May 31, 2007 -- You’re considering new windows, and you have lots of choices. From single, double, or triple pane to low-E reflective coatings; from wood, aluminum, vinyl, or vinyl clad construction to casement or bay windows, how do you know what's best for you? Are vinyl replacement windows really what your home needs?

The best way to avoid buyer's remorse is to consider long-term cost, ease of maintenance and aesthetics.

Count total cost
According to the government Energy Star website, which promotes energy efficiency among U.S. consumers and businesses, "Twenty years ago, double-paned meant energy efficient; today, advanced technologies have enabled the development of windows that are much more efficient than traditional clear-glass double-paned windows."

One energy-efficient window technology cuts the total cost of your windows using a triple-paned design with high-tech thermal spacers between each pane of glass. By keeping unwanted heat or cold from radiating in and costly cooling or heating from radiating out, the triple-paned design can reduce your homeowner utility bills by 40% or more. Offered by the Pennsylvania-based manufacturer Winchester Industries, its multiple Low-E layers on two of the three panes reflects more heat than the single Low-E layer on “so-called” energy-efficient, double-paned windows.

According to John Simon, who uses the energy-efficient windows in his 2,700-sq.-foot home against winters as cold as -15° F, the triple-paned windows have cut his family's heating and cooling bills in half. "We save approximately $2,500 a year in heating and cooling costs and are protected from spikes in energy cost.”

Choose ease of maintenance
Because windows are meant to be opened and must be cleaned, it’s wise to put ease of opening and cleaning high on your "must have" list before purchase. A unique slider design on some vinyl replacement windows, makes triple paned units such as Bristol's Swing N' Slide Windows capable of easily swinging in for cleaning, or sliding open and shut for ventilation. A 50-year transferable warranty on the windows' glass with a 3-year breakage clause, a written energy savings pledge, and a home security guaranty provides homeowners added comfort.

"The windows are guaranteed for as long as we'll need them," adds Sandy Clark, who uses the triple-paned windows in her Lima, Ohio ranch-style house. "And if we sell, the next owners would be covered under warranty. That's a real plus for resale value and gives us peace of mind."

Find your aesthetic match
When vinyl replacement windows are measured, ordered, and made to size, they can perfectly match your existing window openings and home decor, even to the point of providing continuous headers and sills for side-by-side windows.

Since factors such as home location, weather, layout, and intended use can all affect choosing the right vinyl windows, getting professional advice can be a good idea. A good installer, for instance, could help you decide when a bay window, which provides better light and view, would make sense over a window flush with the building line, such as a picture window. Or when a casement window, which cranks open a full 90-degrees outward can give a better, more unobstructed sightline.