Windows Replacement in Minnesota

What You Need to Know About Windows in Minnesota

Minnesota is one of the northernmost states, so it’s unsurprising that it experiences severely low temperatures in the winter, averaging below freezing for about four months of the year.1 With such extreme temperatures, most homeowners are keenly aware that their homes’ energy efficiency needs to be optimized for the continental climate. However, many people don’t realize that windows are the weakest point of the home’s envelope. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heat loss and gain through windows represent 25 to 30% of home energy used for heating and cooling.2

Replacing your windows with energy-efficient ones in Minnesota is therefore one of the best ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency. While the up-front cost is high — an average of around $700 per window — you also stand to save around $366 per year on your heating and cooling costs in Minnesota, according to Energy Star.3 At that rate, your new windows may well pay for themselves long before their estimated 20-year lifespan is up.

Of course, your total window replacement cost will vary, typically based on the factors below:

• How many windows do you need to be replaced
• The frame material you choose
• The glass type and number of insulating layers you need
• The brand of the window
• The company you hire to install your windows

You will tend to spend more but can improve energy efficiency more as well when you opt for full-frame window replacement. Alternatively, a pocket window replacement only addresses the materials inside your existing frames, so while the boost to energy efficiency isn’t as impressive, the up-front cost is lower. However, your window frames will need to be in good condition to do this type of replacement.

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