Installing Energy Efficient Windows

If you are tired of having drafty windows, high energy bills, and a cold sleepless night you may want to consider replacing your windows. While you can always go out and purchase some random window, installing energy efficient windows is going to be your best possible bet. Not only will it help you to save money on your monthly energy bill, you can also potentially receive a tax rebate for being more energy conscious.

While you can always hire someone to do the work for you, it is possible to do the work yourself. Keep in mind that installing a single window can take you between four to six hours, so this can be a great project for you to tackle over the course of a couple of weekends. Another thing to keep in mind is that the instructions here for installing energy efficient windows assumes that you have already purchased your new windows, and that you have removed your old windows.

1. Adjust the opening if needed. Once you have removed the old window and the old window frame, you need to double check the measurements. Check to make sure that the new window frame and window will fit within the opening. If not, you will need to make adjustments so that it will fit snugly. You want to keep the opening as close to the window measurements as possible. With that being said, you will want to have a gap of about 1/4 inch between all sides of the window and the opening.
2. Align the window. Windows should always be installed from the outside in. This means that you need to push the window into the opening, and hold it there until the flashing is flush to the wall all the way around the window. Once the flashing is flush to the wall, have another person go inside while the one outside holds the window in place. This person needs to check and make sure that the window is plumb and level all the way around, and use shims if necessary to make it that way.
3. Add the flashing. With the window properly aligned it is now time to secure, or "add," the flashing around the outside of the window. Typically this is done by nailing the flashing to the walls. As the flashing is being secured, have the person inside periodically double check to make sure that the window is plumb and level. After the flashing is secured, secure the shims in place. If necessary this can be done by nailing the shims in place with a trim nail, or gluing the shims into place with wood glue.
4. Secure and finish. Finish securing the window into place by nailing the window into place from the outside, and then trimming down any excess wood on the shims. Pack the open spaces with insulation, preferably fiberglass, to ensure that there are no drafts, and then finish the walls as you normally would.