1. When you begin to hear a lot of outside noise. If your windows provide little protection from the sounds of the outdoors, they may not be sealed correctly or were poorly made to begin with.

2. If you noticed a spike in your electrical bill and/or you start to feel a draft, even when your windows are closed. If so, there could be a number of issues including poor or faulty seals causing air leakage and much more. A drafty window can drastically change the overall temperature of your home, causing your HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) system to work twice as hard to keep up with the fluctuating temperature.

3. You start to notice window frames are soft, chipped or water damaged. If that is the case it is likely that they are already beyond repair. Soft window frames indicate water infiltration therefor rotten wood if highly possible. It’s possible that they will start sagging, if they haven’t already.

4. Difficulty opening, closing and locking your windows? Older windows develop balancing issues making the windows challenging to open and close. Windows that are rusting or rotting can also be difficult to operate. If your windows do not close properly, you may not be able to lock them, which can impact the safety of your home.

5. Last but not least the famous condensation build up on old windows between glass layers or cracked window glass. If you notice that your windows are frosting between the layers of glass, it means that your seals have failed, allowing moisture between the glass panes. Once the seals fail, any insulating gas used to make the window energy efficient is now gone. Cracked window glass allows additional spots for air to leak in and out of your window.

1. Look for a manufacturer who actually manufacturer their own products themselves, this helps you when your warranty needs to be respected. A manufacturer always respects the warranty their clients were first given upon purchasing. Their company reputation is on the line. Also, you are to be sure the product you were sold is the product you are going to receive.

2. Look for a manufacturer who has been operating for many years, this ensures you honesty, quality and a great reputation which makes them go on for many years to come. This may also help one day if ever needed replacement parts, you can rest assure a manufacturer always keeps minimal inventory on discontinued hardware.

3. Ask your window and door manufacturer about their products being Energy star certified. This option will guarantee you money savings on electrical bills over time.