Is your house draftier than a wind tunnel? Does the sound of street traffic annoy you while watching Lost or Jersey Shore? Does a hot day turn your house into an oven? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may want to think about replacing your windows. Most of us are hunkering down while the economic storm passes, but if you have a few extra shekels in your pocket and are sick and tired of drafty, noisy, ugly aluminum windows (I know I was), now is a great time to have some of your windows replaced with some sleek energy efficient ones.
Why replace your windows:
- Uncle Sam’s Consumer Energy Tax Credit goes through Dec 31, 2010 for installing new windows that meet the criteria of having a U factor <= .3 and SHGC factor <=.3 (these factors measure the ability of your windows to retain and block heat). Most new windows meet these criteria. How much is the tax credit, you ask? This is the best part, it’s 30% of the cost of the windows, up to $1,500. I’ll take it.
- Many municipal agencies, like Puget Sound Energy (where I live in Seattle) offer credits and rebates. These are generally based on the overall square footage of the installed windows. More cha-ching.
- The break-even on installing new windows may be shorter than you think – potentially saving hundreds of dollars a year. You’ll start to realize your energy savings almost immediately.
Tips on getting your windows replaced:
Here’s some practical advice about getting new windows installed, after having just done them myself:
- Pick a great installer. There are a lot of great window installation companies (and some not so good ones – caveat emptor) out there that carry a range of brands. The key is to find a company with impeccable references and who carry window styles and brands that fit your budget. Look for companies that employ their own installers and don’t outsource the job to contractors as this could greatly impact the quality of your window installation. Zillow’s professional directory offers a good start at finding a reputable installer.
- Negotiate hard and get competing quotes. Window installers have been hit hard by the housing slowdown, many have let go employees as a result and are now willing and able to sharpen their pencils to get your business. Don’t settle for your first quote.
- If you are on a tight budget, like I was, just have some of your windows redone. Either the ones that are getting battered by the most weather (sun, snow or rain) or those that face the front of the home, so you can improve your home’s curb appeal at the same time. As a professional bean counter, my advice would be to maximize your credit in 2010 by maybe re-doing half your windows now and then praying for an extension of the credit through 2011 so you can get the other half done next year.
Personally, the tax incentives at the city and federal level paid for about 30% of my windows. Not bad, eh?
One note, the process was extremely invasive so plan to cover up your electronics, sofa and anything else that you value. Keep your pets in a safe place. My installers did their best to minimize dust and debris but my house still got pretty dirty from the sawing and ripping out of the old windows. It’s pretty cool though to watch the process and see the transformation your home goes through. Now, I’m enjoying a more energy efficient “green” home and street noise doesn’t interfere with my TV programming.
> Read more about Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency
> See home improvement ideas