Old homes have a lot of things going for them. Typically they were built with very high-quality natural materials that are largely unavailable today. They were also built to last with thick plaster walls and hardwood flooring throughout. If you’ve bought or inherited an older home you’ll likely want to preserve many of the quality materials and techniques employed in its construction. One thing you’ll want to ditch as quickly as possible however will be the leaky, drafty, energy black holes known as single-pane windows.
Your Old House is Crying Out for Window Replacement
Purists will insist that if you have an older home you should make every effort to keep the original windows. If your home is of historic significance there is probably merit to this argument. In most other cases though, unless those purists are willing to pay your energy bills you should look into window replacement asap. Here’s why.
- Energy efficiency – There are a number of factors that cause a home to bleed energy. Among them poorly insulated walls, an uninsulated attic, a drafty unheated basement and lack of weatherstripping around the entry doors. However, just by replacing your old single-pane windows with multi-pane vinyl replacement windows you can cut your energy consumption by as much as 25%. In a city like Toronto that 25% can be a significant amount of money.
- Noise reduction – If you live in the city noise can be a major issue. There’s no way around it. But did you know a lot of the noise you’re trying to ignore while sitting at your kitchen table could be left outside if you installed multi-pane windows? Depending on the type of noise and your proximity to the source window replacement using multi-pane windows can reduce noise transference from outside significantly over wood framed, single-pane windows.
- Convenience – You’ll likely need professional window cleaners for the outside of those hard to reach single-pane windows on the third floor. By contrast, with vinyl replacement windows cleaning is a snap. Double-hung replacement windows can be tilted inward for easy access to both sides. No more ladders creating safety hazards. No more window cleaning bills.
- Goodbye storm windows – Some folks will tell you that with storm windows they can achieve the same energy savings they would if they installed double or triple-pane replacement windows. Nonsense. More than half of the loss associated with older windows is the result of leaky casements. While storm windows will prevent some heat loss through the windows themselves they’ll do nothing to prevent heat loss around the edges of the window proper.
- Safety – Old single-pane windows are more often than not rattling around in wooden casements that have begun to rot and are rife with cracks. As a result, any burglar worth their shady reputation can make quick work of getting one of these charming old windows open and gaining easy access to your home.
Do your older home a favor and replace the outdated, inefficient single-pane windows you now have with energy efficient, safe, durable and beautiful multi-pane vinyl replacement windows. Window replacement will enhance the safety, value and longevity of your home and help you consign outrageous energy bills to the past where they can rest in peace.
Call Toronto Doors and Windows today on 647-932-3667 to find out more about why window replacement is the best option for homeowners seeking to increase the energy efficiency of their older home. We’ll provide you with a free estimate regarding the cost of replacing your single-pane windows and answer any other questions you may have. So don’t delay, call today and start saving money.
