Repair or Replace? How to save money on those ever rising energy bills!

Let´s be honest, we are all looking for ways to reduce energy bills and improve the value of our homes these days. But what does that have to do with repairing glass? Well interestingly enough, the glass around your home has a huge effect on the efficiency of your heating, cooling and energy performance around your home – and office while we are at it!

So what exactly are you looking for to improve the condition of your home, the safety of your family and keep those rising energy bills down? Well first of all, take a good look around your home and check for any windows where you can feel a draft. There´s nothing worse on a cold night than feeling a chilly breeze slipping through a window and right down your spine! If strong weather conditions, continued physical use or simply ´time´ and age has affected your windows, frames and seals, you will need to decide how to resolve this problem…and fast.

Every day your heating or air conditioning has to work harder to maintain your desired temperatures, the more money is coming directly out of your pocket and into the hands of those energy companies.

Drafts are usually a pretty clear sign your windows are no longer offering you the safety or protection from the elements or intruders you and your family deserve. Look for any broken, cracked or smashed panes – safe to say, these will obviously need to be replaced. A slight crack may appear to be structurally sound, but broken glass is an accident waiting to happen. Not to mention the risk to the structural safety of your home from potential break-ins. A small chip may seem harmless, but fundamentally these cannot be trusted. We recommend replacing any broken glass with safety glass. Tougher, thicker and harder to break than normal glass, safety glass offers your family the extra protection from the elements and intruders, not to mention, adding value and extended life to your home.

The good news is you may be simply able to replace the glass itself, leaving the original frame intact. However, if the frame is the issue, you´ll need the professionals to advise you on this best way to resolve and replace this as well. You can get a start on this though, and check for weather affected areas around the glass. Is there rotten wood, seals coming away from the edge, rusting aluminum slides and tracks? All of these things will affect the efficiency of your windows and yes, we recommend that once you identify any of these risks, contact professionals to remedy the situation ASAP.

If you´ve found foggy glass or the dreaded water leakage inside the house or even between double panes, you will need to consider whether a seal repair will solve the problem or whether it´s time to invest in replacing these windows completely. Sometimes a simple seal repair is all that´s required, but don´t risk the consequences of damage a ´simple´ water leak can cause. Prevention is better (and more cost effective) than a cure any day! Have a trained glazier take a look at your home and evaluate the best solutions for your home and safety.   

So whether you repair or replace the glass around your home, it is incredibly important to address areas at risk and the ones draining your pocket and energy functionality today. It´s not just aesthetics we are talking about here. Yes, things like scratched, weathered and damaged glass will affect the value of your home, but your family´s safety from the elements and outside dangers are worth taking the time to check your windows today.