All homes lose heat through their windows. So, if you want to keep your home warmer, reduce your energy bills, get rid of annoying draughts and be kinder to the environment, fitting new windows should be high on your list of priorities.

New windows can help you save a considerable sum on your home energy bills and also significantly reduce the harmful carbon emissions from your home. Both you and the environment are better off.

Fit New Windows That Heat Your Home

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1. Anglian EcoGain Windows – Advanced technology that helps heat your home.  
At least 25% off and up to £2000 trade-in when your old windows are recycled.  
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Benefits of installing new windows

There are many benefits to installing new windows in your home. These include:

• Lower energy bills – Energy efficient windows keep your home warmer and so reduce your need for heating. And, less heating means lower energy bills
• A more comfortable home – New windows mean that you lose less heat through your windows, reducing draughts and cold areas
• A quieter home – Energy efficient windows can help keep the warmth in your home as well as keeping out noise from outside
• Less condensation – New windows can reduce the condensation build up on the inside of your windows
• A lower carbon footprint – By using less heating and less fuel there will be less harmful carbon emissions from your home

Choosing the best windows for you

Double or triple glazed windows use multiple sheets of glass with a gap between them. This creates an insulating barrier, resulting in a high level of energy efficiency. New windows come in various frames and styles and so you should make sure you get the right windows for your home.

Window Types

There are several different types of new windows and one of your main choices is how many layers of glass you have in your windows. Double glazing has two layers with a gap of around 1.6cm between them. Triple glazing has three layers of glass.

Low emissivity (Low-E) glass is the most energy efficient glass for new windows. This type of glass often has a metal oxide coating which lets sunlight and heat in but reduced the amount of heat that can escape.

Window Frames

New windows come in a variety of frames and styles and the ones you choose will depend on your personal taste and what suits your home.
uPVC windows are the most common type of windows as they have a long life and can be recycled, as do aluminium and steel framed windows.

Wooden frames are better for the environment but they require a greater level of maintenance. They are often used in conservation areas where properties had timber windows originally.

Composite frames combine inner timber frames with a plastic or aluminium coating. This reduces the need for maintenance and keeps the frame weatherproof.

Window Energy Efficiency

Many new windows now have an energy efficiency rating which allows you to compare one window against another. The higher the energy rating, the more energy efficient the window is.

A-rated windows are the most energy efficient and the Energy Saving Trust recommends any windows that are rated B or above. An energy label on the windows should help you understand the window’s energy efficiency rating.

Very efficient windows might use gases like argon, xenon or krypton in the gap between the two or three sheets of glass. In addition, the very efficient windows have ‘pane spacers’ – set around the inside edges to keep the panes of glass apart – that contain little or no metal. These are often called ‘warm edge spacers’.

Windows that Help to Heat Your Home

As window technology has developed, it is now possible to find new windows that not only reduce draughts and help keep heat inside your home but also help to heat your home.

This has the effect of helping you to reduce your energy usage even further, resulting in even greater savings on your fuel bills.

Windows such as Anglian’s A-rated EcoGain casement windows have been developed to help make your home even more energy efficient. These windows let in more sunlight and heat than standard windows, meaning this actually outweighs the heat that is lost through the window from inside to out.

These new windows therefore actually help contribute to heating your home.

Getting your windows installed

Once you have decided to replace some or all of your windows, you then have a choice of who to employ to fit your new windows for you. There are lots of companies in the UK that can supply and fit new windows and so it’s important that you find the right installer for you.

When you are considering about new windows, you need to make sure your windows are installed correctly and that they comply with all the relevant regulations.

Professional installers

Most people use a professional installer to fit their new windows for them. This is because building regulations in England and Wales require new and replacement windows to meet certain energy efficiency requirements.

In addition, if you live in a conservation area then further restrictions or regulations are likely to apply. For example, you may have to apply for planning permission before replacing any windows.

Professional installers should be registered with a ‘competent persons’ scheme. Competent Persons schemes in England and Wales are the Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme (FENSA), the British Standards Institution (BSI) or Certass Glazing Scheme.

FENSA guarantees that its installers and frames comply with building regulations whilst Certass is another scheme that registers and approves installers.

Your installer should provide you with a certificate when installation of your new windows is complete. This demonstrates that the installation has been completed in compliance with building regulations.

There are many registered and approved window installers in the UK. Many people like to use well known national firms such as Anglian as they have an excellent reputation, leading energy efficient products and you have the guaranteed protection of a well known brand if things were to go wrong.

Alternatively, you may want to consider a local supplier or installer. These may have expertise in your local area but may not have access to the best products or the same consumer protection.

DIY

It is possible for you to source new windows and to install them yourself. However, this is a specialist job and should ideally be undertaken by a professional.
If you do plan to install your new windows yourself, you must apply for building control approval before installing the windows.

Insider Buying Advice

Typical Costs

The typical costs of installing new windows will vary significantly from property to property. The cost will be dependent on the size of your home, number of windows, the material and type of windows you choose and the installer.

The Daily Telegraph has reported that ‘for an average three-bedroom house, upgrading single glazing to the latest high performance double glazing (low-emissivity glass, gas-filled sealed units with warm-edge spacers) will cost £2,500 to £3,000’.

The average cost per window is around £300-500, again depending on the type and size of window and the installer.

Calculating Your Return On Investment

The costs and savings of new windows will vary. Your savings will depend on the size of your home, your choice of new windows and the installer.

The Energy Saving Trust estimate that if you own a gas heated, three bedroom semi-detached home and you upgrade from single glazed to double glazed windows (energy rating B or above) you should save around £135 per year on your heating bills.

Anglian estimate that if you replace the single glazed aluminium windows in your gas heated, three bedroom semi-detached home with their A-rated EcoGain windows you should save £238.95 a year on your heating bills.

In addition, by using less energy you’ll also reduce your carbon emissions as well as reducing your heating bills. Using the example above, the Energy Saving Trust estimates that by replacing your windows you will reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by 680kg every year. Over ten years this is equivalent to a Mini driving around 40,625 miles – almost twice around the world.

Ongoing Running Costs and Maintenance

One of the main advantages of installing new windows is that they generally have a long life. If you install windows with an excellent energy rating you can benefit from reduced energy bills and reduced carbon emissions for 20 years or more.

Occasionally, your windows may need some maintenance if, for example, the seal within the double or triple glazed unit fails. This will lead to a build up of condensation between the panes. However, this can often be fixed by simply replacing the glass without replacing the frames.

You may also have to undertake maintenance if you choose wooden framed windows which need to be regularly treated and painted.

As with installation, windows should only be replaced by registered installers or window specialists.