Actually, no.  Condensation is moisture vapor suspended in the air, and that's something no one can guarantee to eliminate.  However, high-quality vinyl windows incorporating warm-edge technology glazing systems will help to reduce condensation because they're much less thermally conductive than other window types.  They can help keep the temperature of the window warmer—minimizing the hot and cold differences that turn moisture into condensation.

A true replacement window is a window that's custom built to fit within the opening of an existing window. It's built to fit precisely and can be installed without disturbing the interior and exterior areas around the window.

Because custom windows are made to fit perfectly, they provide the best energy efficiency and can be installed much more easily and with very little mess. Also, because of the myriad of options available that affect appearance and efficiency, custom windows allow consumers to get exactly the windows they need or want.

Standard windows typically cost less in the beginning, but other expenses and factors—like additional labor and the disruption to the home—far outweigh the original savings. For example, installing stock windows requires that you add brick or siding to the exterior, and drywall or other materials to the interior. In addition, custom-made windows allow you to choose the best solution to the problems you want to solve by replacing windows.

Here are some sure signs that your old windows may need to be replaced:

Windows rattle in the wind

Difficulty opening them

Drafty, with air leaking through or around the window

Excessive condensation or icing on the inside of the window panes

Paint chipping or peeling

House is always too cold in the winder or too hot in the summer

Drafts are caused by windows that are poorly sealed, inadequately insulated, or improperly installed. Even new replacement windows can be drafty if these areas are not addressed correctly. A quality contractor will address the insulation around the rough opening and properly insulate during installation. Good windows themselves are well insulated, and when closed and locked will effectively seal off outside air. Proper installation and the choice of window are both important, working hand in hand to effectively prevent drafts.

Window drafts can certainly be caused by the windows themselves simply being poorly built or no longer functioning properly. But even high end, energy efficient replacement window can be drafty if installation is not done with expert care. This is another reason why it is so important to locate a trustworthy, talented window contractor to do the replacement windows installation for you. Attention to detail is critical.

Sometimes properly installed windows seem drafty for other reasons. Convection is a process that can make it seem as though your windows are drafty. Convection occurs when air gives up its heat to the cooler window glass and then sinks toward the floor. This process sucks warmer air toward the glass pane that is cooled upon reaching the window. The result is a drafty feeling. But the different densities of warmer and cooler air are actually causing this process, not some problem with the window's performance. In a heated home, warm air circulates throughout, forcing some of the cold air around a window surface off of the glass. Convection is actually good news: it proves that new replacement windows are energy efficient, because that warm air is not escaping but merely "bouncing" off the window surface.

Energy efficient windows have a number of traits in common with one another. They are manufactured using quality frame materials that insulate well and prevent heat transfer. They have multiple panes with air or gas in the middle to insulate better. The most energy efficient replacement windows are those with argon or krypton between panes, gases which insulate better than air. They have low e glass to reflect infrared light and keep heat in the house during the winter. And energy efficient replacement windows have warm edge spacers to keep panes the correct distance apart. These spacers also insulate pane edges and reduce heat transfer.

Clear glass allows large amounts of radiant energy to pass through ~ heat in from the sun in summer, heat out from your house in winter. A low-E, or low emissivity, coating is a microscopically thin metallic film that acts something like a two-way mirror, reflecting heat back into the house in winter and blocking heat from the sun in summer. Which it does better depends on how the coating is applied. The windows can be fine-tuned for different climates, producing Southern or Northern windows, for example. Some coatings may darken the glass, like tinted glass in a car.

Low e or low emissivity glass allows visible light to pass through a window but blocks infrared and UV light. UV light does damage to skin and furniture and causes colors to fade in carpets, couches, and other household items. And infrared light is the part of sunlight that makes objects heat up. Blocking that heat keeps surfaces in your home cool and comfortable. Low e glass protects the members of your household and the things you own from this unwanted exposure. It also helps you save on heating costs. The same principle keeping infrared light out of your home bounces your home's heat back off of the window surfaces and keeps it from leaving the house. Low e glass is well worth the investment. Most of the heat loss in an average home comes through the windows.

Instead of air in the sealed space between glass panes, these windows use argon, krypton, or other inert gas. These gases are denser than air, so they provide better insulation.

Double-glazed windows have a sealed space between the two panes of glass, and the air in the space provides an added layer of insulation. Compared with a single pane, double glazing can cut heat loss nearly in half. The insulating value of triple-glazed windows is higher still, but the extra layer adds to weight and cost.

Check the window’s NFRC rating label. The NFRC (National Fenestration Rating Council) is an independent testing organization that rates the “U-Factor” for replacement windows. This is a measurement of the window’s ability to resist the transfer of heat and cold. U-Factor is the amount of heat transferred through a material. The lower the U-Factor, the slower the rate of heat flow, therefore the better the insulating quality.

The first thing to remember when cleaning your double hung windows (the type that go up and down) is to make sure you slide the bottom sash up a few inches. This will clear the bottom rail of the window and prevent damage to your windows. After you have raised the window, push in the latches on the top of the window sash and gently pull toward you. This will tilt the bottom sash of the window in. After you clean the bottom sash, leave it tilted in and pull the top sash down several inches from the top and again, push in the latches on the top of the window sash and pull toward you. This will allow you to clean the top sash inside and out. When you have finished cleaning it, just push it back until it clicks in place and slide the sash all the way back up to the top. Then proceed to do the same thing to the bottom sash. It’s as easy as that.

Most brands of windows can be easily put back into the frame without needing professional help.

Hold the window horizontally and lift one side of the window higher than the other and hook the retaining pin on the lower side into its receiver on the mechanism. Pull the window to lower the mechanism. Maneuver the window so that the opposite pin finds its receiver. Twist the window so that both mechanisms are even in their tracks and the window is flat. Raise the top of the window until the top retainers clip into place in the tracks. Raise the window to its proper position.

Yes, with the safety of our employees and our customers in mind, Rochester Colonial was one of the first Rochester based companies to become RRP (Renovation, Repair & Painting) certified.