Suburban Blog

The Cost of Replacement Windows

 

      Have you noticed that one of the rooms in your house is always colder than the others? Even if your thermostat says it's 75 degrees in that room, there is still a noticeable difference. Chances are that you need to look into replacing your older drafty-windows with new and improved energy efficient windows.

For the time being, setup plastic wrap on your windows to prevent having to wear your winter jacket indoors. Setting up plastic wrap on your windows is a cheap and temporary solution to your problem, the down-side is the appearance of your windows. A permanent solution would be replacing your windows before the winter sets in, but what do replacement windows really cost?

Typically replacement windows start at around $200-250 per window, but these windows will not guarantee the need for plastic wrap next winter! The next level of replacement windows, ranges from around $250-$350, but still may not keep your home insulated when the weather gets really bad (especially in the Northeast).  The absolute, most advanced replacement window that every home should have is the Heat Mirror Replacement Window. These windows can range from around $400- $1500 depending on where you find them, a major difference in price because of their advanced technology and exclusivity.

*To find out more information about Heat Mirror windows at Suburban Windows and Siding, please click here.

Vinyl Shakes Look Like Real Wood

Happy Thanksgiving to all from the HouseGuru,  I hope everyone has a wonderful day.  It's amazing how far Vinyl Siding has come.  Suburban Windows and Siding is just finishing up another beautiful home in New Britain.  One of the things I love about the city of New Britain is all the old Colonial homes and English Tutors.  New Britain has such a diverse array of architecture dating back to the 17 and 1800s.  Old victorians and English Tutors are my favorites.  I just had the pleasure of residing an English Tutor and a beautiful old colonial right next door to each other.  For those of you who know the area across from Stanly Quarter Park, there are many old Tutors and colonials . 

    I wanted to make sure I kept that original Tutor look and feel so i suggested to the home owner to have us paint the stucco part and trim the boards in brown vinyl coated aluminum to make them maintenance free while maintaining the originallook. 

  The peaks were old ceder shakes that were not taking the paint very well and the 86 year old homeowners wife would not let him climb up there to paint it anymore, I must say I can't blame her.  We installed the ceder Impression Vinyl Shakes by Certainteed on the peaks and the house looks as authentic as the day it was built.  If your in New Britain on Stanly street across from the park you will see the Suburban Windows sign in front of the house so you can check it out. 

How to Conduct your own Home Energy Audit

     You can easily conduct a home energy audit yourself. With a simple but diligent walk-through, you can spot many problems in any type of house. When auditing your home, keep a checklist of areas you have inspected and problems you found. This list will help you prioritize your energy efficiency upgrades.

Locating Air Leaks: The potential energy savings from reducing drafts in a home may range from 5 to 30% per year, and the home is generally much more comfortable afterward.
1) Check to see if air is flowing through any of these places:
Electrical outlets, switch plates, window frames, baseboards, weather stripping around your doors, fireplace dampers, attic hatches, and mounted air conditioners.  2) Inspect replacement windows and doors for air leaks. See if you can rattle them, since movement means possible air leaks. If you can see daylight around a door or window frame, then the door or window leaks. You may want to consider newer, energy-efficient replacement windows and doors, such as Heat Mirror windows and Masonite doors.

Insulation: Heat loss through the ceiling and walls in your home could be very large if the insulation levels are less than the recommended minimum.
1) If the attic hatch is located above a conditioned space, check to see if it is at least as heavily insulated as the attic, is weather stripped, and closes tightly. Make sure the attic vents are not blocked by insulation.
2) If your basement is unheated, determine whether there is insulation under the living area flooring. In most areas of the country, an R-value of 25 is the recommended minimum level of insulation. Also make sure your water heater, hot water pipes, and furnace ducts should all be insulated. 

Heating/Cooling Equipment: Check to see if your furnace is more than 15 years old, if so you should consider replacing the system with a new energy-efficient unit. A newer furnace will greatly reduce your energy consumption. If your furnace isn't an older model then you should see if your filter needs to be replaced, which is recommended every 2 months. Finally insulate any ducts or pipes that travel through unheated spaces.

Lighting: Energy for lighting accounts for about 10% of your electric bill. Examine the wattage size of the light bulbs in your house. You may have 100-watt(or larger) bulbs where 60-75 watts would be more appropriate. You should also consider compact fluorescent lamps for areas where lights are on for hours at a time.

