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All About Windows Fed up with drafty windows, boring treatments and torn screens? From choosing the right replacement windows to installing a rip-proof screen to making it all look pretty, here's the 411 on windows. From "Today Show Tips" episode DTST-122

If you're remodeling, you can "gang" windows of different sizes and shapes to create one large window.

Replacement Windows

One of the most important factors in having energy-efficient home is windows that fit well and keep drafts out. If you want to make sure your windows are doing their job, you can do a candle test. Just hold a candle up to the window and see if the flame flickers at all. You may have to run it all around the window to see exactly where the draft is getting through. If there are a lot of drafts, you may want to think about replacing the windows. New high-performance windows could increase energy efficiency 70 percent over the old ones.

The best window in the world, though, is only as good as its installation. That’s why window manufacturers have started certifying installers. If a certified installer does the work and there’s a problem later, the homeowner can go back to the manufacturer to get it fixed.

When you start shopping for new windows, look for performance as well as appearance:

• Most windows today tilt in for easy cleaning. That makes a big difference in maintenance.
  

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  When choosing replacement windows, look at the label that states how energy efficient it is. A salesperson can explain the different numbers.

• Replacement windows come in a variety of materials: wood, composite, vinyl. Major window manufacturers now make replacement windows. You can get wood windows with aluminum cladding on the exterior, which means no maintenance. The interior, though, is wood.

• Window with triple glazing — three panes of glass — are the most energy-efficient kind. There is usually some kind of gas between the panes, such as argon or krypton, which helps with insulation.

• Good windows these days eliminate the need for storm windows. You probably will still want screens, but you won’t have to struggle with storms.

• Replacement windows come in frames that fit right into the existing openings. The windows are custom-made to your measurements, and the installers pop them in and drive four screws to hold the window in place.
  This is a window by Andersen, another great name.

• When you’re choosing windows, consider the overall design of your house. For example, double-hung windows are more traditional; if you have a modern house, you might want to go with a casement window.

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