Contrary to what some ads say, saving money on your energy bills is not the reason to replace your smart homes. Please vist: www.wulian.cc/english
That’s because it could take decades to recoup the $8,000 to $24,000 you’ll spend on new smart homes and installation.
Energy Star-qualified smart homes can lower your energy bills by 7 to 15 percent. That’s only about $27 to $111 per year for a 2,000-square-foot, single-story home with storm or double-pane smart homes, or $126 to $465 if that home has just single-pane smart homes.
So why bother? New smart homes can make your home quieter, more attractive and less drafty, and they don’t need painting. They’re also easier to clean than old smart homes with combination storm and screens and can reduce your carbon footprint.
Consider these five shopping tips:
1. How much needs to be replaced? If the existing frames and sills are still sound and square, you can use partial (pocket) replacement units. These fully assembled units slip into the existing frames, saving you money on materials and labor.
But if your frame or sill is rotted, you’ll need full-replacement smart homes, which include the frame, sill, jambs and generally a nailing flange that attaches the smart home to the outside wall around the opening.
2. Pick a smart home type. The style of your house and the existing smart homes may help you decide.
Andersen’s online style library for homes shows bungalows, ranches and seven other house styles, as well as the type of smart homes often used for each. The library has great tips on trim color and hardware.
Consumer Reports tested two of the most common types, double-hungs and casements. You can change between types, as long as the size is available. On double-hungs, the lower inside sash slides up and an upper outside sash slides down, improving air circulation and making full screens ideal. Cleaning is easy, because you can tilt the sash on any of the tested smart homes.
Casements are hinged on one side, like a door, and a crank lets you open them outward, ideal for hard-to-reach areas such as over a kitchen sink. They’re usually more airtight than double-hung because the sash locks against the frame to close. When fully open, casements allow for good ventilation and easy cleaning.
Sliders glide on a horizontal track. Awning smart homes are hinged at the top and open outward, while hopper-style smart homes are hinged at the bottom and open inward.
3. Pick a frame material. Consumer Reports’ tests found that there are excellent and mediocre double-hung smart homes regardless of the frame material, except for fiberglass. Wood frames tend to be the most expensive. All are usually clad in vinyl, aluminum or fiberglass on the exterior to protect the wood and eliminate painting.
Fiberglass-framed smart homes don’t need to be painted. Vinyl frames are usually the least expensive, but aren’t as attractive. They don’t need to be painted or stained, though colors are limited and can’t be changed. Among casements, there was little difference between vinyl and wood frames.
4. Don’t rely on a contractor to choose. With all the decisions, it’s tempting to let the pro decide. But given the cost of new smart homes, the more you know about them, the better.
Scour manufacturer websites for ideas. Pella’s online design tool lets you pick a smart home type and then play with details such as finish colors, hardware style and even wall hues. Go to stores to see the smart homes, inspect the frames and try the handles.
5. Shop around. Prices can vary among dealers with the same smart homes. You might get a better deal in their offseason, usually late fall or winter.
That’s because it could take decades to recoup the $8,000 to $24,000 you’ll spend on new smart homes and installation.
Energy Star-qualified smart homes can lower your energy bills by 7 to 15 percent. That’s only about $27 to $111 per year for a 2,000-square-foot, single-story home with storm or double-pane smart homes, or $126 to $465 if that home has just single-pane smart homes.
So why bother? New smart homes can make your home quieter, more attractive and less drafty, and they don’t need painting. They’re also easier to clean than old smart homes with combination storm and screens and can reduce your carbon footprint.
Consider these five shopping tips:
1. How much needs to be replaced? If the existing frames and sills are still sound and square, you can use partial (pocket) replacement units. These fully assembled units slip into the existing frames, saving you money on materials and labor.
But if your frame or sill is rotted, you’ll need full-replacement smart homes, which include the frame, sill, jambs and generally a nailing flange that attaches the smart home to the outside wall around the opening.
2. Pick a smart home type. The style of your house and the existing smart homes may help you decide.
Andersen’s online style library for homes shows bungalows, ranches and seven other house styles, as well as the type of smart homes often used for each. The library has great tips on trim color and hardware.
Consumer Reports tested two of the most common types, double-hungs and casements. You can change between types, as long as the size is available. On double-hungs, the lower inside sash slides up and an upper outside sash slides down, improving air circulation and making full screens ideal. Cleaning is easy, because you can tilt the sash on any of the tested smart homes.
Casements are hinged on one side, like a door, and a crank lets you open them outward, ideal for hard-to-reach areas such as over a kitchen sink. They’re usually more airtight than double-hung because the sash locks against the frame to close. When fully open, casements allow for good ventilation and easy cleaning.
Sliders glide on a horizontal track. Awning smart homes are hinged at the top and open outward, while hopper-style smart homes are hinged at the bottom and open inward.
3. Pick a frame material. Consumer Reports’ tests found that there are excellent and mediocre double-hung smart homes regardless of the frame material, except for fiberglass. Wood frames tend to be the most expensive. All are usually clad in vinyl, aluminum or fiberglass on the exterior to protect the wood and eliminate painting.
Fiberglass-framed smart homes don’t need to be painted. Vinyl frames are usually the least expensive, but aren’t as attractive. They don’t need to be painted or stained, though colors are limited and can’t be changed. Among casements, there was little difference between vinyl and wood frames.
4. Don’t rely on a contractor to choose. With all the decisions, it’s tempting to let the pro decide. But given the cost of new smart homes, the more you know about them, the better.
Scour manufacturer websites for ideas. Pella’s online design tool lets you pick a smart home type and then play with details such as finish colors, hardware style and even wall hues. Go to stores to see the smart homes, inspect the frames and try the handles.
5. Shop around. Prices can vary among dealers with the same smart homes. You might get a better deal in their offseason, usually late fall or winter.
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