After the cold Minnesota winter, nothing is better than long summer days of warmth and sunshine. But while winter seems a long way off, summer is the perfect time to plan ahead and get some home improvement projects done that can make your house more comfortable for every season to come.
One such project is window replacement. New windows are a surprisingly cost-effective and easy way to enhance your home’s livability. Here are 3 reasons why you should replace old windows now before the season changes again.
1. New Windows Will Keep You Comfortable
You have your furnace for heat in the winter and the air conditioner for cool air in summer, but what’s keeping that perfect-temperature air inside? Over time old windows develop gaps that let interior air out and outdoor air in, altering the temperature of your home and leaving you either hot or cold. Old windows also lack modern technologies that block harmful UV rays that not only raise your home’s temperature but discolor your home furnishings as well.
All of these problems can be solved with new windows. Newly-fitted windows will prevent air from escaping your home and the elements from getting inside, letting you maintain the perfect interior temperature. And UV rays are no match for modern low thermal emissivity windows. With their updated design, these “low-e” windows reflect solar waves away from your home, protecting your furniture and carpets from fading. Installing new windows now will help you stay nice and cool all summer and be prepared for winter’s freezing temperatures.
2. Energy-efficient Windows Save Money
All of those drafts from your old windows aren’t just leaving you hot and cold, but they’re driving up your utility costs as well. In the winter, as much as 30% of heat loss in a home comes from the windows, causing your furnace to work harder to heat your house. Old windows just weren’t designed with the same technology that new windows use today to be energy-efficient and that can cost you a bundle in utilities each winter.
New windows are specifically designed to maintain your home’s interior temperature so your appliances don’t have to run constantly. Modern double- and triple-pane windows, filled with gases such as argon and krypton, help prevent warm air from escaping your home all winter long. Ask your window contractor what energy-efficient features are available for your new replacement windows. And while the price for new windows may seem steep up front, in the long run the money you save on utility bills makes the project cost-effective in the end. The sooner you replace your windows, the sooner you’ll see the savings.
3. New Windows Increase Your Home’s Worth
If you’re planning to sell your home in the next few years, new windows are an attractive upgrade to potential buyers. As a key detail on any home, the right window styles will give your house an instant cosmetic lift both inside and out that will impress buyers.
Besides creating a better aesthetic for your home, new windows add monetary value too. Savvy home buyers know the value of new, energy-efficient windows and are willing to pay more for this perk. In fact, it’s been found that homeowners can recoup over 78% of window installation costs upon a home’s sale.
Newly replaced windows are a plus to prospective buyers when they know they’ll benefit from the saved costs of heating and cooling the home for many years to come. If you’re expecting to put your home on the market in the near future, all the more reason to take advantage of fair summer weather and replace your windows now to impress the buyers who will soon be vying for your home.
The best time to do any home improvement project is when the weather is fair, but summer is also a great time to replace your windows so the job is done and you’re comfortably enjoying life behind your great new windows by the time Minnesota’s cold winter weather hits.
If you’re ready to create a more energy-efficient home with replacement windows, now is the time to do it. Schedule a free consultation today with the experienced professionals at Iron River Construction and find out why we are the go-to window contractor for the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota area.
