What is a Double Hung Window?

When renovating a home or building a new one, it’s important to know all your window options. Double hung windows are one of the most popular types of windows on the market. If you’re interested in adding double hung windows to your home, check out the following tips before you buy.

8 Tips for Buying Double Hung Windows

Set a Budget
Consider Window Material
Think About Energy Efficiency
Look at the Tilt-In Feature
Prioritize Safety
Full vs Partial Sash Opening
Choose Colors and Finishes
Find a Reliable Installer

These tips will help you choose the right double hung windows by ensuring you know what to look for before you buy. But first, let’s break down what a double hung window is.

A double hung window is just one of the many different types of windows on the market. It is an operable window that opens by sliding up and down. However, what makes a double hung window unique is that both the upper and lower sashes can open. Window sashes are the parts of a window that can open by either sliding vertically or opening out via a hand crank (like with a casement window).

With a double hung window, you can have both window sashes opened at the same time or just one. This option allows for increased ventilation and is one of the top reasons homeowners choose double hung windows for their homes.

8 Tips for Buying Double Hung Windows for Your Home

Keep these points in mind when shopping for double hung windows to choose the best option for your home.

1. Set a Budget

Your budget is one of the first things to decide before buying a double hung window. This is important whether you’re buying one window or several.

A single double hung window will cost anywhere from $200 to $1000 or more depending on the manufacturer and material. In general, vinyl is the most affordable window material, followed by fiberglass. Wood and aluminum are the most expensive window material options.

However, pricing will largely depend on the manufacturer—in some instances, even more than the material does. Given this, you’ll want to research the different window manufacturers and your local hardware store window options.

In most cases, a higher-quality window will be more expensive, but it will also offer higher insulation performance and durability. As such, it will probably last longer than its cheaper counterparts. These are just a few things to keep in mind when deciding on your budget.

One last thing to consider with your budget is the price of professional installation. You can do it yourself if you feel confident, but for the best results, you’ll probably want to hire a professional to install your new windows.

2. Consider Window Materials

There are four common window materials: vinyl, fiberglass, wood, and aluminum. The material you choose depends on your budget, the look you’re after, and how durable you want the material to be.

Vinyl windows are one of the most popular options because they’re affordable while still offering insulation and low maintenance requirements. While a vinyl exterior is more affordable than the other options, it isn’t as durable or elegant-looking as wood or aluminum.

Fiberglass is the next best option for double hung window frames. It is more expensive than vinyl but offers more strength, insulation, and weather resistance. Wood is often a preferred choice for its beauty and traditional aesthetic. A wood window is highly durable and a quality insulator. However, wood also requires more maintenance than other materials, and is more prone to moisture damage.

Aluminum is lightweight and has a sleek, contemporary look while offering durability, strength, and good thermal performance. However, if not treated properly and maintained, it can start to rust. Aluminum metal windows are not suitable for climates by the sea or with high humidity.

3. Think About Energy Efficiency

As a homeowner, you want your home to have a high thermal performance. The more energy-efficient a home is, the less you have to pay in energy bills each month (and the more comfortable your home will be). As such, you want to consider the energy efficiency of your new or replacement windows.

There are a couple of ways to increase your double hung window’s thermal performance: double or triple window glazing and low e glass coatings. Most, if not all, windows on the market will be double-glazed, which is another way of saying double-paned.

The purpose of double glazing is to increase a window's insulation and energy efficiency. Windows with two or more glass panes are described as an insulated glass unit (IGU). The glass panes are separated by a spacer, which is filled with a still layer of either gas or air.

The air space between the glass panes is fully sealed, and the use of gas in the area increases the window’s insulation performance. Argon, xenon, or krypton are the most common types of gases used for double-glazed windows. Double glazing can come with just air between the panes, but the absence of gas dramatically decreases the window’s insulating abilities, thus reducing the window's overall energy efficiency.

Considering this, you’ll want to look for double-paned windows with gas rather than air. By adding one more layer of glass with triple glazing, your window becomes that much more energy efficient. However, it will also be more expensive to have a triple-paned window.

