Boston Window Replacement

Window replacement in Boston is one of the smartest home improvements any homeowner can make. After all, with Beantown's rough winters and muggy summers there's a good chance that when your furnace isn't running, your A/C is! Boston window replacement is a surefire way to improve your home's energy efficiency year round, not to mention an excellent way to spruce up the look of your dwelling as well.

I can Save how much with a Boston Window Replacement?
Your current windows and your home's overall energy-efficiency will influence exactly how much a window replacement in Boston will improve your home's energy efficiency and reduce your heating and cooling costs. That said, based on studies that compare single glazed windows with aluminum frames to windows sporting new advances in window technology, the savings you can expect to enjoy are significant. Take a triple glazed, vinyl window with a low e-coating and gas fill between the panes of glass. Compared to those cheap, single pane windows, you can expect cost savings of almost 40% during the wintertime. And though the savings in summer aren't quite as high, savings in the 30% range aren't anything to laugh at, either.

How to Choose the Right Window Replacement in Boston for your Home
The key to maximizing your energy-efficiency is knowing what to look for as you shop for window replacements in Boston. Of course, you'll want to make sure that the window style matches your home, your personality, and your wants and desires, but you'll also want to shop carefully for the right glazings, coatings, tints, fills, frames, and glass. Here's a quick breakdown of the most important factors to keep an eye out for if you're looking for a window that can meet the challenges of Boston's one-of-a-kind climate.

Boston Window Replacement and Frame Material
One of the biggest pitfalls of older windows in Boston was the use of inexpensive aluminum frames. Aluminum is gangbusters at the conduction of cold and heat (it's why aluminum cans cool your beer down so much faster than if you buy it in bottles. It's also why brew in aluminum cans gets warm faster). Unfortunately what's good for your beer (The Boston Beer Company's Joe Koch's prejudice against aluminum notwithstanding, of course), isn't good for your home. Vinyl framed windows are much more efficient than aluminum frames, and can be insulated to raise their efficiency even higher. Wood frames are also an excellent choice, though they are usually more expensive. Consider buying clad wood frames if you can afford it. They are clad with vinyl on the outside so you won't have to worry about painting and re-painting your windows exterior to protect it from those harsh Boston winters.

Boston Window Replacement and Glazings
After you've chosen your frames, the next thing you'll need to sort out is the glazing, or how many panes of glass you want. One pane of glass should be avoided at all costs if you care about your heating and cooling costs. Double glazed windows are the most popular window style sold today, though if your budget can handle it, triple glazed windows are the most efficient by far.

Boston Window Replacement and Window Coatings
If you're into high tech and higher efficiency, the search for the right replacement window in Boston should always focus in on low e-coatings. Low e-coatings reflect infrared light, trapping heat inside during the winter and outdoors in the summer months. Keep in mind, however, that low e-coatings come in different grades for different climates, so you'll want to consult with a pro to find the perfect match for Boston's climate and the specific location of each window in your home. And for an added bonus, low e-coatings also reflect ultraviolet light, drastically reducing the fading factor when it comes to the damaging effects that sunlight can have on your carpet, interior paint, and furniture.

Boston Window Replacement, Gas Fill, and Spacers
Last but not least, ask your window retailer or contractor about gas fill options and spacer material. Gas fill refers to inert gas that is inserted between your glazings, decreasing the ability of heat and cold to transfer between the two panes of glass, thereby increasing the energy efficiency of the window. Spacers refer to the material used between the glazings to keep them apart. In the past aluminum has been a popular option, though again, aluminum generally isn't the best choice when it comes to providing a sound barrier between you and a Nor'easter in Beantown. Ask for steel, foam, fiberglass, or vinyl spacers to help reduce heat and cold transfer and to reduce condensation buildup between the glazings.

Talk to a professional window retailer or installer about purchasing the right windows for your home. With all these factors coming into play and interacting, it can be tricky business deciding on the right combination of "extras." Your best bet in finding the right match is talking to someone experienced in working with windows and who knows the climate so that you can count on your new investment producing maximum results.