Windows, how to tell if they need replacing?
Our house is 13 years old and looks to have vinyl windows. I can't tell if they are double pane or not. How do you tell? Anyways, you get cold just by standing next to the windows. The inside of the glass if very cold to the touch. The caulking on the inside is good, outside not so good, but I don't think it could cause this much cold air. I am in KY, so it is cold here this time of year. Our electric bill is through the roof during these cold months. So my question really is, how can I tell for sure that I need to replace my windows? Are there tests you can do? I know if I bring a window company in, they are for sure going to say, yeah replace them, so before I get to that point, I want to make sure first. Thanks Joe
Whether you get a subcontractor for a Home Depot install depends on what you're having installed. Doors (including garage doors) are subcontracted. Windows and fencing are installed by Home Depot-owned companies. HVAC is subcontracted, but I would definitely not worry about that, because you have to be good to get a Trane medallion in the first place. Not sure about kitchen stuff. The policy for dealing with substandard work varies from store manager to store manager, but my store manager has no qualms about firing subcontractors for doing bad work. We got rid of four of them in 2003. The ones we have now are very good. -- --jmowreader