 

Home Improvements: Energy We Use vs. The Energy We Waste

     The debate over energy-consumption and how to preserve our resources has been an ongoing conversation in the 21st century. Regional climate differences impact your energy consumption greatly in terms of heating vs. cooling your home, and what type of energy-efficient technology you are using for your appliances, heating system, air conditioning, and insulation. So what exactly can you do in your home to help improve your energy efficiency? First take a look at how the average home's "energy dollar" is used according to the Department of Energy:

• 45 cents: Heating and Cooling your Home
• 34 cents: Lighting, Cooking, and other Appliances
• 13 cents: Water Heating
• 8 cents:   Refrigeration

Energy is wasted in your home due to a number of reasons:

1. Inadequate insulation throughout your home.
2. Older replacement windows that lose heat during the winter.
3. Inefficient heating/cooling systems and inefficient appliances.
4. When hot water is used instead of cold water for laundry.
5. If any faucets around the house are leaking.
6. If you don't have automatic thermostats and lighting controls

 

 

Heat Mirror Windows: 1/100 Greatest Inventions of the Millennium

       When Popular Science Magazine hosted the 100 Greatest Inventions of the Millennium, only 5 household appliances made the list. The air conditioner, the stove, the washer, and the refrigerator,"One of the more dramatic advances" was the Heat Mirror Replacement Window. The Heat Mirror window is so important because it actually conserves energy in the summer by reflecting radiant heat energy from your home and in the winter it retains the radiant heat! The Heat Mirror window is a sophisticated climate-controlling appliance which achieves 10 times the energy performance of single-pane windows, and 5 times that of dual-pane windows. The Heat Mirror window doesn't stop there too, it actually blocks over 99% of UV radiation from the sun which can help prevent fading of your carpets, furniture, and curtains. The Heat Mirror window is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which means that it's eligible for a tax rebate up to $1500. To find out more information on the exclusive Heat Mirror technology here in Connecticut, please click here.

 

The 3 Types of Window and Siding Companies

      There are basically three types of companies for the replacement window, vinyl siding and specialty home improvement business. Depending on who you talk to will determine the cost of your project. You can get a quote on the exact same products from two different company types and the estimate will vary drastically!

Contractor #1:  This a company that is run by a tradesman who usually will subcontract from bigger contractors and do some jobs on the side. They might run an ad in the local classifieds. This poor guy has to estimate his jobs, run an office, and try to do the work as well. The problem is that to run a professional business there has to be a business infrastructure that can service and communicate with their customers. A bookkeeper and a sales person to estimate jobs as well as someone to keep up on new technology and product development. If the owner of the company gets sick or wants a vacation their customers have to wait. It's also hard to produce the jobs with limited help and many times they will jump back and forth between jobs to try and keep people happy, taking much longer to complete the job.

Contractor #2:  Is a professional Home Improvement Contractor who has experienced work crews and office staff as well as production and service people. This contractor is up on the best quality products and installation systems, he carries proper insurances, markets locally and is known in the community. This type of contractor will give you more value your money and the owner of the company will be involved in the estimating and supervision of the project. Your job will be completed in a professional and timely manor using quality materials at a reasonable price. You will not be required to sit through a long sales pitch that will end with high pressure sales tactics to try and get you to sign a contract that night. Instead you will be treated with respect, given information, references and your estimate in writing with absolutely NO pressure. I can't think of a better way to do business,can you? This is the type of company Suburban Windows & Siding operates.

Contractor #3:  Is the most expensive, this company is a sales and marketing company that sells Replacement Windows and Vinyl Siding. As a result, this company model does a large volume of business and has a huge overhead. Advertising budgets and sales commissions can exceed $50,000 a month. The primary business here is to generate leads for the sales force and sell as much work as possible, regardless of the ability to properly execute and service the jobs. Many of these companies come and go due to "burning out" and cultivating a poor reputation. You can easily spot these guys! They are the ones spending the most on expensive TV commercials, fancy mailers, big newspaper ads, and calling you on the phone. Telemarketing is a business within a business, and its a very sophisticated form of lead generation that costs huge money to sustain, but can return a large volume of prospects and jobs. The hope here is to catch you off guard, since you weren't shopping for Siding or Windows there is a better chance to get you to sign a contract that night, they will also insist that both husband and wife be present for the presentation for this purpose. This is the main goal of the sales and marketing contractor, so to avoid making a bad decision NEVER sign a contract the first sales call, instead evaluate and check out the company and get other bids. Yes I told you to get other bids and make an INFORMED decision before you buy, this way you will feel more comfortable with your choice and get the best VALUE for your money.

