1. Everybody stays comfortable. It is very difficult to keep everybody in the house happy about the indoor temperature. Your spouse may say it is too cold, while the children are whining about it being too hot. New windows can help to better regulate indoor temperature levels by eliminating drafts and convectional cooling.

2. Your home is safer and healthier. Most new windows feature improved locking devices that are incorporated into the frame. These are more secure than the old single latch screwed onto the top of the frame. Also, better sealing and weather stripping materials help prevent outside air pollutants from entering the home, keeping the indoor air cleaner.

3. Your home is quieter. Properly sized, fit and installed, a new replacement window will more effectively seal out noise infiltration. Sounds from loud traffic sounds, backfiring motorcycles, airplanes flying overhead, sirens – even noisy neighbors! – are greatly diminished. You can finish that afternoon nap without being disturbed.

4. No more complaining about stuck windows. Older windows, especially those with painted or stained wood frames, can swell in humid conditions or through the aging process. This causes them to stick, become difficult to open, or even remain tightly closed. Your new replacement windows are designed to operate smoothly and easily. Most will even tilt in for easy cleaning of the outside glass from right inside your home.

5. There is more money to spend on other things. When you install energy efficient replacement windows you immediately reduce radiant and convection energy loss in your home. That means your heating system and air conditioning system can operate more efficiently, using less fuel (oil, gas or electricity). This saves you money every month, sometimes up to one-third of your utility bill. Spend this newfound cash windfall wisely!

Need more reasons to install new replacement windows in Boston? To schedule a free in-home consultation with a representative from Rescom Exteriors, call us toll-free at (866) 410-5884. Or visit our web site at www.iwantnewwindows.com.

The label, in this case, is the one attached to every quality replacement window by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). The NFRC is a non-profit organization that administers “the only uniform, independent rating and labeling system for the energy performance of windows, doors, skylights, and attachment products.” The goal of the NRFC is to provide fair, accurate, and reliable energy performance ratings so that homeowners and others can compare different window products and make informed product choices.

So what’s on the label? Here is what Rescom’s NFRC label looks like, followed by a summary of the test information provided by the NFRC and what it means for window performance.

U-Factor
The most important measure of a window’s performance is its U-Factor. The U-Factor indicates the rate of heat flow through a window. The lower the U-Factor, the more energy efficient the window will be. U-Factor measures the entire window unit — glass, frame, sash, spacers — and is the only measurement accepted by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Star™ program. U-Factor ratings generally fall between 0.20 and 1.20. The lower the U-value, the greater a window’s resistance to heat flow and the better its insulating value.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) measures how well a product blocks heat caused by sunlight. The SHGC is the fraction of incident solar radiation admitted through a window (both directly transmitted and absorbed) and subsequently released inward. SHGC is expressed as a number between 0 and 1. The lower a window’s solar heat gain coefficient, the less solar heat it transmits in the house.

Visible Transmittance
Visible Transmittance (VT) measures how much light comes through a product. The visible transmittance is an optical property that indicates the amount of visible light transmitted. VT is expressed as a number between 0 and 1. The higher the VT, the more light is transmitted.

Air Leakage
Air Leakage (AL) is indicated by an air leakage rating expressed as the equivalent cubic feet of air passing through a square foot of window area (cfm/sq ft). Heat loss and gain occur by infiltration through cracks in the window assembly. The lower the AL, the less air will pass through cracks in the window assembly.

Condensation Resistance
Condensation Resistance (CR) measures the ability of a product to resist the formation of condensation on the interior surface of that product. The higher the CR rating, the better that product is at resisting condensation formation. While this rating cannot predict condensation, it can provide a credible method of comparing the potential of various products for condensation formation. CR is expressed as a number between 0 and 100.

Be sure to look for the NFRC label on any window you purchase for your home? No label? Then you have no guarantee that the window will perform as it should.

To schedule a free in-home consultation with a representative from Rescom Exteriors, call us toll-free at (866) 410-5884. Or visit our web site at www.iwantnewwindows.com.

You don’t have to live this way. Believe it or not, you can make your home warmer and more comfortable simply by replacing your windows. If this sounds like an easy solution to your problems, it is!

Your heating system works hard to warm the air inside your home. But if the warmth quickly dissipates through poorly insulted window glass, or escapes through ill-fitting window frames, you will soon be chilly again and your furnace will need to “kick on” frequently. That burns up more fuel than necessary and keeps you in a constant state of “warm and cold” fluctuation.

The Department of Energy estimates that almost one-third of energy loss occurs through poorly insulated windows and doors. They are the biggest culprit in keeping your home heating costs high and your comfort level low.

But when we install new Bristol Windows in a home, that cycle virtually stops. Because our windows are engineered with an effective insulated glass package, insulated frame and sash, and are custom fit to your home (which eliminated gaps and cracks), the energy loss is significantly reduced.

The results are amazing. Your heating system turns on much less often. No ice or frost forms on the inside of your windowpanes. No breezes blow through your windows. And you can walk around inside your home dressed comfortably – not all bulked up in heavy sweaters.

