Replacing Wisconsin Windows with Cracks

A crack in a window can appear for many reasons. Regardless of how it starts, correcting the issue quickly is important. Delays in replacing the cracked pane can result in higher energy costs, increased risk in injury, and elevated security risk to the home.

A homeowner who searches the internet for temporary solutions to glass cracks may discover a wide variety of “answers” out there. One of those suggestions may involve using clear packing tape. While short-term solutions like that one can extend the life of the window, they actually do a disservice to the resident.

One significant risk of ignoring a crack in a window is the increased potential for injury. If the window is one that will be opened and closed, operating the window could expand the crack, even causing the glass to fall out and cause an injury. Also, since the window’s strength is compromised, injury could stem from a person leaning against the window.

A second concern related to window cracks is tied to the security of a home. A cracked window advertises a weak spot that may be targeted by would-be burglars looking for an easy entry into your home. If the problem window is visible from the street, even if it’s a second-story window, it could attract the attention of less-than-desirable people passing by—or even unscrupulous neighbors.

The biggest impact of neglecting a window crack is an ongoing threat that occurs day and night. It’s the continuous loss of heat during chilly Wisconsin winters and any other time when you’re trying to keep the house warm. The actual amount of energy loss will differ from home to home, but there are some variables that you should keep in mind. Problem windows that are older than 10 years, inadequately insulated and open-facing to receive the brunt of a cold wind can add to the expense of heating a home.

As you take a look at the windows in your home to assess what seem like minor issues, such as cracks, remember the coinciding safety, security and energy loss issues that accompany even a small glass fracture. Then remedy the problem with a call to Wisconsin’s replacement windows experts, AHT Windows. Our toll-free number is 877-578-0495, and you can learn more by visiting www.ahtwindows.com.

Get Better Than Vinyl in a Wisconsin Replacement Window

In the world of technology, it seems keeping up with the latest developments requires constant monitoring of the industry. As soon as a new product is on the market, as the joke goes, it becomes obsolete. It’s a lot to keep up with, if you’re trying to actually keep up. Developments in other industries are continuous as well, even if they tend to get overshadowed by the latest and greatest cell phone that has people standing in line for hours to buy. One of those developments you may have missed: composite windows.

As a homeowner, you’ve likely heard about the benefits of replacement windows. You know all about the need for better energy efficiency. You’re also keen on anything that offers low maintenance. You can get all that with vinyl windows so they have become a go-to product for many people in Wisconsin and across the U.S. But if you’ve never been introduced to THV Compozit Windows, you’re about to find out why many of your neighbors are happily relying on AHT Windows to install them.

Sure, switching from the old wood to vinyl was a wise move. But the THV Compozit Windows installed by AHT Windows actually insulate 214% better than hollow, rigid vinyl windows. That’s important throughout the four seasons, but especially during a winter in Green Bay, for example, when the average high temperatures remain below zero.

The rest of the benefits of THV Compozit Windows are impressive too. These windows won’t rot, chip or fade. They’ll hold a screw better than pine, and they’re made of sound-absorbent materials. That’s a blessing for anyone living on a busy street.

Thanks to an affordable, custom-made product that fits your home, you can be on the cutting edge of technology—without standing in line for it. Simply call AHT Windows for a free, in-home estimate for homeowners from Green Bay to Oshkosh to Madison. Our toll-free number is (877) 578-0495, and we can discuss your replacement door needs as well.

Our Super Team Gets Sundays Off

The two “best” teams in the NFL meet a few hundred miles away in Indy this weekend. Whether you’re rooting for Tom Brady and his Patriots or you favor Eli Manning and the Giants, it promises to be an action-packed evening of football. (If you’re reading this after February 5th, wasn’t that an incredible game/real snoozefest?) But we know an even more impressive team that satisfies every time and gets Sundays off. That’s the crew at AHT Windows!

