Repair or Replace Your Windows? Here's the Honest Answer

You're standing in your living room, looking at that window that's been giving you grief. Maybe it's foggy between the panes. Maybe it won't stay open anymore. Maybe you're just tired of feeling that draft every time you walk by.

So here's the question: Do you need to replace it, or can you get away with a repair?

We've been doing windows in Wilson for three generations, and we'll give you the straight answer most people don't expect: repairs rarely make sense.

The One Time Window Repair Is Worth It

If your window has a failed seal and it's still under the manufacturer's warranty, get it repaired. That's the one scenario where repair is clearly the right call. It costs you nothing but the labor, and a warranty replacement restores your window's performance.

That's about where the repair argument ends.

Why Repairs Usually Disappoint

Here's what most people don't realize: a non-warranty seal repair (replacing the insulated glass unit) typically runs $300–$500 in parts and labor. A brand new replacement window from Kenco starts around $599. For $100–$300 more, you get new frames, new hardware, updated energy efficiency, and a fresh warranty. Paying 60–70% of replacement cost to keep your old frame makes almost no financial sense.

The same logic applies to most other repairs. Fixing hardware, caulk, weatherstripping, and paint can cost hundreds per window... and none of those repairs improve your energy efficiency, update your frames, or reset your warranty clock. You're spending money to maintain a window that's still old.

We at Kenco don't actually repair windows beyond glass unit and sash replacements because it's simply not a good investment for either party.

The Problems That Can't Be Repaired At All

Some window issues aren't even a repair vs. replace decision — replacement is the only option:

• Foggy glass — Failed seals can't be re-sealed. The moisture trapped between the panes isn't going away.

• Frame rot — Once wood rots, it spreads. Epoxy and paint are temporary at best.

• Cracked or broken panes in multi-pane windows — These are sealed units. There's no "just replace one pane."

• Single-pane windows — These are energy efficiency nightmares in North Carolina's climate. The question isn't repair vs. replace; it's when you're going to upgrade.

  
  

The Bigger Picture

Wooden and new construction windows 15-20+ years old are at the end of their useful life. Quality replacement windows usually last longer, but your'e still on borrowed time after 20 years. Repairing them one problem at a time is like putting new tires on a car with 200,000 miles: you're spending money without solving the real issue.

New energy-efficient windows can save you $200–$600 per year on energy bills, make your home more comfortable year-round, reduce outside noise, and add real resale value. Repairs deliver none of that. They just keep an aging window limping along a little longer.

Our Honest Take

We repair windows (glass and sashes) and we replace them... we make money either way.

But, when customers call us about a window problem, we almost always end up recommending replacement because the math almost always points that way.

If your windows are still under warranty, pursue that warranty claim. Otherwise, let's talk about replacement. You'll spend a little more upfront and get a lot more in return.

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Not sure where your windows stand? Give us a call or fill out our request form. We'll take a look and tell you straight.