Best Energy Efficient Windows for Minnesota

Are you looking for the best energy efficient windows? Bosteter Windows & Siding has a reputation for quality craftsmanship and professional installation. Some have referred to us as the best energy efficient window installation company in Minnesota. We offer many options and styles for your window needs. Please contact us to discuss how we can help you with your window replacement project.

Pro Via Windows

Energy efficient Pro Via Windows utilizes the best energy-efficient window technologies and the highest quality materials to be at the forefront of industry energy efficiency and health trends.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Windows

What do I want in a replacement window?

This is a question for YOU to answer for yourself. Window replacement is a big investment, and one you’ll live with day in and day out for as long as you own your home. Think about the importance of appearance, performance, and durability before you choose.

Why should I be concerned about windows?

Windows can be responsible for unnecessary heat loss, high-energy consumption and cold drafts and can be the reason for condensation problems within homes. Windows and the area around them are the biggest single area of heat loss in the home.

What are the benefits of an energy efficient window?

Energy efficient windows increase the comfort level in your home by reducing cold drafts and making a house feel warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. They help control condensation because the interior surfaces of energy-efficient windows stay warmer, allowing you to maintain a higher level of humidity without worrying about condensation on your windows. They also last longer because condensation can cause premature deterioration of windows, walls and finishes leading to high maintenance and replacement costs. Most importantly, energy efficient windows save a lot of money. By minimizing air leakage and improving thermal performance of your windows, you could reduce heat loss through windows by up to 50 per cent and reduce your energy bills.

Why should I buy custom replacement windows?

Custom replacement windows give you the perfect fit. Stock windows are available only in standard sizes. When your window opening is larger than a standard size, you’re left with an opening around the perimeter of the window. This opening is often filled with sheet rock or molding and you are left with extra all space to patch and paint. Custom replacement windows allow you to maximize your viewing area without jeopardizing the visual esthetics of your home.

What is a replacement window?

A replacement window is a window that’s custom built to fit within the opening of an existing window. It’s built to fit precisely and can be installed without disturbing the interior and exterior areas around the window.

How can I tell if I need new windows?

Here are some sure signs that your old windows need to be replaced:

• Difficult to open or close
• Drafty, with air leaking through or around the window
• Excessive condensation or icing on the inside of the window panes
• Windows rattle in the wind
• Paint chipping or peeling
• House is always too cold in winter – or too hot in summer

Do I need a professional to install my custom windows?

It is strongly recommended that you have a professional install your custom windows. It is critical that the measurements of your windows be exact. Otherwise the new windows will not fit. A professional installer will also have the necessary tools to do the job correctly.

How will vinyl siding affect my home's air quality?

Surprisingly, vinyl can actually make indoor air quality better over the long run. How? With its smooth easy-to-clean surface, allergy-causing materials such as dust and pet fur don’t get a chance to become ground in. Plus the surface resists build-up from common household pollutants. Hospitals and other healthcare institutions often choose uPVC or vinyl for flooring, wall covering and upholstery fabrics for these exact reasons.

Why can't I get general pricing on the installation of new replacement windows for my home?

Because each home is unique, the price quoted by the window dealers varies widely from home to home.

We will make the proper product recommendations and help you choose which products are best for your home. We estimate your job and then give you one price. We do not insult your intelligence by giving “additional discounts if you sign today.” Too many home improvement companies operate on the theory of – get what the traffic will bear, but keep dropping the price until the customer signs the contract. We know what the job will cost and we are in business to make a living, so the price we quote you includes labor, material and a profit for our company.

How competitive are your prices REALLY?

Some companies may be offering a seemingly low price, but remember the lowest price is not always the best value for money. A good price is one where you are receiving quality products, expert installation and a strong Guarantee. At Bosteter Windows & Siding, we decided a long time ago that we would much rather explain price than have to make excuses about quality.

Will replacing my old windows really cut down on my heating bills?

Yes! Windows are one of the most important aspects of regulating home temperatures. Most windows in older homes were designed when energy was cheap and new energy efficient materials were unknown. Today’s newer energy efficient windows are designed with overall thermal efficiency in mind; keeping the heat in and the cold out. Typically, an older home can lose up to 50 percent of its energy heat through leaky, drafty windows and doors.

Are new windows a bad investment if I plan on selling my home?

No! In fact, not only will new windows make your home more energy efficient and visually appealing, but they should increase the overall value of your home.

Why change to vinyl windows instead of aluminum or wood?

