Albany, New York Window Replacement
Last updated on 01/07/2022
Albany window replacement can provide you and your home with a series of benefits that you won't receive from other types of home improvement projects. Working with each window in your home gives you the ability to figure out exactly how to improve your overall home's value by making it more aesthetically pleasing. In fact, choosing to have a New York replacement windows installed in your home can end up being the rare type of improvement project that pays you back twice.
After performing an Albany window replacement project, you'll find that you're home's value is sure to climb. Potential home buyers appreciate the practicality of having new glass in a home, and they're sure to pay a little more for a home where they won't have to take on a replacement of the glass themselves. You'll have a reasonably good chance of receiving enough extra money on the resale of your home, thanks to Albany window replacement, potentially enough that the cost of the project might be negated.
On the other hand, you'll find that an Albany window replacement will also pay you back on a regular, monthly basis. In the summers, you'll find that you have to run your air conditioner a little bit less, as your home should be able to better maintain the cooler temperature. In the winters, the new glass can help your house stay warmer, which means your furnace won't have to work as hard as it did before the window replacement project.
Albany Installers
When you're looking for installers in this area of NY, you're sure to find a large number of options. Albany is the capital of the state of New York, and it has a population of about 100,000 people, which means that a large number of contractors are available who can help with your Albany window replacement project. The entire metro Albany area is closer to 850,000 in population, which means you also can draw installers and window replacement companies from this entire area of NY and still receive local service.
Albany has quite a large range of temperature extremes, which means that Albany window replacement will give your home extensive benefits. Temperatures average about 80 degrees for a high in the summer, although 100-degree days aren't uncommon here, so performing a window replacement can help your home stay cooler in the summer. Temperatures don't surpass the freezing mark often during December, January, and February in Albany, too, which means that older homes with older glass could experience some cold drafts. A New York replacement window can fix this problem.
Types of Window Glass
As you're considering installing new glass in this area of NY, be sure you've done a little bit of homework. Although you'll have no problem finding companies in Albany who can sell you new glass, you may find yourself buying products that you really don't need if you don't know exactly what all of the terminology means. A salesperson might try to talk you into a product that doesn't really fit your home or your budget, such as decorative window muntins that are not functional at all. Knowing exactly what you're buying is a smart way to tackle this type of project in New York.
One of the terms you're sure to encounter during your Albany window replacement is R value. This is a term a lot of manufacturers of new glass like to quote, as it's designed to provide a measurement of the energy efficiency of glass and frames. R value puts a number on the ability of the glass to resist the flow of heat from one side of the glass to the other. A type of glass that allows heat to easily flow through it is not something you'll want to install in your home, so pay attention to the R value.
Another term you'll hear about when it comes to purchasing new glass is the U factor. This attempts to measure the actual amount of heat that is lost from your home in the winter time through the glass during a one hour period. Obviously, with the new products you'll find with Albany window replacement, you will want the U factor to be as small as possible. If you're losing a lot of heat through the glass, you're wasting money through the additional use of your furnace, because of the poor energy efficiency of the glass.
For the best energy efficiency in your Albany window replacement products, you may want to pay particular attention to whether the glass is rated with an Energy Star label. These types of frames have been measured by the U.S. Department of Energy, and they meet certain criteria for achieving good energy efficiency. You can find information on Energy Star glass through the Internet, so don't rely completely on the claims of a salesperson regarding energy efficiency.
Albany, New York U-Factor and SHGC Ratings for Replacement Windows
When shopping for replacement windows in Albany, New York - located in Albany County - it is extremely important to purchase windows (and doors) with the correct u-factor and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) as rated by Energy Star.
Energy Star determines the u-factor and SHGC that will give you the most energy efficienct replacement windows, skylights, and doors based on your county's climate zone.
The climate zone assigned to your county takes into account how extreme the seasons are in your area. How warm and cold it gets in Albany determines how well your new windows will need to keep out the cold air and the hot sun.
Below, you will find a table with the climate zones and corresponding u-factor and SHGC ratings for Albany, New York and Albany's metro area counties including: Albany County NY, Rensselaer County NY, Saratoga County NY, Schenectady County NY, and Schoharie County NY.
The climate zone, u-factor and SHGC listed for your county in the Albany, NY area will help you to determine which replacement windows, skylights, and doors will maximize energy savings for your home.
To find the Energy Star recommended u-factor and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) for your county in the Albany metro area, simply do the following:
- Find your county in the left most column.
- Find your climate zone in the orange box to the right of the column with your county's name.
- Under the orange box with your climate zone, find the dark grey box with the product you are looking for - window replacements, new doors, or skylights.
- Under the product type, you will find the best u-factor and shgc as determined by Energy Star.
- When getting quotes from contractors, be sure that your window replacements, new skylights, and/or replacement doors have these ratings to maximize energy efficiency in your home.
| Counties | ||
|---|---|---|
| Albany County NY Rensselaer County NY Saratoga County NY Schenectady County NY Schoharie County NY |
Northern Climate Zone | |
| Windows | ||
| U-Factor | SHGC | |
| 0.30 or less | 0.00 or more | |
| 0.31 | 0.35 or more | |
| 0.32 | 0.40 or more | |
| Skylights | ||
| U-Factor | SHGC | |
| 0.50 or less | Any | |
| Solid Doors (No Glass) | ||
| U-Factor | SHGC | |
| 0.17 or less | No Rating | |
| Doors with Less than Half Glass | ||
| U-Factor | SHGC | |
| 0.25 or less | 0.25 or less | |
| Doors with More than Half Glass | ||
| U-Factor | SHGC | |
| 0.30 or less | 0.40 or less | |
If you don't see your home's county above, use the u-factor and solar heat gain co-efficient (SHGC) search tool below to search for your Albany, NY area county's recommended window efficiency ratings.
Use the table above or the tool below to search for the specific u-factor and SHGC for your county so that you are educated and have this information on hand in order to maximize the financial return on your investment in new windows, new skylights and/or new doors in the Albany, New York area.
Remember to research thoroughly prior to making a window replacement or replacement door purchase, regardless of whether you are installing the windows and doors yourself or having them installed by a licensed professional contractor.
Albany Window Suppliers
Below you will find a list of local window retailers, contractors, installers, and manufacturers in the Albany area.
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