 

Replacement Windows and Drafts In Your Home

It's a lovely fall weekend in New England but we all know that it wont be long  before the cold winter weather will be a pone us. This is the time to look at the thermal envelope of your home and make it as energy efficient as possible.  HouseGuru will continue to post energy saving tips for your home and offer ways to help you conserve energy and save money.

The most important thing to be aware of now are the air leaks around your home.  You can start by looking at your windows and doors since these are two of the areas that can lose energy to air infiltration.  Remember the  the energy tax rebate program ends December 31st where you can recieve a $1500 dollar tax credit from the government for Energy Efficient Replacement Windows that qualify for the program. One of the most efficient windows on the market that meet and exceed the programs qualifications are Heat Mirror Windows.

More than any other time of year, you notice your home's air leaks in the winter. Most people call these air leaks "drafts." You may feel these drafts around windows and doors and think these leaks are your major source of wasted energy. In most homes, however, other significant air leaks are hidden in the attic and basement. These are leaks that also significantly raise your energy bill and make your house uncomfortable. But locating leaks can be difficult because they are often hidden under your insulation. In cold weather, warm air rises in your house, just like it does in a chimney. This air, which you have paid to heat, is just wasted as it rises up into your attic and sucks cold air in all around your home - around windows, doors, and through holes into the basement.

Common Household Air Leaks

* Behind Kneewalls
* Attic Hatch
* Wiring Holes
* Plumbing Vent
* Open Soffit (the box that hides the recessed lights)
* Recessed Light
* Furnace Flue or Duct Chaseway (the hollow box or wall feature that hides ducts)
* Basement Rim Joists (where the foundation meets the wood framing)
* Windows and Doors

Locating Basement Air Leaks

A common area of air leakage in the basement is along the top of the basement wall where cement or block comes in contact with the wood frame. These leaks can easily be fixed in portions of the basement that are unfinished. Since the top of the wall is above ground, outside air can be drawn in through cracks and gaps where the house framing sits on top of the foundation. This perimeter framing is called the rim (or band) joist. In the basement, the above floor joists end at the rim joist creating multiple cavities along the length of the wall, and many opportunities for leakage.

 

 

Home Improvements- How to Improve your Water-Heating Efficiency

     The average home uses 14% of its energy for heating water. Water heating is one of the most variable energy requirements among families. It its affected by: the number and ages of those who live in your home, the efficiency of your shower heads, and most importantly the water temperature used for washing clothes. Here at Suburban Windows & Siding we have put together a list of effective ways to improve your water heating efficiency.

• Wash your laundry in cold or lukewarm water! Each load of laundry washed in cold water saves enough energy to power a television for up to 34 hours!
• Set the water heater temperature to 120 degrees.  Lowering the temperature reduces stand-by losses, also reduces the chance of scalding from hot tap water, and finally this will help extend the life of your water heater.
• Increase your water heater's insulation. Installing an insulation jacket on a water heater can be an inexpensive and effective way of reducing energy loss.
  

• Remember this is the time to check your windows and doors for air-leaks and cracks which can account for 10- 25% of your winter heating bill, through heat- loss. Suburban Windows & Siding can help you with any of your home improvement questions and concerns. Also take advantage of the $1500 tax-rebate this year for your energy-efficient home improvements, such as our exclusive Heat Mirror window, which is the most effective replacement window available today.

How to Buy The Right Showerhead!

Today's shower head fixtures are relatively Eco-friendly. If your shower head was made after 1992 then its government mandated to pump a maximum of 2.5 gallons of water/per minute. However if your shower head is looking a bit outdated, check out the new energy efficient "low flow' models that will pump around 1.5 gallons of water/per minute which can save your family up to $100 annually. Here at Suburban, we have made a list of features to look for next time you upgrade:

1. The Water Pressure! Most new models are Eco-friendly, which means that they range in water usage between 1.5 to 2.0 gallons/per minute.
2. The Spray. Most shower heads have at least 2-3 settings: Aerated, Mist, Needle Point and Pulsating. A shower head with multiple body sprays sounds appealing to most, but be careful because the water usage is extremely higher.
3. The Finish. Choose a shower head with PVD (physical vapor deposition) because this will reduce your corrosion and tarnishing over time.
4. The Price. Most Eco-friendly shower heads range in price from $35- $70. However, a hand held shower head will cost you around $100.