Vinyl withstands assaults from moisture, heat, cold, humidity, salt, pollutants and acid rain; assaults that can and do affect wood and metal. Vinyl windows and patio doors never flake, blister, stick, rot, rust, peel or corrode. Vinyl’s color is integral throughout the material, so scratches go virtually unnoticed. You never have to paint, strip and sand or lubricate vinyl windows or patio doors. Vinyl is truly the most durable, lowest maintenance window and patio door material available.

What is the difference between Retrofit and Full Replacement?

Retrofit means leaving the original (old) window frames in and installing the new vinyl frames within the existing. Full replacement means removing the existing (old) window frames.

What is condensation and what can I do about it?

Condensation occurs when humid air comes in contact with a surface that is cooler than the air itself. In winter, when your high-quality vinyl windows are efficiently keeping cold air out and warm moist air in, condensation may appear as fog or moisture on the glass. Condensation does not indicate a problem with your windows; quite the contrary. It means you’re holding in warm air like never before. But you’re holding in humidity, too. That’s the problem.

Why are windows usually the first place condensation is noticed in a home?

Windows typically are the coldest objects in the house in wintertime. Room side condensation is caused by excess humidity in your home.

My old home had old windows and I never had condensation. Why is it present in my new home or remodeled room?

Windows themselves do not cause condensation, but they are an indicator that humidity levels are too high. Keep in mind that new homes release moisture from new construction materials through several heating and cooling seasons. Newer, “tighter” homes trap humid air inside; older drafty homes allow exchange of drier outside air with inside more humid air.

How can I control condensation?

Condensation is best controlled by controlling the source of humidity and by ventilating your home. Common sources of humidity are gas burners and clothes dryers. Make sure these are vented to the outside of your house. Sometimes with new windows, condensation occurs which wasn’t occurring before replacing the windows. This is because properly installed dual pane windows seal air leaks that may have been present before the installation; thus air is no longer leaking through or around the windows. Replacing the windows has now reduced a source of ventilation. If you have a lot of humidity within your home, you may find cracking open your windows helps reduce the condensation.

What about condensation between the panes of glass?

Moisture between the panes of glass is an indication that the seal around the windowpanes has failed. This is an unlikely occurrence; however, if it does happen, most window manufacturers will replace the sealed glass unit.

What is Low-E Glass?

Low Emissive or “Low-E” glass has a special thin-film metallic or oxide coating on its interior surface, which allows the passage of short-wave solar energy (light) but prevents the passage of long-wave energy (heat) from the sun or heating systems through the glass. Low-E glass thus allows light to enter while also providing thermal insulation. This type of glass cuts the loss of heat during the winter and cuts the absorption of heat during the summer by reflecting the heat back to its source, thus providing year-round savings by lowering utility bills. Low-E glass also selectively filters the sun’s energy, blocking up to 84% of the sun’s ultraviolet rays in the summer, thereby reducing the degree of fading of upholstery, carpet and drapes. Low E also reduces heating costs reflecting room side heat back into the room resulting in a lower winter U-value.

What is argon gas and why is it used with Low-E glass?

Argon is a safe, odorless, colorless, non-toxic, non-flammable inert gas that is commonly used in place of air between the glass panes of an insulated Low-E glass unit. Argon’s heat conductivity is lower than that of air, and thus it is a better insulator and contributes to a lower U-factor. Argon is not an effective solar performer by itself; that is why it is only used in conjunction with Low-E glass.

What is U-value and how does it relate to R-value rating?

R-value and U-value are reciprocal to one another. The term U-value is measured by the amount of heat that escapes a surface-a wall, ceiling, or window. R-Value is measured by insulation value. How many glass layers there are in a window to the type of gas that is between the panes of glass, are some of the basis of this measurement. The higher the R-value, the better insulated are walls and ceilings. The lower the U-value, the better job a window does in keeping out heat and cold.

How much will noise be reduced with new windows?

Typically, you will get a 30 – 40% noise reduction with a regular double paned window over a regular single paned window. Please note that new windows cannot reduce the noise completely, since there are many ways of sound entering your house; fireplaces, walls, doors, and vents all allow sound into your home.

Do you have references in my area?

Yes. We have many references available in Winona and the surrounding communities. All of the pictures on our website are of actual installations we have completed, unless otherwise noted. If you would like to see our work in person please contact us. If anything about windows has not been clearly explained to you before you make a choice, then perhaps you should take the time to find out more. The decision to purchase new windows is one that should not have to be repeated before the next 30 years, if your choice of product is right, and is a decision that should not be made without having all the necessary product and installation information.

Should you be in the market for window or door products in the near future, please give us a call or e-mail us, and we will be glad to discuss the options with you. We can answer all your questions about windows and glass performance.