During the week, Wisconsin’s best is taking care of our neighbors and our communities by installing quality windows, doors and gutters, and making homes more energy efficient and attractive. It’s more than a full-time job for us. It’s our life’s calling, professionally speaking. But when the time for work is over, our team member’s other interests come to life.

Those after-hours activities are just as colorful and dynamic as our day jobs. Fishing, hunting and boating pretty much sum up the primary passions of our sales staff. Yes, they love adventure, even the kind that comes with 18 holes.

We’ve got our share of people who love to cook, travel and escape to their cabins. You might even meet an AHT Windows employee who loves to restore old cars. If you meet one who mentions his love of billiards, don’t challenge him to a match.

Of course, we wouldn’t be the team we are without giving credit to Rolland Young, Sr., the man who set it all in motion back in 1967. That’s the same year as the first Super Bowl when the Packers stomped the Chiefs 35-10. While they were starting to create a lasting legacy on the field, we were creating one at homes around Wisconsin. And we’ll continue to do so week in and week out, even if we’ll be at home on Sunday just like the NFL’s actual best team.

A Home Trapped in Wisconsin’s Past

You may have held onto your grandmother’s armoire. You may have kept your parents’ dining room table. You may even have protected and preserved the vintage fixtures in your old family house. There’s something special about each one of these types of items, and seeing them regularly can stir up feelings of nostalgia. But feeling compelled to hold onto some things too long can lead to numerous issues.

Among the items that gets spared far too long are windows. You keep them clean. You may even paint them. During the holiday season, you decorate them. But regular, single-pane windows aren’t really the part of your home to get sentimental about. Yet many Wisconsin property owners haven’t made the choice to convert to replacement windows for better comfort, improved visual appeal and improved energy efficiency.

The benefits of replacement windows in an older home are numerous. Gone would be the days of feeling a chill as you walk by the window, or struggling to open and close your windows. You also wouldn’t miss seeing the glass covered in ice or fogging up. If your home was built before 2000 and still has its original windows, the time for replacement windows is now.

Even newer homes in Wisconsin can benefit from replacement windows. Not all new residential construction in the past decade contains energy efficient windows. If you’ve ever lived in an apartment complex, you may recall how easily cold winter air passed through the windows and doors. So the age of a home and its windows is not the primary concern. How well they are functioning is a better gauge.

In Madison, Green Bay, Oshkosh and beyond, more property owners are turning to AHT Windows. Start with a free, in-home estimate, and soon you’ll be enjoying the beauty, convenience and durability of our replacement windows. Plus, our 50-year warranty will have you thinking more about the future than the past as your kids will likely become grandparents before it runs out.

3 Easy Home Winterizing Tips

It’s time again, time to winterize your home and we have some ideas for you. Here are three helpful and easy tips for you to use this winter.

1. Pipes
Burst pipes are a nightmare but they are preventable. First, before freezing nights start, make sure that the water to your hose bibs is shut off inside your house and that the lines are drained of any excess water.
Second, look for other pipes that aren’t insulated – pipes that run through crawlspaces, basements or garages. Insulate them by wrapping them with pre-molded foam rubber sleeves or fiberglass insulation – available at hardware stores. Another way you can insulate your pipes is by wrapping them with heating tape.

2. Chimney
Annual chimney inspection is important, so have a professional inspect your fireplace before you start to regularly use it this winter. Also, one easy way to protect your chimney is by buying a protective cap for your chimney, it keeps out foreign objects, as well as rain, that can mix with the ash and eat away at the fireplace’s walls.

3. Air Ducts
Did you know that cleaning your air ducts can save you money? According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a home with central heating can lose up to 60% of its heated air before that air reaches the vents if ductwork is not well-connected and insulated, or if it must travel through unheated spaces. That is a HUGE amount of wasted money and energy.
You can often find ducts exposed in the attic, the basement and crawlspaces. Look for pipes are pinched, which impedes flow of heated air to the house, and fix gaps with a metal-backed tape. Ducts also should be vacuumed once every few years, to clean dust and dirt that can gather in them and cause respiratory and allergy problems.