Find out how our Bristol Windows can help you stay more comfortable this winter. It is not too late the get cozy! To schedule a free in-home consultation with a representative from Rescom Exteriors, call us toll-free at (866) 410-5884. Or visit our web site at www.iwantnewwindows.com.

Here’s why this is not a good idea. Windows purchased from a local retailer come in standard sizes. It is much easier and cheaper for a “big box” retailer to stock a limited range of sizes that they can sell quickly. The problem is that your home’s windows are probably not standard size, and you’ll have to try to fit the windows into your home. You can’t change the size or dimensions of the windows, so you’ll end up cutting into your home’s walls.

But no matter how precise you try to be, fitting a standard size window into your home is going to leave openings and gaps that defeat the entire purpose of installing new windows. Your windows may be energy efficient, but the wind and cold is going to right around them through your new openings!

At Rescom Exteriors every window we install is custom made to fit your home exactly. One of the most important steps we take when we start the process of replacing your windows is a careful and thorough measurement. That way we can be precise in manufacturing your windows. This process is completed during our installation phase. Our installation teams are factory-certified and trained to secure your windows so that they will fit snugly and firmly, with no gaps, cracks or openings.

If you are intent on saving a few dollars by buying “off the shelf” windows down at the home center, just think of how quickly those savings will disappear when your home’s heating and cooling bills skyrocket because your windows don’t fit properly.

Don’t get stuck with windows that simply don’t fit your home. Schedule a free in-home consultation with a representative from Rescom Exteriors, call us toll-free at (866) 410-5884. Or use our online form.

Rescom Exteriors has the solution to this problem. Our beautiful Bristol Windows can be easily tilted in so that you can clean the outside glass without leaving the comfort of your home.

A simple and easy-to-use mechanism on our most popular double hung windows allows you to swing the top and bottom sashes in quickly and effortlessly. That makes it a breeze to wash away dirt and grime that have been deposited on the glass surface, blocking and blurring your view of the world beyond.

Does this seem like a minor feature to you? Certainly Rescom’s Bristol Windows offer many more benefits, like a larger glass area than most replacement windows, insulated vinyl frame and multiple-pane thermal glass, and the industry’s best locking mechanism. But when you want to make sure you will be able to see what is going on outside your home all winter long, windows that tilt in for easy cleaning give you a big advantage.

Find out what else our Bristol Windows can do. To schedule a free in-home consultation with a representative from Rescom Exteriors, call us toll-free at (866) 410-5884. Or use our online form.

The answer is “yes.” For the average home, replacing old and inefficient windows with today’s highly engineered, efficient windows actually can reduce energy use by a significant degree. And that means you’ll pay a lot less to heat your home during the winter, and to cool your home when the hot weather returns.

The U.S. Department of Energy has conducted studies that determined that a typical home loses 30% of its energy through inefficient windows and, to a lesser degree, doors. What they mean by “losing energy” is that conditioned air (heated air in winter, cooled air in summer) escapes and needs to be replaced much more frequently. So your home’s furnace fires up more often and runs longer, or your air conditioner works harder to keep things cool.

Surprisingly, most of the energy loss is not due to obvious factors like cracks, gaps and poor seals around windows. Instead, the energy is conducted right through the glass. Which is understandable, since most older windows were not designed to provide any insulating value at all. Heat and cold simply pass right through a pane of regular glass, or seep around the edges of the window frame.

Window designers tackled this huge problem from many angles, resulting in today’s modern replacement windows that include many features to stop energy loss. Instead of wooden window frames and sashes, new windows use insulated vinyl. Instead of a single fuzzy fabric seal, a new window will shut securely on a triple silicone-based seal.

Most importantly, the huge area of glass that once allowed energy to pass through like a fast freight train has been replaced with sophisticated glass “packages” that feature two or three panes of glass sandwiched around a sealed space filled with inert gas, like Krypton or Argon. The gas-filled space acts as an insulating barrier. It is so effective that many new windows are warm to the touch on the inside, even when temperatures drop below freezing outdoors.

So how much can you save? Add up the money you spend on heating oil, natural gas or propane to heat your home every month. Then add in the cost of the electricity you use to run your air conditioner all summer. Now take about one-third of that cost right off the top. That’s how much many homeowners can expect to save every year – year after year, for as long as they live in their home.

The money you’ll spend installing new windows begins to look like a very smart investment in just a short time.

To schedule an informative, no-pressure meeting with a representative from Rescom Exteriors, call us toll-free at (866) 410-5884. Or use our online form.

The fact is, storm windows do almost nothing to prevent the transfer of energy between the outside and your home’s interior. Yes they will keep the rain and snow from piling up on your windowsill. But it is the energy transfer – warm air leaking out, cold air seeping in – that causes your furnace to run and run, costing you money every time it kicks on. And storm windows are simply not made to prevent this “energy leak.”

Here’s the problem: most storm windows are made of a single pane of glass in an aluminum frame. One, thin pane of glass won’t stop the cold, and aluminum can actually speed up the energy transfer process by acting as a heat conductor. Now add in the fact that storm windows are famous for condensation, which allows water to build up and eventually seep into your home and you’ve got a “solution” that only makes the problem worse.

