When home improvement means replacing your windows

According to the Nation's Building News, window replacement was the most popular energy-related remodeling project during the last quarter of 2006. Why are so many people replacing their windows?

They've probably noticed one of the telltale signs that it's time to replace those worn-out windows. Here's what to look for.

Balmy or Brisk Spots Point to a Remodel

On a hot or particularly chilly day, check around the inside of your window for places of greater warmth or coolness. If you find any, your windows aren't insulating your home properly. To check for drafts, hold a lighted candle up to the window. Flickering means that drafts are getting through.

Peeling Paint Reveals New Windows Needed

Moisture may be travelling through badly sealed windows and then making its way back outside. This destructive process can cause paint to peel. Give the window frame a tap with the flat-blade of a screwdriver. If the end sinks easily into the wood, you've probably got some rot. You'll likely need to remodel with new windows.

Noise or Drafts Say Home Improvement Required

If you have an older home with the original windows, chances are you have windows with single-pane glass. These relics provide inadequate protection against the cold and against noise. A good many people remodel and replace the old windows. You can get double-pane windows to match the look of your home.

Frost and Ice Clearly Spell an Overhaul

Insufficient insulation via your windows permits a rapid transition from hot to cold air, and condensation may form on the windows as a result. Open and close your windows to check how smoothly each operates. If you need to prop open any windows, or if they're stuck shut, it's time for home improvement with replacement windows.

Sometimes, for whatever reason, a larger home improvement project like window replacement isn't in the cards. To take the first step toward efficiency with a small home improvement, try weather-stripping.