How windows and doors can help save money in the home

How windows and doors can help save money in the home

When you’re looking at ways to save money, you might see fitting replacement windows and doors as a costly investment – but they can prove a long term saving.

What many homeowners don’t know is that inefficient windows and doors could actually cost you up to £215 extra in energy bills each year.

If you’re looking for different ways to reduce the cost of your fuel bills, installing modern, energy efficient glazing is one way to do it. That’s because many new windows have improved thermal efficiency, meaning you can live in a warmer environment and your energy costs can be reduced. Win, win!

As well improving your thermal efficiency, here are some other ways upgrading your windows and doors can actually help save money in the home.

Self-cleaning glass

How much time, energy and money do you spend keeping your windows looking great? This level of effort has encouraged many home owners to make the change to lower maintenance, ‘self-cleaning’ glass.

This reduces the need to employ a window cleaning service or spend hours of their own time cleaning windows. Self-cleaning glass works by using natural sunlight and rain (or, in dry spells, a garden hose) to reduce the build-up of dirt and grime on the glass surfaces.

Window film and low-e glass

This might sound technical, but trust us, it’s not! Window film acts as an insulator, improving the thermal performance of your windows. It helps achieve true energy efficiency, therefore potentially saving on your fuel costs.

Similarly, energy efficient low-emissivity glass (or low-e glass as it is commonly referred to), contains a coating which reduces heat transfer, meaning less heat escapes through your windows to the cold outdoors, making your home more comfortable and your bills more family-friendly. Check out your local installers to see which offer and fit low e-glass.

Property value

Thinking of selling your property? Homes with modern, energy-efficient windows tend to sell at a higher price than those without them, because house hunters would rather pay extra at the point of purchase, than undertake a large-scale renovation once they’re moved in.

In our most recent survey, 75 per cent of homeowners said that when they’re looking to buy a property, they consider energy efficient windows and doors important. So, while it’s not cash in your bank immediately, you’ll reap the awards of new windows and doors if you ever move home.

Safety first

Undertaking a home improvement and worried that you’ll lose your hard earned cash due to a problem with your contractor or chosen installer? When choosing a glazing company look for ones that abide by codes of practice that protect the consumer, and make sure you read contracts carefully before signing.

Ask any company you hire about their insurance-backed guarantees and warranties for the services and products they’re providing, and check the cancellation terms being offered. Most companies don’t offer a cancellation period for made to measure windows, but GGF Member companies do – it lasts for seven days from the date you sign the contract. You can read more about this via our Home Improvement Advice

Speculate to accumulate

When we asked homeowners the ways in which they try and save heat and energy in the home, the list was endless. Energy saving lightbulbs, water-saving shower heads, cavity wall insulation, draught excluders, solar panels, extra layers of clothes and even thermal wallpaper cropped up on the list.

These are things that must constantly be replaced or topped up, and can often make only minor differences to your household bills. By making the up-front investment in new windows and doors, you’ll instantly enjoy a more comfortable home, and you’ll see the impact on your outgoings sooner than you might think!