With 263 days of either full or partial sun, San Diego is one of the best places to live for the vitamin D lovers of the world.
It only makes sense, then, to let the sunlight in your home as much as the sun shines outside your home. Capitalize on that element as much as possible by considering the value of new windows.
New windows do not come cheap, though. In fact, replacing windows can cost anywhere from $400 to $1,000 per window.
As with all home repairs, though, the money you put in will ultimately come back to reap some handsome financial rewards. Read on to learn about how window replacement can actually save you money.
You’ve most likely heard this before. In fact, you do not even need someone to tell you that you can save some money by having more energy efficient windows.
The real question then is, how much money can new windows save you?
When replacing single-pane windows, you can save an estimated $126 to $465 a year on your utility bill.
If you’re replacing double-pane, clear glass windows, you can expect to save $27-$111.
While $100 may not seem like a huge saving, especially in the face of a $10,000 window replacement cost for the entire house, consider not just what you save in your utility bill.
Your HVAC system is one of the most expensive appliances in your home and arguably the biggest investment. When you install energy-efficient windows, you have fewer drafts and a more efficient system.
You end up putting far less unnecessary wear and tear on your HVAC system with new windows, and that saves you more than you can imagine.
A new HVAC system in a home of 1,000 square feet will cost you between $6,000 and $12,000. So the longer you can put that off, the better.
You also receive a nifty tax credit when you install new windows. The IRS will give you a tax credit of 10 percent of the cost of your windows, not including installation, up to $200.
New windows can protect your home from more than just cold drafts.
Burglars love a home with old windows. New windows have the potential to discourage would-be burglars from targeting your home.
As you look into your new windows, ask your contractor about the most secure options for your home.
In particular, ask about casement windows.
Casement windows have a hinge at the side of the frame and hand-operated locks leveraged from inside the home. Burglars have an extremely difficult time breaking these hook-shaped locks.
Because of how much they save on utilities and because of how they can deter burglars, replacement windows logically increase the value of your home.
New windows have an 85% return on investment. So if you spend $10,000 on new windows, you can expect the value of your home to go up approximately $8,500.
Additionally, new windows protect the integrity of your home’s structure. Old, leaky, compromised windows affect more than just the look of a home. They lead to rotting walls and dangerous mold.
As stated earlier, the San Diego area boasts of some of the best sunlight in the country. Americans often deem California the sunniest state in the nation.
So new windows allow the same sun to pour into homes and thus reduce the need for more artificial light.
So not only does your utility bill go down because of a more efficient thermostat, but it goes down because of less need to keep the lamps on during the day.
Additionally, for those concerned about the sun’s harmful effects, low-E coating radiates heat and harmful UV rays away from the home. So homeowners can enjoy the sun’s warm rays from the comfort of their homes without worrying about dangerous side effects.
Approximately 16 million people suffer from clinical depression in the United States. Of those 16 million, approximately 13 percent take antidepressants.
Productivity loss and health care needs due to clinical depression cost the United States approximately $210 billion.
While Prozac is flying off the pharmacist’s shelf like Christmas decorations on December 26th, some mood disorder patients are opting for more natural remedies, like sunlight.
In fact, an Australian study measured levels of brain chemicals discovered people had higher serotonin levels on bright sunny days than on cloudy ones. Seratonin is “happy chemical” your brain produces naturally that boosts your mood.
More windows means more light, and more light means better moods. You may not live in a place where you can just step outside. And if you have lousy windows that leak that cold air, you won’t want to be by them.
Approximately 4 million Americans work from a remote office, usually from home. New windows make home an even more appealing workspace. You will find yourself seeking out the local, grimy coffee shop less and basking in the light and beauty created with new windows regularly.
In the end, you will not spend as much money going places because you actually will like where you live. Your home will be more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing. Because of their energy efficiency, you will more easily maintain the temperature, and you enjoy the aesthetics of where you live.
Not only will your home literally increase its value with new windows, but it will look more valuable. New windows have the potential to improve your home’s curb appeal and saleability when the time comes for you to move.
New windows make your home look appealing from the street view. When you add on shutters, paint around the windows, and window boxes with appropriate foliage, you can change the whole look of the front of your house and make it even more appealing.
As you consider the investment in new windows, you can easily see how spending some money up front will mean big returns on the back side.
If you’re looking for someone to help you pick out and install the perfect windows for your home, contact us. We would love to help.
.jpg)
