If there was one home improvement you could make that would enhance the look of your home, recoup up to nearly 85% of the improvement’s cost in your home’s resale value, and allow you to save up to 45% in your utility costs, would you invest in it?
Incredibly, that’s what replacing windows can do for the average homeowner who takes the time to investigate the differences in replacement window brands. No other home improvement project adds up to the same value in benefits.
“Some people look at a beautiful, high-performance window and get sticker shock at the initial investment, but the numbers on the NFRC (National Fenestration Rating Council) sticker are the most important ones. While it may be overwhelming at first, paying attention to those numbers, such as the air leakage, U-factor, and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, can mean a lot more money back in your pocket,” said Steve Bobeck, president of Thebco, Inc., a family owned and operated Madison area business that’s been around for over 25 years.“Those numbers are the result of tests done by independent labs to assist homeowners doing performance comparisons.”
One of the most overlooked numbers is air leakage, and a lower number equals fewer drafts in and out of the home. Windows with an air leakage number above .3 fail the test. The lowest number the government assigns is a .1, but “it’s possible to find windows with a much lower number, meaning that window is very airtight,” added Bobeck. “You can actually have a window that’s Energy Star Certified and it could leak air like a sieve. That’s going to impact your utility bills, and not in a good way.”
Although more and more consumers are becoming familiar with the term “R-factor,” in which a higher number indicates a better insulating value, there is no such number listed on an NFRC sticker. Instead, the number to look for is the window’s U-factor, the R-factor’s opposite. In other words, the lower the U-factor number is, the better. This means that in the winter there’s less heat being lost through the window, and less energy will be used to heat the home.
For measuring energy efficiency during summer, the window’s Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, or SHGC, is the number to examine. Again, the lower the number, the better; less solar radiation is making it through the window, so homes stay cooler longer. The SHGC is expressed as a number between 0 and 1.
Beyond numbers, homeowners need to consider who will be installing and servicing, if need be, the product. Factory-trained and certified installers know the product best. Quality companies choose to represent quality products, and most remodelers will offer some kind of installation and performance pledge to back up their work in addition to the window’s guarantee.
“The key here,” says Bobeck, “is finding not only a company that is fully licensed and insured, but one with a full-time service and support staff and a history of quality work and customer service. Make sure to ask for references, and check to see if they are a member of the Better Business Bureau and other industry associations. You know you’ve got a good company when they have invested in memberships that keep them accountable.” The other advantage of membership in these organizations, many of them with local chapters, is on-going training and knowledge of regional issues.
Some last tips on finding a reputable remodeler and a good replacement window: Check out websites, ask family, friends and neighbors for which company they recommend, and pay attention to companies with national recognition and local involvement. You only want to invest in replacement windows once, so it makes sense to choose a company that is committed to service excellence and giving back to the community.
