There was a time when winter weather wasn’t something we had to contend with here in Dallas. While other states dealt with below-freezing temperatures, we enjoyed our 50-degree Januarys with the occasional snow day.
After Winter Storm Fern swept through Northern Texas, one thing is becoming clear: it’s time to get serious about home heating in Dallas, and that doesn’t just mean cranking the thermostat.
As we expand our window replacement services here in Dallas, our ZINTEX team is noticing that older windows and builder-grade windows tend to make homes colder in the winter (and warmer in the summer). Could this be the case in your house? Let's take a look at:
- Reasons warm air is escaping through the windows
- Signs your windows aren't built for extreme weather
- Quick fixes to winterize old windows
- Winter window replacement considerations
Is Cold Air Coming in Through My Windows?
It gets noticeably colder as you approach your windows. In fact, you can feel a full-blown draft coming from some of them, despite the fact that they’re closed tight. When it’s 60 degrees, this doesn’t seem like a huge deal. When it’s 20 degrees, it’s another story.
Drafty windows usually indicate one or more of the following issues:
- Cracks or warping in the window frames
- Stripped, peeling, or ineffective caulking
- Poorly installed hardware
- Old (or non-existent) weather stripping
When your windows aren’t properly sealed and temperatures drop below freezing, your home is essentially absorbing that cold air even as your heater is producing warm air. In this situation, even a top-of-the-line HVAC system can’t effectively heat your home.
Is Warm Air Escaping Through My Windows?
If cold air is coming in through your drafty windows, what’s happening to the warm air produced by your HVAC system? You guessed it. It’s escaping.
In fact, homeowners with poorly sealed and insulated windows are seeing 25-30% of their energy go out the window–literally!
Not only does that mean that your home isn’t going to feel as warm as it should, but it also means that you’re paying money to send your warm air into the great outdoors. When your bills are already going up just to keep up with winter storm fronts, this is far from ideal.
Are My Windows Designed for the Dallas Climate?
Here’s a big one that Dallas homeowners, particularly those with properties built more than ten years ago, should be asking: are your current windows the right windows for the Dallas climate?
Here are a few signs that the answer might be no:
- You’ve got wooden window frames
- You’ve got single-pane glass
- Your operational windows (windows you can open and close) don’t have weatherstripping
Even if your windows aren’t damaged, they may not be providing the level of insulation you need to effectively heat your home in extremely cold weather. Upgrades like vinyl window frames and double-pane glass will make a huge difference to your home’s temperature control all year round.
Quick Fixes to Winterize Your Windows
Maybe you’re not quite ready to upgrade your windows completely or you’re reading these tips with only a few days to spare before the next temperature drop. Is there anything you can do quickly and on a budget to improve your window insulation?
A few budget-friendly options include:
- Filling cracks with new caulking
- Replacing or adding weatherstripping
- Improving insulation with an indoor insulation kit (typically installed using a hair dryer) or heavy drapes
Keep in mind that these are not permanent fixes that will get you through multiple winter seasons, and you will need to consider replacing your windows in Dallas to get lasting benefits. That said, using one or two of these tips can help you improve your indoor heating capabilities in a pinch.
Can I Replace My Windows in Winter in Dallas?
People often assume that window replacement is more of a summer home improvement project. The reality is that the best season for window replacement is the season when you realize you need window replacement.
The biggest concern is the temporary exposure to outdoor temperatures while your old windows are being swapped out for new windows. It is true that extreme weather could spell the need to reschedule your winter Dallas window replacement services.
However, given that we’ve averaged less than 23 days of below-freezing temperatures between late October and early March in the last ten years, rescheduling for cold weather isn’t probable.
In fact, because Dallas winters are typically milder than Dallas summers, winter can be a great time to upgrade your windows. You can even talk to your window replacement company in Dallas about replacing your windows in batches, prioritizing the draftiest windows now to enjoy a warmer winter season.
Upgrade Your Dallas Windows with ZINTEX Remodeling Group
Are your windows making your Dallas home colder? It’s quite possible, especially if they were installed with a less volatile winter climate in mind. Use this guide to determine whether or not your windows are making your house colder (and don’t hesitate to use our quick fix tips to warm things up until your window replacement date).
ZINTEX Remodeling Group has built a strong reputation as a top-tier Dallas bathroom remodeler over the last 25 years. Now, we’re offering Dallas window replacement, too. Learn more about ZINTEX window replacement services to decide if we might be the right fit for you.
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