Tips for Finding a Discount Window Replacement

Discount Window Replacement: Finding New Windows at a Great Price

Another way to save some money on new windows is by looking for discounts. Windows are a highly saturated market. There are dozens of window manufacturers, and like auto dealerships or clothing stores, windows have to be sold--manufacturers can't afford to have thousands of windows sitting forever on warehouse shelves. Many companies specialize in offering wholesale discounts on new windows. How can they offer better pricing than a local door and window shop or home improvement store? It's because these companies specialize in purchasing overstocked and overbuilt window designs that manufacturers need to get rid of. They are good-quality windows, but they are basically clearance items.

Another way to find new windows at discounted prices is to shop online. If window manufacturing is a saturated market, it's tame compared to the number of online store fronts available to purchase discounted windows. A simple search for discounted windows turns up hundreds of different company Web sites that offer shipment of new windows to your house.

Finding discounted windows, or getting a federal tax credit of up to $1,500, can defer some of the expense of buying new windows. Energy efficient windows that qualify for the tax credit can cost more than other window types because of the way they are built. But, while purchasing highly efficient windows can be more costly, they also can save you more money on energy costs.

Installing Replacement Windows

Unless you are a fully tooled craftsman familiar with carpentry and waterproofing requirements, it's best to hire a window contractor to install your new replacement windows. Like windows, all window contractors aren't created equal, so it's important to hire a window contractor that you trust--one that is going to be in business for years in case warranty problems arise.

If you are tired of looking at the drab windows in your home--and tired, too, of money going out the window through poor energy efficiency--you can get a significant tax credit by replacing outdated windows with Energy Star-rated new windows. The federal government is offering a tax credit of up to 30 percent or $1,500, excluding window installation, for energy-efficient replacement windows. The tax credit expires at the end of 2010.