Drafty Doors and Windows
Weatherstripping or replacement, what Energy Star means here, and whether a storm door is worth it.
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Window Guide
Signs You Need New Windows, And How To Choose The Right Style
Windows rarely fail all at once. They get drafty, then foggy, then hard to open. Here are the signs it's time, how the styles compare, and what replacement windows change in a New England house.
Signs You Need New Windows
Any one of these can often be repaired. When several show up on the same windows, it's usually time to replace them.
- Drafts. On a windy day, close the window and run your hand along the edges where the sash meets the frame. Moving air means the seal isn't sealing.
- Fog between the panes. Haze or droplets inside a double-pane window mean the seal has failed, and the insulating gas has likely leaked out with it. You can't wipe it off, because it's inside the glass.
- Condensation or frost on the inside of the glass. On cold mornings this can mean a window that's losing heat. Indoor humidity plays a part too, so look at whether it happens on some windows and not others.
- Hard to open, close, or lock. Sashes painted shut, windows that won't stay up without a stick, and locks that don't line up anymore.
- Rot or soft wood. Press the sill and the bottom of the frame with a screwdriver. If it sinks in, water has been getting in for a while.
- Single-pane glass. Old single-pane windows do very little to hold heat, storm windows or not.
- Outside noise. If the street sounds louder than it used to, or louder than at a friend's house with newer windows, the glass and seals are part of the reason.
- Visible damage. Cracked glass, split frames, broken hardware. A broken window lets heat out and weakens security, so replace or repair it soon.
When To Replace Windows, And When To Repair Them
A good-quality vinyl window typically lasts 20 to 30 years, and the glass unit usually gives out before the frame. Well-kept wood windows can last much longer. So age alone doesn't settle it.
Repair makes sense when the frame is sound and the problem is one part: worn weatherstripping, a broken balance that won't hold the sash up, a stuck sash, or a failed seal in one window. Our crews repair as often as they replace, and most single window jobs are done in a day.
Replacement makes sense when the frames are rotting, the windows are single-pane, several windows have fogged, or you're fighting the same problems on window after window. Our guide to drafty doors and windows covers the line between a weatherstripping job and a replacement in more detail.
As for timing, windows can be replaced any time of year, one opening at a time, so the house is never open for long. Late summer and early fall get you new windows before the heating season.
Double-Hung vs Casement Windows, And The Other Styles
The right style depends on the room and the look of the house. These are the styles we install.
- Double-hung. Two sashes that slide up and down, and you can open the top, the bottom, or both. The sashes tilt in so you can clean the outside glass from inside the house. It's the classic window for colonials and capes, and the right choice for most rooms around here.
- Casement. Hinged on the side and opened with a crank, so the whole window swings out and catches a breeze. When it closes, the sash presses tight against the frame, which makes it one of the tightest-sealing styles. Casements work well over a kitchen sink or a counter, where reaching up to lift a sash is awkward.
- Awning. Hinged at the top and opens outward from the bottom, so you can leave it open in a light rain. Good for bathrooms, basements, and high on a wall.
- Hopper. Hinged at the bottom and tips in from the top. Common in basements.
- Bay and bow. Several windows set out from the wall to make a nook and pull in light from three directions.
- Garden. A small box window that projects out, usually over a kitchen sink, with shelves for plants.
So double-hung vs casement comes down to this: double-hung keeps the traditional look of a New England house and suits most rooms, and casement gives you a full opening and a tighter seal where you need one. Plenty of houses use both.
Frame Materials
We install windows in vinyl, fiberglass, wood, and composite, depending on the manufacturer. Vinyl is the most common and lowest-maintenance. Fiberglass and composite are stronger and hold their shape in temperature swings; Andersen rates its Fibrex composite at twice the strength of vinyl. Wood gives the most traditional look inside and needs paint or stain kept up outside. We install Harvey, Andersen, and Pella, and our windows and doors page covers how the three compare.
Security Features Worth Asking About
- Locks that pull the sash tight. A good sash lock both secures the window and seals it.
- Multi-point locks on casement windows, which secure the sash at several points along the frame.
- Opening limiters that stop a window partway open, for kids' rooms and upper floors.
- Laminated glass for windows near a door or at ground level. It holds together when broken, which makes it far harder to get through.
- Tempered safety glass where code calls for it, such as near doors and tubs.
Are Replacement Windows Worth It?
It depends on what you're replacing. Going from single-pane windows, or double-pane windows with failed seals, to Energy Star windows is where replacement makes the biggest difference, and you feel it in the first cold week. Replacing double-pane windows that are only a decade old and working fine changes much less.
What replacement windows change, when the old ones are past it:
- Comfort. No cold spot by the window and no drafts across the floor.
- Heating bills. New windows do lower heating bills when the old ones are leaking or single-pane. How much depends on the windows you're replacing and the rest of the house. Mass Save offers a home energy assessment that shows where your house is losing heat, so you can replace the right things first.
- Noise. Double- and triple-pane glass quiets the street.
- Everyday use. Windows that open, close, lock, and tilt in for cleaning.
- Curb appeal. New windows change how a house looks from the street more than people expect.
Look for the Energy Star label for the Northern climate zone, which is where Massachusetts sits. That rating means the window has been tested to a set standard for holding heat. The windows we install are Energy Star certified.
Replacing Windows With Senco
Every window is custom-fit to your existing opening, and every installation is covered by Senco's 10-Year Workmanship Warranty plus the manufacturer's own warranty. You don't have to do the whole house at once. Many people start with the coldest room, because that's usually where the worst windows are and the change you notice first.
We don't quote windows without seeing the house, because the number, size, style, and brand all change the price. The estimate is free, and financing starts at 0% for 12 months through GreenSky, with 10- and 15-year plans for bigger projects. If new siding is also on your list, our guide to choosing a siding color helps you plan the two together.
Windows drafty, foggy, or stuck?
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Window questions we hear at every estimate
What are the signs you need new windows?
Drafts you can feel around a closed window, fog or droplets between the panes, condensation or frost on the inside of the glass on cold mornings, sashes that stick or won't stay open, soft or rotted wood at the sill, single-pane glass, and more outside noise than you'd expect. One sign can often be repaired. Several on the same windows usually means replacement.
Are replacement windows worth it?
They are when the old windows are single-pane, have failed seals, are rotting, or are hard to use. That's where you see the biggest change in comfort, drafts, noise, and heating bills. If your windows are double-pane, about a decade old, and working fine, replacing them changes much less, and a repair or new weatherstripping may be all they need.
Do new windows lower heating bills?
Yes, when the windows they replace are leaking air or single-pane. Energy Star windows rated for the Northern climate zone typically use double- or triple-pane glass with low-emissivity coatings and insulating gas, and they hold heat far better than old glass. How much you save depends on the old windows and the rest of the house. A Mass Save home energy assessment shows where your house is losing the most heat.
Can I replace a few windows instead of all of them?
Yes. Every window is custom-fit to its own opening, so you can replace one, a room's worth, or the whole house. Many people start with the coldest room or the windows in the worst shape. If you plan to do the rest later, we'll help you choose a style and brand you can match.