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If you’re thinking of improving your Ohio home, it’s important to remember that some improvements have a better return on investment than others. One of the projects with the greatest ROI is replacing your windows. Especially if your home still has older, single-pane windows, upgrading to a modern, energy-efficient model will not only keep your heating bills in check, but will also significantly raise the value of your home.
Increased Home Value
One of the reasons replacement windows offer such a good ROI is that they improve the look of a home’s exterior. This is one of the first things potential buyers see when looking at a home. New windows immediately suggest that the home they’re looking at is updated, well maintained, and energy-efficient.
With the high cost of energy these days, buyers are especially wary of homes that they feel will be expensive to heat and cool. New, updated windows decrease heating and cooling bills — and this is very attractive to buyers. Those who are specifically in the market for an eco-friendly home may overlook one that has old, leaky windows because they don’t want to have to put time and money into replacing the windows themselves.
By some estimates, you can expect to recoup about 80% of the cost of your replacement windows should you sell your home. Combine this with your expected energy savings, and replacement windows practically pay for themselves.
Consider Your Glass Options
Replacing your aging, single-pane windows with newer, energy-efficient ones can save you $400 a year or more in energy bills, according to Energy Star. To maximize your energy savings, it’s important that you choose the windows that are best for your home. Today’s classic, double-hung windows with dual-pane glass are a step up from any window of yesteryear. However, there are some other features you can add to reduce heat transfer even further.
Low-E glass: Renewal by Andersen’s SmartSun™glass features a special coating that reduces the amount of heat that can pass through the window. In the winter, this keeps your heat from leaking outside, and in the summer, it keeps the heat of the summer from warming your home. SmartSun™ low-e glass is 56% more energy efficient in the summer and 45% more efficient in the winter.
Three-Pane Glass: Double-pane windows fare well during mild weather, but in the Midwest where the summers are hot and the winters are cold, triple-pane glass is an even better choice. The extra layer of glass and the extra layer of air trapped between the glass layers increases the insulating power of the windows.
Argon Gas Filling: The air trapped between the panes of glass acts as an insulator. Some of the most energy-efficient windows have argon gas trapped between the panels instead of plain air. These gasses are better insulators than air and reduce heat transfer even further.
Consider Your Frame Materials
In addition to choosing the right glass for your windows, you’ll also need to pick a framing material. Vinyl framed windows are a common choice because they are great insulators and are easy to maintain. If you have a historical or rustic home, wood-framed windows may be a more fashionable choice that will attract buyers. Renewal by Andersen’s unique Fibrex® window frames capture the advantages of both wood and vinyl. With the look of wood and the low-maintenance quality of vinyl, they’re a long-lasting choice for any home.
Talk to the Experts
When you’re ready to replace your windows, schedule a free, in-home consultation with Renewal by Anderson Midwest in Dayton. They can evaluate your home and your preferences and recommend the right windows to suit your needs.