Choosing the windows of your home is one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make. Windows can completely change the look of the house and they dictate how you’re going to live in it. Different windows open in different ways. Some are more energy-efficient than others, which affects how much you’ll pay on your utility bill.
They all have a huge impact on how your home looks, both inside and out. There’s a lot to consider. So when you’re choosing windows, don’t forget to consider hopper windows. This isn’t a choice that you hear about very often but it is one that you should know about when you’re exploring all the window options for your home.
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What are Hopper Windows?
Hopper windows are made with a hinge on the bottom or on the top of the window. When the window is opened, it comes toward you into the interior of the home. The design of the windows allows you to adjust how open the window is. You can merely crack it to provide ventilation or open it wide to get even more airflow in the room.
Just remember that hopper windows do open inward, which means you have to make sure the area in front of the windows is clear so there’s plenty of room for them to open. Test the placement of your furniture and make sure that your windows can open completely.
You don’t want to place a new item in your home and find out a week later that it has to be moved because it’s blocking the window. If your window can brush up against anything inside the house, it’s best to re-arrange whatever is in the way of the window. Otherwise, you risk damaging your window.
How to Open Hopper Windows
Hopper windows are very easy to work with. They have a latch either at the top or the bottom of the window, opposite the end of the window where the hinges are located. You simply use the latch to open the window and then pull it toward you. The more you pull, the more the window opens until it’s completely open. Some hopper windows can open until they’re almost horizontal.
When the windows are closed and latched, they have a very tight seal against wind and weather outside. This makes hopper windows extremely energy-efficient. The strong seal is great at keeping outside air outside and inside air inside. The energy efficiency helps keep your utility bills lower, which means that hopper windows will eventually pay for themselves in savings.
How to Clean Hopper Windows
Hopper windows are much easier to clean than many other styles of windows because they open inward, which makes it very easy to clean the outside of the window. You don’t have to go outside the house with all of your cleaning materials and clean the windows from there. This is a huge advantage of having hopper windows. Maintenance is a breeze with these windows, which is one reason why many people like them.
How to Repair Hopper Windows
A hopper window will cost you $250 to $750 per window with the installation. The price varies depending on the size of the window and the framing material you choose. Window frames are typically made from wood, aluminum, vinyl, or steel. The price is also dependent on the thickness and quality of the glass you choose.
Hopper windows are typically shaped like rectangles and may be made with a single pane of glass or multiple panes of glass inside a framework. If the glass on your window gets broken, you can possibly have just the pane replaced and not the entire window.
A History in the Basement
Hopper windows have been a part of architecture since the 1800s when they became popular in Victorian buildings. These windows were also known as transom hopper windows back then. They were used as both exterior and interior windows. Before central heating and central air existed, hopper windows were a good way to control the airflow inside the home.
Today, hopper windows are most commonly seen in basements, though they’re also popular for bathroom spaces. The unique way hopper windows open makes them perfect for providing ventilation in the bathroom. Hopper windows are also typically too small for a human body to climb through, which makes them an excellent choice for the basement because people can’t use them to enter your home.
What’s Wrong With Hopper Windows?
Hopper windows aren’t one of the most expensive options you can choose for your home. They’re easy to clean and easy to operate. They look sleek and modern, even though this design has been around for over 200 years. They’re extremely energy efficient and they’ll save you money on your utility bill. They aren’t easy to climb through, which deters thieves from entering your home. So what’s not to love about hopper windows?
Hopper windows don’t block the wind and rain when they’re open, like some other types of windows. They’re also usually sized to be wider than they are tall. Most hopper windows are either very difficult or impossible to crawl through. This can be a deterrent for thieves, but this can also become a trap if you’re stuck inside your home and need to escape.
Because of their somewhat unusual rectangular size, hopper windows are not easy to cover with standard window treatments. It’s not easy to find blinds or shades in the appropriate size, which can be a bit of a headache.
Choosing Your Windows
Choosing windows is a really big deal. This is a decision that’s going to completely make the look of your home. You’re going to end up living with your windows for a long time. They dictate how much you pay in your utility bills, sometimes even how you place the furniture inside your home.
They will change the look of your home inside and out. Choose windows based not just on your budget, but on how much light and air you want to have in your home. After you consider all your options and look at many different types of windows, you may decide that hopper windows are just perfect for you.