Discover How to Be More Comfortable While Saving Money! We’d be happy to provide a free estimate. Just call us toll-free at (877) 578-0495, or click here to schedule a free, no-obligation in-home estimate.

How to Hire a Contractor

Here, at AHT Windows, we believe that an informed customer is a good customer, so it’s important that you learn about the contractor you are looking at hiring BEFORE you do any hiring. When doing your research be sure to ask for all appropriate licensing. For your own protection it’s very important that you do not hire an uninsured contractor for any of your home improvement projects.

When hiring a contractor or sub-contractor, make sure that each company carries public liability AND property damage insurance. Once you have confirmed their insurance, take the time to check with the insurance agency to verify that their policy is still effective and will be during the duration of your home improvement projects.

It’s also a good idea to check for customer references if you can.

Uninsured contractors are a danger to your financial affairs because they expose you to significant financial risk in the event of an employee injury or damage to company property. Though these contractors may present you with an opportunity to save money in the short term, the long term risk to which you are being exposed could cost you a fortune.

It is also important to remember to not accept a contractor’s license from a state or county other than the one in which you live.

AHT Windows is a licensed contractor in the State of Wisconsin, and we carry full liability and workers’ compensation insurance coverage for every job, so AHT Windows makes sure you are protected.

In addition we are fully certified by the manufacturers of the windows, doors, gutters and gutter protection systems that we install. Because we are certified all manufacturer warranties are valid and in full effect. Installation by a non-certified contractor may mean that the warranty is invalid.

We’d be happy to provide a free estimate. Just call us toll-free at (877) 578-0495, or click to schedule a free, no-obligation in-home estimate.

 

 

How Home Gutter Systems Protect Your Home

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gutter systems protect your home and the surrounding terrain from the damage rain, ice and snow can cause to your home’s siding and foundation by conducting away moisture from the structure. Without gutters, water and ice would erode away your siding, windows, lower roofs, foundation, landscaping — anything in the path of cascading water in all forms. This is why it is important to keep your gutters free and clear of all the loose leaves and debris that Fall bring that can backup your gutter system and cause water to overflow onto your home.

Here is a list of the gutter services that AHT Window’s provides:

  • Inspection
  • Adjustment
  • Repair
  • Replacement
  • Gutter Cover Systems
  • Downspouts

At AHT Windows you can count on us to install an efficient gutter system that will carry water safely away from your home. We are an experienced Wisconsin gutter contractor and we know a properly functioning gutter and downspout system is essential to keep your home safe from water entering your home and possibly causing flooding and structural damage.

There are two types of gutter systems. Gutters can be either exterior (hung outside the roof edge) or interior (built into the roof), and are usually made of galvanized steel, aluminum or copper. It is important that your gutters look proportional to your home. We make sure your gutters and downspouts are the right size, but that they also are able to accommodate the expected volume of water without filling up and overflowing.

Contact us today for any and all of your home gutter system needs.We promise you won’t be disappointed with our work.

We’d be happy to provide a free estimate for replacing your home’s gutter system. Just call us toll-free at (877) 578-0495, or click here to schedule a free, no-obligation in-home estimate.

 

Prepare Your Home For Fall

 

 

 

 

 

Autumn is on our heels and summer is coming to a close, so this is the perfect time to make sure your home is up to par for the harsh weather Wisconsin Falls can bring. At AHT Windows we want to help you avoid unnecessary damage that can happen to your home, so here are five tips to help you prepare for Fall.

Check Your Fireplace and Chimney

Check your fireplace before the colder months hit and for ash and grim that could clog up your chimney and get into your home. You may need to call a chimney sweep for an inspection. Also, make sure there is a cap or screen protecting your chimney to prevent birds or other objects from falling into the flue.

Trim Trees and Bushes

Trim back any trees or bushes that are next to your house. This will prevent branches and debris falling on your home in case of a storm.

Exterior Vents

Make sure all outside vents, filters and dampers are clear, clean and serviceable. You don’t want your exterior vents to be blocked and not allow any air flow that needs to escape your home.

