Some window installation companies present overly optimistic claims about how much money their products will save you on energy costs. While replacing old windows can reduce your home’s heating and cooling costs, unless your current ones are extremely inefficient you likely won’t recover the full project costs of new windows from resulting energy savings.
But there are other good reasons to replace old windows. Maybe yours are rotting or broken, too drafty, hard to wash, or just ugly. Or you want to reduce outside noise or add a window to a blank wall. And many homeowners want to minimize their homes’ energy use and the environmental impact, regardless of costs.
As you shop, remember the type of windows you buy will affect your home’s appearance, the amount of light admitted, your comfort, and energy savings. Plus, some windows last longer than others. For information on durability, check the results of Consumer Reports’ tests. Also compare warranties.
To evaluate windows for energy efficiency (and for realistic utility-bill savings), check info available from the Efficient Windows Collaborative and Energy Star.
Unfortunately, in addition to dubious claims about energy savings, many window installation businesses fail their customers. As our Ratings Tables reveal, some companies were rated “superior” overall by fewer than 60 percent of their surveyed customers. But there’s also good news: we found some very highly rated installers.
Obtain several price quotes. Our undercover shoppers found big differences when they collected price quotes for different jobs. For example, for one window replacement project, prices quoted by area outfits ranged from $3,182 to more than $9,000.
