quick payback on that added investment that comes from energy savings if in the end you are going to buy some. Beyond energy savings, a triple pane window offers greater durability, reduced sound transmission and a noticeably more comfortable home on cold days. All that is to say, you need to know how to choose the best windows for your house here and see here to know which type of window frame to choose between wood, aluminum or PVC / Vinyl.