Check Your Roof and Gutters

This will require you to get up on your roof and look for damaged, loose or missing shingles that may leak during storms. Also, make sure your gutters are clear of debris so they don’t get clogged and water gets into your home.

Change the filters in your home

Changing the filters in your home will keep your home heating and cooling systems running smoothly and efficiently.  Change your central air conditioning system filter regularly. If you have a window air conditioning unit, remove from the window or place a waterproof cover over it to prevent damage. Change stove vent filters, clothes dryers and room fans if applicable.  Clean air filters will keep your family healthier in the fall months.

If you find you need home repairs then contact us today. We’d be happy to provide a free estimate. Just call us toll-free at (877) 578-0495, or click here to schedule a free, no-obligation in-home estimate.

 

Bring the Outdoors Inside

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are you looking for a way to expand the look of a room and bring more light into your home? Our THV Compozit patio door is a great way to bring the outdoors inside. Not only do you get a beautiful addition to your home but an efficient one as well.

AHT Windows’ Wisconsin patio doors feature insulated, tempered safety glass, frame and sash joints that are fusion-welded for greater strength, and a weather-tight seal. All these features act as a thermal barrier which prevents both warm and cool air to enter or escape the home. This significantly cuts down on air conditioning and heating costs throughout the seasons because the sealed layer acts as an insulator. These features also keeps elements such as dust and sound pollution out of your home making it a more pleasant and comfortable environment.

Along with the benefits mentioned above, here is a list of our THV Patio Door Features:

  • Multi-point locking system with single lever operation keeps you and your family safe.
  • Continued performance with easy, smooth, trouble-free operation.
  • Triple KR1000 glass
  • Custom sizes available
  • Warm-edge insulated glass
  • Tempered Safety Glass in all lites
  • Multi-point locking system with single lever operation

So if you want to maximize energy savings and comfort then compliment your new windows with one of these great Wisconsin patio doors from AHT Windows!

We’d be happy to provide a free estimate. Just call us toll-free at (877) 578-0495, or click here to schedule a free, no-obligation in-home estimate.

 

THV Compozit Windows

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did you know that AHT Windows is the exclusive Wisconsin supplier of the THV Compozit replacement windows in our area?  So what makes THV Compozit windows the most innovative, energy efficient window available on the market today? Find out in today’s blog post.

Why Choose THV Compozit Windows?

According to the US Department of Energy, a typical family spends over $1,300 a year on home energy bills. A large portion of that energy is wasted because of poorly designed windows and doors. THV windows cut this home energy waste down and save you money!

 

It is the THV Compozit Window Systems’ superior construction which uses advanced technology and materials that give the windows their superior durability and saves energy.

Not only will THV windows reduce energy costs but they will also increase the comfort of your home. Special high performance gas filled, triplepane low-E glass will reduce heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer. The result?  Year round energy savings!

Thermal Properties

If you’re still not convinced that THV windows are the best windows money can buy here are even more reasons to install THV windows in your home.

  • Insulates 214% better than hollow rigid vinyl windows
  • Insulates 62% better than wood windows
  • Will not rot, chip or fade
  • Resists insects, molds, mildew and fungus
  • Surface hardness and screw holding power is superior to pine
  • Carries UL-VO-94 fire rating – The Best!
  • Passed salt-water exposure of 1,000 hours
  • Durable 3-1/4″ master frame and welded corners deliver years of strength and beauty
  • Low-E glass package virtually eliminates heat convection
  • Triple weather stripping and full depth interlock on sashes virtually eliminate drafts
  • Sound absorbent materials for peace and quiet
  • Tilt-in sashes allow for easy cleaning from inside your home. No ladders needed.
  • High security ventilation locks help protect your family and home.
  • Maintenance-free for years of value and enjoyment

To find out more about THV windows and the money they can save you contact us today for a FREE estimate! Just call us toll-free at (877) 578-0495, or click here to schedule a free, no-obligation in-home estimate.