There are extra costs to owning your own home. When things break down, you have to fix them. When the lawn needs to be mowed, you have to buy the gas for your lawn mower. If you want to enjoy beautiful annual flowers, you’re going to have to fork over the cash to plant them every spring. If you want to stay cozy warm through the winter, you are going to have to pay to heat your home. You don’t have a landlord to pay for any of these things. Is that why you’re here? Are you feeling the bite of that energy bill?

Are you noticing how much of your monthly income is going out the window–quite literally? Here are a few ways your home can cost you money and some ideas for keeping more of that money in your pocket, where it belongs.

WINDOW EFFICIENCY

If you have old, leaky, drafty windows, you might as well keep those windows wide open. All of that expensive heat you are generating inside your home is going right out those windows. However, it doesn’t have to. Replacing old windows with new double or triple pane windows with Low-E coatings is a cost-effective way to upgrade the efficiency of your home.

SEALING LEAKS

There are many ways your home can “leak” precious warm (and cold) air. It is vital to do an inspection of your exterior walls and seal any holes or gaps you find. Make sure you look closely around window and door frames, or places where pipes and electrical wires (or other items) pass through your exterior walls.

If you have forced-air heating or cooling ducts in your home, be sure to make certain that these are properly sealed.

SIDING EFFICIENCY

The siding on your home is like a nice, warm blanket. Like a warm blanket, siding is great for keeping heat in your home. Siding has insulation that works to resist heat transfer. If it is warm inside, the warmth is going to stay longer. If it is hot outside, that heat is going to stay out longer. Upgrading the siding on your home is one of the best ways to lower your energy bills. It is also a great way to give your home a face lift and get excited about it again.

DOOR EFFICIENCY

All doors lose heat, but old sliding glass doors are especially good at it. Not only can heat escape through old weather stripping and seals, it will also be going right through the glass. While you’ll benefit from replacing any of the doors in your home, replacing old sliding glass doors with doors that take advantage of new heat resistant technology is really going to make a difference.

REPLACE OUT-OF-DATE APPLIANCES

Old heating units and air conditioners can cost you an arm and a leg without you ever realizing it. New infrared heaters are far more energy efficient than those old, coiled heaters. There has been quite a bit of enhancement in air conditioner technology. If your air conditioning unit is older than ten years old, it is definitely time to upgrade it.

PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT

Give your home the cool and hot air when it needs it. If you have a programmable thermostat installed in your home, you’re sure to notice a reduction on your energy bills in only a couple of months.

IS IT TIME TO UPGRADE?

While we may not be able to help you with all of the ways you can make your home more energy efficient, we can get you on track with the most advanced door, window, and siding options available. At Window World, we have an incredible selection to help you meet your budget and get the most bang for your buck. We can also make sure these products are installed properly to take advantage of their incredible Energy Star efficiency. Reach out to one of our representatives and let’s set up a free, in-home estimate for you. What do you have to lose–except more money out of the window?