Some people replace their windows to improve the attractiveness of their home. Some want to replace a high-maintenance material like wood with a low-maintenance material like vinyl. But one of the best reasons to replace windows is that they're costing you money. Windows can have a big effect on how much you pay to heat and cool your home, so watch out for these signs.

Condensation

If your windows are double-glazed or triple-glazed, you need to watch for condensation within the window itself. If you notice water between the panes of glass – water that you can't reach from either side of the window – this is a sure sign that the seal has failed on the glazing. Once this happens, you're no longer getting the insulation benefits of your glazing, so expect higher energy costs until you have your windows replaced.

Draft

If you can feel a draft when you put your hand near a closed window, then you're losing money every time that breeze blows. Whether it's because the window doesn't fit properly or has been damaged, a window that allows a draft through also allows heat through – which means into your home in the summer and out of your home in the winter. That means more work for your heater and your air conditioner.

Warped Frame

If you have wood-frame windows, another sign that they need window replacement is when this wood becomes visibly warped. Over time, wood reacts to temperature differences, swelling in hot weather and shrinking in cold weather. Humidity and water damage can also cause wood to warp.

And when a window frame is warped, it no longer fits properly, often allowing air to leak around the edges. You'll lose heat in the winter and have trouble keeping your home cool in the summer. In extreme cases, you may even end up with water leaking around the window frame, which can lead to mold and mildew.

Difficulty Opening And Closing

Windows that are hard to open and close are also good candidates for replacement. For one thing, it's very easy to think you've closed a difficult window all the way when, in fact, it's not completely shut. This means drafts and increased energy loss through that window.

In addition, a window that's hard to open and close is very often a window whose frame has shifted, settled, or warped – meaning it no longer fits together as it did when it was installed. And just like the problems that a visibly warped frame can cause, you are likely to end up with air leaks around problem windows like these.

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