Happy Home InsiderTips for upgrading your windows, roof, and HVAC
Making substantial upgrades to your home can be costly. How can you be sure that these decisions will pay off in the long run? One approach is to invest in upgrades that improve energy efficiency. Upgrading your windows, roof, or HVAC are three ways to improve the energy efficiency of your home.
And while you should be wary of promises that new features like these will pay for themselves, smart upgrades can make your home more energy efficient on a daily basis decreasing your monthly utility bills and increasing the value of your home.
Installing New Windows
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heat gain and heat loss through windows are responsible for 25%-30% of residential heating and cooling energy use. Because your windows represent a significant amount of your home energy costs, ensuring optimum performance is important.
There are many reasons to replace windows, but here are a few key factors that can help inform your decision:
Are your windows damaged, broken, or not functioning properly?
Check your windows for warping, worn frames, moisture damage, and other types of damage. In many older homes, windows have been painted shut and no longer open. Swelling can also prevent windows from opening.
Are your energy bills high?
If you know your energy bills are expensive, check to see if your windows feel drafty. Your windows could be leaking air. If you don’t feel much of a draft, look for moisture or mold which can be a sign that heat is escaping. Condensation can also indicate that a window’s seals are broken.
Are your windows more than 20 years old?
The age of your windows often goes hand in hand with damage, but even windows that don’t appear to be damaged can be inefficient. You should also consider the climate in which you live: Windows in some parts of the country age faster than others.
And beyond the frames, other factors also impact a window’s energy efficiency. The type of glass, the fillers and spaces in between the glass, and how the window operates all determine how energy efficient your windows are and ultimately, whether or not you can save money on your energy bills.
You can learn more about the energy performance ratings for windows at www.energy.gov.
According to the National Association of Realtors’ 2018 Cost Versus Value study, homeowners get about 74% of their vinyl replacement window investment back when they resell the house.
Replacing Your Roof
When considering a roof replacement, think carefully about your existing roof’s material, age, and condition. Shingle roofs typically last anywhere from 10 to 25 years. Metal roofs, on the other hand, can last much longer up to 70 years.
If you have a shingle roof, and you see that the shingles are buckling or curling, repairs should be made right away. At that point, you can assess the level of damage to determine if total roof replacement is needed.
The best way to determine if a roof needs to be replaced is to have it inspected. In fact, regular inspections are recommended. They can help ensure that your existing roof is as energy efficient as possible until a replacement is needed.
If you determine that you do need to replace your roof, there are a number of energy-efficient options that can help save money on heating and cooling costs. The most energy efficient roof materials are called cool roofs.
They reflect more of the sun’s rays, emit radiation, and significantly lower the roof’s temperature. Ultimately, this decreases the amount of heat transferred into your home.
If you live in a hot climate, you will especially benefit from the cost savings afforded by a cool roof.
There are many roofing materials available, and new technologies are regularly emerging on the market. It’s important to keep in mind that energy efficiency depends on your home’sconstruction, the type of roof, your home’s insulation, the climate in which you live, and more.
Upgrading to an energy-efficient HVAC system
How do you know if it’s time to replace your HVAC system? There are many factors to consider, including the age of your furnace or air conditioner rising energy bills your home is very dry in the winter and very humid in the summer you are frequently repairing your HVAC equipment.Energystar.gov provides a complete checklist of issues that can help inform your decision to install a new HVAC system. New equipment can help balance the humidity in your home, improve air quality, and more efficiently and effectively cool and heat your entire home. It’s difficult to calculate exactly how much you’ll save by replacing your old, inefficient HVAC system. But the savings could me significant: Heating and cooling can account for up to half of a home’s energy bills.
It may not be time to invest in any of these major upgrades. But you should still conduct regular maintenance and if necessary repairs to help improve the energy efficiency in your home.
And that can lead to a saving money, too.