Another way to increase your window’s thermal performance is by opting for a low e glass coating. Low e glass, short for low emissivity glass, is a special coating applied to the glass to minimize the amount of infrared and ultraviolet light that comes through. It does this without minimizing the amount of natural light coming into the space.

As a transparent coating, it reflects heat away from the glass, stabilizing internal temperatures by keeping the home warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

If energy efficiency is a main concern for your double hung replacement windows, look for double or triple-paned glass options that come with a low e glass coating.

4. Look at the Tilt-in Feature

New double hung windows have a special feature that allows for easy cleaning: tilt-in window sashes. With this optional feature, both the top and bottom double hung window sashes can tilt down into the home. This allows for easy access to the exterior window glass to clean it. All you need to do is unlatch the tilt latches from the frame and tilt it down. You can also remove the glass panel this way.

The tilt-in feature works best for windows above the first floor. It allows both panels to be removed, making the frame lighter and easier to install on upper floors.

While the tilt-in feature is convenient because you can clean your windows from the inside, it does have a few disadvantages. Many customers complain that the tilt-in feature isn’t as easy to maneuver as manufacturers promote it to be. They also say it’s a two-person job: one person to hold the panel (so it doesn’t fall) while the other one cleans.

Given this, if your double hung window replacement is on the first floor, the tilt-in feature might not be necessary. It’s windows on the second floors and higher that truly benefit from this unique feature.

5. Prioritize Safety

To keep your home and family safe, you’ll want to make sure your new or double hung replacement windows have quality locks and latches. There are a few different locks to consider, including general window locks, sash locks, and ventilation locks.

General window locks allow you to lock the window into place so intruders can’t open the window. Most, if not all, double hung windows come with this feature already in place. However, you can upgrade your window lock to one that is more heavy-duty—such as one that requires a key to unlock. This would be beneficial if you have kids or if security is a high concern.

A sash lock secures the upper sash and lower sash in place. This not only increases your window’s safety, but also helps prevent drafts.

A ventilation lock allows you to lock your opened window sash. If you only want it slightly opened, you can lock the sash so that it can’t be opened more. This feature is useful if you want to leave the house but don’t want to close the windows.

6. Full vs Partial Sash Opening

If you’re considering a double hung window, it’s important to understand the benefits of the double ventilation option. The main benefit of having a double hung window is that it increases your home’s airflow.

Opening both the top and bottom sashes lets warm air escape while cooler air flows in, creating a comfortable breeze. Alternatively, you can open just one sash. Using the upper sash is safer for homes with kids or pets, as they can’t reach the bottom screen. It also adds an extra layer of safety to the window.

These double hung window features let you control how much you open the window and whether to open the top or bottom. For those who live in a temperate climate and prefer to have their windows open, the double hung window is a premium option to consider.

7. Choose Colors and Finishes

Before you buy a double hung window, you need to figure out what you want your frame color to be. If it’s a replacement window, you’ll want it to match the other window frames on the interior and exterior of the home.

However, if you’re buying windows for a new construction, you have full control over what you want your window to look like. Most manufacturers will allow you to choose what color you want for the frame. However, if you want a custom color, grille pattern, or decorative glass, you’ll need to order a custom double hung window.

There are several different types of glass to choose from, including regular annealed glass, tempered glass, laminated glass, and even obscure glass.

8. Work with a Reliable Installer

The last thing you’ll need to consider before you buy a double hung window is whether you’ll hire a professional window installer. If you buy your double hung window from a local window shop, they might install it for you. Otherwise, you’ll need to research window installers in your area.

It’s possible to install the window yourself, but there’s a lot of room for error when installing a new window. If installed incorrectly, there’s a high chance of draft or poor structural integrity. These issues can turn into bigger problems down the road that could cost you more in the long run.

When you work with a reliable window installer, you significantly reduce the chances of improper installation. The result is an energy-efficient and