Advice on Residential Window Repair vs. Replacement for Sacramento Homes
My old friend from college, Rick, drives cars until they’ve all but turned to dust. My buddies and I all chuckle when we see him cruising down the street in his old ‘91 Ford station wagon. “It still runs like it’s good as new,” he insists, even though the stuffing is coming out of the seats, the two back doors are duct-taped shut, and it’s got over 275,000 miles on it.
Funnily enough, he also uses duct tape on his cell phone. His “vintage” Motorola Razr flip phone is being held together by a thick band of silver. Of course, it doesn’t really flip anymore, but that doesn’t seem to bother Rick—nor do the stares he gets when he uses it in public.
Naturally, I had Rick pegged for someone who doesn’t believe in replacing anything until it’s no longer usable. So you can imagine how surprised I was when he asked me for my advice on window repair and replacement for his Sacramento home—especially because I hadn’t seen any duct tape on them yet. Thankfully, Rick knew that he couldn’t wear down his windows like he does with his car and his cell phone. While they weren’t cracked, he recognized that his windows were aging and there was probably a lot of unseen wear and tear.
My experience with Rick made me realize that it can be tough to determine exactly when to repair or replace your windows. So, I’m going to offer you my advice on residential window replacement in Sacramento as well, from how to know if you can get away with a repair or if it’s time to replace your windows to the advantages of replacing them before they turn to dust.
Telltale Signs Your Sac Home Needs a Residential Window Replacement
When I went over to Rick’s place in Point West to inspect his windows, I immediately spotted several signs of aging and damage. The thing is, to an inexperienced eye, these signs may not look like much. And, of course, Rick being the kind of guy that he is, assumed that he would have to make a few moderate repairs and his windows would be good as new. The reality was, his windows actually needed to be replaced.
I explained to him that while window repairs tend to be recommended for cosmetic or surface issues, window replacement is necessary for bigger issues that affect the functionality of the window. Here are a few telltale signs that aging or damaged windows may need replacing:
- Sign #1: Your home is drafty and noisy. Does one particular part of your house always seem colder or warmer than the rest? Do you feel like you can hear everything that is going on outside as if it were happening inside? Back in the day, I lived in a house with such old windows that I could actually feel a change in temperature as I walked toward them and I could have a conversation with my neighbor outside through my window. You can imagine what that did to my energy bill! Thin, single pane windows or an improper window seal are common reasons for noise and drafts.
- Sign #2: Your windows are leaking. Have you ever noticed a little pool of water on your window sill or floor? If so, your windows could be leaking. Leaks are a lot easier to spot during the wet Sacramento winter but, in the summer, you may notice a lot of dust in your home. There can be a few reasons why your windows are leaking, including an improper seal or a rotting frame. Keep in mind that an abnormally dusty home could also mean that your HVAC needs cleaning, so make sure you check up on that too.
- Sign #3: Your windows don’t open and close easily. Whether you have double hung or casement windows, if they’re a pain to open and close or the sashes are stuck in place, they need some attention. This could be a problem with the frame itself, especially if it’s wood that has warped over the years in the hot Sacramento sun. Paint can also cause sashes to stick together, and though this may not seem like a cause for concern, keep in mind that paint is typically used as an aesthetic cover for some big issues like old, rotten wood or even mold.
- Sign #4: There’s condensation inside your windows: Have you ever noticed condensation that seems to be inside your window, rather than on the outer surface of the glass? If condensation seems to be between panes, your window’s airtight seal has been broken and your window most definitely needs replacing.
- Sign #5: Your frames are molding or rotting. Mold and mildew thrive in Sacramento’s Mediterranean climate. The mild, wet winters create the perfect breeding ground for spores to take over—especially on wood. Unfortunately, mold is more than just an aesthetic problem—it can rot and warp your wood frames, causing leaks and gaps between the window and the wall. If this is the case, it’s time to look at replacing the entire window and frame and installing vinyl windows, which are great for Sacramento’s climate because they resist mold and rot.
Choosing Residential Window Repair or Replacement for Sacramento Homes
If you do have any of the above issues with your windows, you’re most likely in the market for a residential window replacement for your Sacramento home. If the cost of a whole home window replacement is a concern, know that there are a host of financial benefits from upgrading your aging, damaged windows.
Repairing seals, replacing wood frames with vinyl, and upgrading from single to double pane windows can increase your home’s energy efficiency dramatically. This will save you big bucks on heating and cooling costs—as much as $340 a year, in fact!
The High Performance Program offered by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District gives up to $5000 in rebates, depending on your energy saving results. Considering this, and the fact that new windows can increase your home’s value by as much as $10,000, there really isn’t a financial downside to replacing your windows.
In addition to the money you’ll save on your energy bills, there are rebates available for Sacramento homeowners who make energy efficient upgrades, like window replacements, to their homes. The High Performance Program offered by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District gives up to $5000 in rebates, depending on your energy saving results. Considering this, and the fact that new windows can increase your home’s value by as much as $10,000, there really isn’t a financial downside to replacing your windows.
When I told Rick all of this, he decided to have me replace all of his home’s windows. While he may be resistant to replacing his old beater car and his duck-taped cell phone, he sure wasn’t sad to see his old, damaged, single pane windows go. And neither was I.
Don’t wait for your windows to turn to dust. Contact the window installation experts at Bell Brothers to replace your old, damaged windows with energy efficient double pane ones today. And, while we’re visiting your home, let us give you a whole house assessment for energy efficiency and offer recommendations and upgrades that are sure to increase your year-round comfort—and decrease your power bills.
Image courtesy Pixabay user Milivanily