Windows today are not just for letting in bright sunlight and fresh air into your home. It is now possible to find just the right window to conserve energy and to fit your home interior design. Today’s energy efficient windows have many styles, along with high-performance coatings, glazes, tints so you can find a look that is completely unique to your home. If you are considering replacing some, or maybe even all of your windows, considering the following information can lead to a successfully completed project.

With older windows, it is entirely possible that much of your home’s cool air in the hot days of a Texas summer, along with the heat in the winter time, escapes right out of your windows. In the winter time, one way to determine if you are taking in the cold, outside air is to touch your glass window panes. Are they cold or covered in condensation? If your answer is yes, chances are it is time to consider new windows. Also, the next time there’s a storm, take a good look at your blinds or curtains. Are they moving at all? Do you feel any draft? If your windows allow drafts to enter, your air conditioner or heating unit is working overtime to maintain the inside temperature that you want. As most energy providers will tell you, older windows are one of the main reasons for wasted energy in a home. No one wants the extra costs associated with wasted energy!

A home window replacement company will be able to help you decide what type of window will be right for your home. You can choose from wood, vinyl or fiberglass products. The best one for your home depends on the style of the house, your decorating preferences and also your budget. Rather that buying from a professional and dedicated home window replacement company, some homeowners choose to go to a big box home improvement store. While buying cheaper products and paying less for installation fees may seem like a really great deal, this can be a really bad idea. Employees at these big box stores typically aren’t installation experts and may not be able to help you get the most out of your investment.

Maximizing your home’s energy efficiency depends greatly on where your windows are placed. If they face the south, they’ll get a beating from the sun during the summer months. This is where a homeowner needs to make a decision — do you choose to block the sun’s rays during the summer or depend on it to help heat your home in the winter? Decisions vary, but many builders suggest blocking the summer sun over the slight warmth that can be gained in the winter. Windows on the eastern side of a house are daylight rich, meaning homeowners might be able to cut down on artificial light. A western exposure allows the most solar gain in the late afternoon, but often builders recommend facing utility areas, such as bathrooms, kitchens and the garage in this direction. Northern exposures are frequently recommended because they can be extremely energy efficient.

Most homeowners don’t think about which direction is best. If you’re building a new house, ask your builder about which direction your windows and doors should face. If you are replacing existing windows, however, ask a professional window installer which types are best for your home, based on current window placement. While it might be nice to consider changing window locations, it’s usually not in anyone’s budget to add or remove openings for a new window.

Initially, you may think that using one size fits all windows is the simple choice and the best way to go, but that’s not necessarily the case. Even if you use different sizes for the different openings in your home, you should consider different glazes and tints depending on where the windows are located. For instance, gas fills, high-performance coatings, tints, suspended films, spaces, and variety of other options will help maximize energy efficiency when used in the right situations. Not only will this help keep your heating and cooling system from working so hard to maintain the perfect temperature, it can also lower your lighting expenses since windows can help let in natural light and decrease the need to use lamps and overhead lights.

Choosing an experienced home window replacement company to work with can help you receive a quality product and optimize your house’s energy efficiency at the same time. If you are considering replacing your current windows or if you have additional questions, call Allied Siding and Windows. Their service professionals are available to answer questions and to guide you through the available options and necessary decisions to find the right product to fit your window replacement needs. Allied Siding and Windows has been serving the Houston, Dallas and Austin areas for many years and they sell and install only the best energy-efficient, high-performance window replacement products. For more information, call the professional window installation team at Allied Siding and Windows today at 713-946-3697.