5 Reasons to Replace Windows in the Summer

When summer arrives, remodeling and home improvement projects really pick up speed. The warmer temperatures and longer days make summer the perfect time to tackle all those tasks that can be thwarted by cold weather.

Ask the professionals at Sears Home Services and they’ll tell you that one home improvement project in particular receives a lot of attention during the summer months: window replacement. And for good reasons! For starters, homeowners who are considering replacing outdated windows stand to benefit from the upgrade immediately, and in the long run they’ll enjoy a boost in their home’s value. Read on for a few more great reasons to replace old windows this summer.

1. Beat the Bad Weather

Window replacement involves opening your home to the elements, and this can give a homeowner pause. Dave Lincon, Sears Home Services’ Director of Product Management and Business Development, pinpoints the typical homeowner’s concern: “No one wants to replace windows when it’s 4 degrees outside in the winter.” Even spring, with all that rain, isn’t ideal. Window replacement is best done during the sunny, warm days of summer.

Avoiding a window project in winter isn’t just a question of household comfort. Winter’s frigid temperatures and inclement weather can also impede construction. For example, some types of exterior caulking do not adhere well in cold weather, so you won’t get the best seal possible. Replacing windows in the winter may also lead to delays if the contractor has to reschedule as a result of snowy conditions. The best all-around option is to replace windows when it’s warm outside. Then, when Old Man Winter comes calling a few months later, you’ll already have a cozy, draft-free home.

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2. Enjoy Lower Cooling Costs Now

Keeping the house cool during hot weather can put a strain on the budget, especially when the existing windows are single-pane. “People often replace their windows for energy efficiency,” Lincon says, and that necessity “becomes glaringly evident right when things are starting to heat up.”

If your air conditioner has to run nonstop just to maintain a comfortably cool indoor temperature, you’ll notice an immediate difference in your utility bills as soon as you have new windows installed. Today’s energy-efficient replacement windows feature argon gas-filled panes that reduce heat transfer through the glass, so your AC unit won’t have to work overtime just to keep you cool. Windows with low-e coating further reduce solar transfer. You won’t feel the heat so much, even when you’re standing right next to a sunny window. The coatings also filter out the rays of the sun, helping to protect carpet, draperies, and upholstery from fading.

To fit every need and budget, replacement windows from Sears Home Services come in one of three grades of quality—good, better, and best—and they’re all Energy Star® rated.

3. Savor the Seasons

When you replace outdated windows in the summer, you’ll be able to enjoy those soft autumn breezes just around the corner. Old windows, especially if they’ve been painted, can be difficult (or impossible) to open. Replacing yours now ensures that you’ll have new windows that will open and close smoothly on that first fresh, breezy fall day.

Moreover, you can upgrade to windows that are a snap to clean, so it will be easy for you to keep your view of the outside free of dirt and smudges. Sears Home Services offers a variety of replacement windows in popular styles: double-hung windows that open effortlessly and tilt out for easy cleaning, traditional sliders, casement windows that open via a hand crank, and fixed (non-operable) picture windows, garden windows, and bay windows.

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4. Silence the Harsh Sounds of Summer

When summer finally arrives and everyone heads outdoors, things get noisy. Kids’ games, yard maintenance, remodeling projects, barbecues—everything adds to the neighborhood noise level. While sounds like birdsong and children’s play can be pleasant and cheerful, the banging of hammers on the neighbor’s construction project and the roaring engine of the lawn mower down the block most decidedly are not. “People don’t realize how much unwanted noise enters through old windows,” Lincon says, so they’re often pleasantly surprised by the remarkable noise reduction after the installation of new replacement windows.

Any replacements for old, leaky windows will help damper the sounds from outdoors. But if you’re specifically interested in creating a quieter home environment, speak to a professional at Sears Home Services about multipane windows and windows with laminated glass and added insulation in the frame.

5. Impact Protection

Summer brings everyone outdoors, and with this increase in outside activity comes an increase in the risk of broken and cracked windows. Surprisingly, though, neighborhood kids playing ball aren’t the leading cause of broken windows on houses. The number-one perp? High winds, common in many areas of the country as fall approaches, which break tree branches and turn sticks into projectiles. “It’s not that the wind is blowing—it’s what the wind is blowing” that poses a threat to windowpanes, Lincon says.

Older windows are more susceptible to cracking and breaking on impact than newer options available from Sears Home Services. Some newer designs sandwich a layer of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) between laminated glass panes, so if an impact is strong enough to break a window, the glass will shatter harmlessly instead of fragmenting into deadly shards that pose a danger to people and pets in the home.

The impact-resistant windows available today also offer added security from break-ins—something you’re sure to appreciate when you go away on vacation. Indeed, Sears Home Services‘ wide selection of windows offers security features like dual-cam locks and durable steel-reinforced frames. If you put in these tough, beautiful windows this summer, you’ll enjoy peace of mind for the rest of the season and also benefit from this smart home improvement for many, many years to come.

RELATED: 3 Hidden Benefits of New Windows

Interested in an upgrade? A Sears Home Services consultant can give you a price estimate for replacing your windows in minutes right over the phone (888-830-4127). Or, if you prefer a more personal touch, download a window measurement form, and then call the above number to request a free home visit by a certified consultant. The consultant will come to your home, show you samples to help you select the right windows, and discuss financing options.