For a genuine change that will reduce energy loss and reduce your home heating and cooling costs – real savings – you need to replace your old windows with a modern window that is specifically engineered for thermal performance.

Yes, they will cost you more to install than storm windows. But a well-designed replacement window – like the fantastic Bristol Windows we install here at Rescom Exteriors – will save you money every month, all year long, for as long as you live in your home. And that savings quickly adds up and proves to be a significant long term value.

To schedule an informative, no-pressure meeting with a representative from Rescom Exteriors, call us toll-free at (866) 410-5884. Or visit our web site at www.iwantnewwindows.com.

Save Money
The most obvious reason to replace old windows is to save money. Energy Star, the partnership between the United States Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, estimates that installing Energy Star rated windows, doors and skylights could save a family as much as 30 percent on their home heating and cooling costs each year. That means your savings could be as much as $500 on your monthly utility bill when you replace old single pane windows with newer, more energy efficient windows. Those significant savings add up over time and quickly make the investment in new windows worth the expense.

In addition to saving money on your monthly utility bill, you also help reduce your impact on the environment. When you use less energy to heat and cool your home, you help put fewer greenhouse gasses and other pollutants into the climate. Energy efficiency is an investment in your future as well as your checkbook.

Protect Your Valuables
Have you ever seen the damage sun can do to hardwood floors, photographs, drapes and other valuables? Prolonged exposure to sunlight will visibly fade these organic materials reducing not only their monetary value but their sentimental value as well. Older, clear glass windows don’t protect against the damaging effects of the sun’s UV rays streaming into your home.

Rescom’s windows come with a protective coating that acts like sunscreen for your house. These coatings reduce the amount of harmful ultraviolet light entering your windows without reducing the visible light. Your valuables will be protected for years to come.

Home Comfort
We all want to be comfortable in our homes. No one wants to freeze in the winter or swelter in the summer. But older windows leak outside air into your home around the frames and right through the glass. Put your hand up to the window frame on a cool day. If the glass is cold or you can feel a breeze, your windows leak. Energy efficient windows keep warm air in your house in the winter and block heat from getting in during the summer. That way, your thermostat doesn’t have to work against the windows and you won’t find yourself pulling on a sweater and putting on another pair of socks in the winter and sweating in the summer.

There are so many great reasons to switch to newer energy efficient windows that keeping older windows just doesn’t make sense. Get cozy in your house and add money to your wallet by upgrading your windows this season.

While almost every homeowner complains about high heating costs, do you know just how “high” is high? According to the Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community Development, the typical homeowner in the state spends $600-$740 per month to heat their home, or about $3,600-$4,440 during a six month heating season. And if the winter starts early or lasts longer, it can add another $1,000 or more to the bill!

You do not have to continue breaking the bank in order to keep your home comfortable during the harsh New England winter. There are affordable steps you can take that can significantly reduce energy use in your home. And using less energy means spending less on energy.

Many of the changes you can make are just what you would expect:  more attic insulation, turn down the thermostat, insulate exterior walls. But the one home improvement you can make that impacts energy costs the most is replacing your old windows with new, energy-efficient models.

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that almost one-third of a home’s energy is lost through inefficient windows and doors. If you have old windows in your home, the energy you may be losing is like keeping a window wide open all winter long!

New windows with advanced features like “low-e” glass and insulated frames, that are custom sized to fit snugly into your home, will greatly reduce the flow of warm air out of your home, while keeping the cold air out. Your furnace will kick on less often, and you’ll pay less for oil or gas every month. Simple.

Energy efficient replacement windows from Rescom can save you up to 33% on your heating costs this winter. And those savings continue, month after month, year after year.

Are you unwilling to overpay to heat your home this winter?  A switch to energy efficient replacement windows may be the perfect solution. To find out more about the cost saving benefits of energy efficient windows, call us toll-free at (866) 410-5884. Or visit our web site at www.iwantnewwindows.com.

However, just as the Bruins will return to the ice in a few months, we know the cold and snow will soon return to New England. How will you keep your home and family warm without spending an arm and a leg?

The best solution is to replace your old, drafty windows with new, energy-efficient Bristol Windows from Rescom. With an estimated 30 percent or more of your home’s energy draining away through inefficient windows (according to the U.S. Department of Energy) it makes good sense to stop the flow and reduce the amount of money you spend on oil, gas, electricity, wood, coal – whichever fuel you use to heat your home.

Bristol Windows are manufactured using the newest in energy efficiency technology, including insulated frames and low-emissivity glass. Our crews can replace your windows quickly and professionally during the summer months, giving you a head start on the blustery winds and icy storms that frequent our area during winter.

Don’t wait until your family is shivering and you are reaching to turn up the thermostat. The time to take action is now, while the sun is still shining. Rescom can replace your old windows with custom-fit, high efficiency windows that will keep the warmth and the cold out from the very first chilly day. Why wait?

To find out more about the cost saving benefits of energy efficient windows, call us toll-free at (866) 410-5884. Or visit www.iwantnewwindows.com.