Are Older Windows Becoming a Problem for Your Home?

Your home is supposed to protect you from the elements and preserve comfort for you and your family. Things like windows, doors, roofs and siding are essential to doing so. But windows are especially unique insofar as they impact your interior and exterior alike. When they get older and stop doing their jobs, you may notice. If you or someone you know is looking into replacement windows in or near Portland, OR, rest assured that there are any number of solutions for your home’s needs. New windows may be wood, vinyl, fiberglass, aluminum or wood that has been clad in vinyl or aluminum. These products are much better than the kind of windows that may have been installed in the 1960s and 1970s, some of which may have been single-paned and thereby less effective. If your windows are currently at least 20 years old, it may be time to begin thinking about installing some new ones. At the very least, the possibility should be on your radar.  

You may wish to speak with a professional and have your windows inspected in the event you believe there may be something wrong with them. Then again, they may simply look dated and stylistically inconsistent with the rest of your home. In that case, you may also wish to consult with a designer in order to achieve the right look.  

Older windows can certainly become a problem for your home, affecting its look and feel in a variety of ways and even impacting your energy bills.   

Newer windows do a much better job of insulating your home from the elements. They certainly aren’t what they used to be. If there are any problems with the way your current windows function, that may certainly affect your energy bills, and that’s a problem for any cost-conscious household. If you want the peace of mind associated with windows that are doing their jobs, you may wish to make sure that you replaced any single-paned windows that might have been installed a long time ago. According to Pella, that could save you anywhere from $100 to over $500 a year. When your windows are updated and functioning properly, you will save money over the course of time. That should be well worth the investment.  

Energy savings alone may not pay for the cost of your new windows, but it certainly makes them a more attractive investment given the other benefits they provide. Much depends on the kind of look that you’re trying to achieve. Older windows styles may stand out in all the wrong ways, drawing attention to the age of your home and making it appear dated. That probably isn’t a good thing in the event that you are looking to impress guests or considering putting your home on the market. Remember that even if you have become accustomed to the look of your windows, others may notice their appearance from the insider and outside alike. That might be a problem if those windows have been around forever.