New windows can cut utility bills and improve the look of a home.

By REBECCA SLOAN
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
INTER IS RIGHT AROUND THEcorner, and if your home is fitted with drafty, outdated windows, something else is right around the corner too -- a mailbox full of astronomically high energy bills.
"Having your old windows replaced will make a dramatic change in your home's utility bills, whether it's cooling costs in summer or heating costs in winter," said Kathy Weinberg, of Bi-Rite Home Improvement in Youngstown.
If you think it's time to replace your home's old windows, but aren't sure how to proceed, the first thing to consider is that there are two types of window replacement options.
If your home's window frames are rotted or otherwise damaged, you'll need to replace both the windows and frames.
The other option is to replace just the window and leave the frame.
Although replacing just the window is easier, faster and less costly, Weinberg said it is often best to replace both the window and the frame.
"If you replace just the window and not the frame, the window might not be any more energy efficient than it was in the first place if the frame was constructed poorly. Then all you will be getting is some new glass, and your energy bills will be the same," Weinberg said.
Once you have decided which replacement option is best for your home, the next thing to do is choose the best window for your home and budget.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN CHOOSING REPLACEMENT WINDOWS
About 99 percent of replacement windows sold today are made of vinyl.
Although you can still buy aluminum and wood replacement windows, most people opt for vinyl because it is more durable and requires little maintenance.
That doesn't mean, however, that all vinyl replacement windows are created equal.
Don't be fooled by a cheap price tag, and always do some research before you pull out your wallet, Weinberg said.
First, consider the window sash -- or the frame that holds the glass.
"Choose a window that has welded sashes and not a window that has been screwed together," Weinberg said. "Windows with welded sashes are stronger and have better infiltration. Although windows held together with screws cost less, eventually the screws will come loose and the window will start to fall apart."
There are two types of sashes -- a hollow sash and a foam-filled sash. Hollow sashes are less energy-efficient than foam filled ones, Weinberg said.
Virtually all replacement windows sold today are at least double-glazed, meaning there are two panes of glass encasing and insulating the space of "dead air" between the frames.
Weinberg said that the larger the air space is between the two panes of glass, the more energy efficient the window will be.
"A window with 3/4 of an inch of air space between the panes of glass is a good choice," Weinberg said.
However, Weinberg doesn't recommend triple-paned windows.
"They aren't really more energy efficient than double-paned. You are just paying for an extra pane of glass," she said.
You should also choose a window that has a magnetic seal so it will close snugly and tightly, and a window with locks designed to help tighten the magnetic seal after the window has been shut.
To help determine if the window you want to buy is up to par, Weinberg recommends checking with a governmental testing agency such as the National Fenestration Rating Council, a nonprofit testing organization based in Washington, D.C.
This organization rates hundreds of windows on its Web site at www.nfrc.org.
The most important part of the NFRC's rating system is the window's "U-value."
The U-value measures how efficient a window is at keeping heat inside of a home.
The organization also rates the window's "solar heat gain coefficient," which determines how much solar heat the window allows to filter into a home.
For rooms that receive generous amounts of sunlight, Weinberg recommends buying windows made with a "low-emissivity," or "low-e," coating.
Low-e glass reflects ultraviolet rays, thus keeping rooms cooler and protecting upholstery and carpeting from fading.
Low-e window glass works like this: A layer of argon gas is pumped between the panes of glass before the window is sealed.
Because argon is a slow-moving gas, it minimizes the convection currents within the air space, and conduction through the gas is reduced, thus cutting down on the overall transfer of heat between the inside and outside.
Argon gas is inexpensive, nontoxic, clear and odorless.
"Low-e window glass has a slight tint to it, but you can't really see it with the naked eye unless you take a white sheet of paper and hold it behind the pane of glass. Then you can see a slight color," Weinberg said.
The most common gripe about argon gas, though, Weinberg said, is how do you know if it's really there?
"Since it's odorless and colorless, how do you know if it has leaked out or not?" she said. "People often ask that, and I wonder that myself."
DIFFERENT STYLES OF REPLACEMENT WINDOWS
Once you've chosen the type of window you want, the next choice you'll have to make relates to style.
"The options are endless. You can choose a double-hung window, which has a top and bottom and tilts in for easy cleaning, or a sliding window, or a casement, which cranks in and out," Weinberg said.
There are even windows for people who hate to clean windows.
"If you hate washing the crevices around the window grids, you can purchase windows with grids fitted between the panes of glass so the end result is just a smooth sheet of glass and no nooks and crannies to wash between," Weinberg said.
You can also buy windows with frames and grids that are one color on the inside and a different color on the outside.
"For example, you can get beige frames and grids to match the siding on the outside of your house and white frames and grids to match the trim on the inside of your house," Weinberg explained.
Other special options include windows with child-proof safety locks and windows with adjustable locks that allow the homeowner to leave the window open just a few inches and not worry about intruders opening it from the outside.
SHOULD YOU TRY TO INSTALL THEM YOURSELF?
Even if you are the handiest person in town, it's easy to goof when installing a window.
"Windows may seem easy to install, but it is an exact science. If you're off by even a little bit, the window isn't going to fit correctly," Weinberg said.
Not to mention that if you do install your own windows, it might go against the window manufacturer's warranty.
"Many manufacturers will consider the warranty null and void if a professional didn't install it," Weinberg said.
Most replacement windows come with lifetime guarantees.
"In the past, the guarantees were usually a maximum of 30 to 40 years," Weinberg said. "The catch is that the lifetime guarantee usually doesn't cover the cost of labor, only the cost of the window. That's something to be aware of."
Another thing to be aware of is that a window needs to "season" for a year after it has been installed.
"That means that it needs to adjust to the hot and cold. Some people will have new windows installed and they will notice problems with condensation in their home. This is common. It means that moisture that was escaping through windows that didn't fit tightly is now getting stuck in the house. If this happens, you should get a dehumidifier," Weinberg said.
If, however, you notice condensation between the panes of the window glass, you should call the company that installed your windows.
"Condensation between the panes of glass means that the seal that seals the window to the frame is broken and you need new glass," Weinberg said.
COST
The cost of replacement windows varies greatly depending on their size and quality.
"There are so many different types and different levels of quality. You could buy a standard-sized, cheaper window for $125 and a higher-quality example for $300," Weinberg said.