Drafts, condensation and frost on the glass? Learn how your windows hold up in a Central Texas freeze and what to fix before winter hits Austin.

Central Texas is growing fast. New roads, new subdivisions and constant construction mean more noise, and windows are usually the weakest point in a home's sound barrier. The good news: the right windows can make a clear difference. How noise gets in Air gaps. Sound travels wherever air does. Worn weatherstripping and loose sashes let noise straight in. This is usually the biggest problem with older sliding and single-hung windows. Thin glass. Single-pane or thin double-pane

Central Texas hail can go from pea-sized to golf-ball-sized in minutes. When the storm passes, most homeowners check the roof and the car. Windows often get overlooked, even though hail damage there can lead to leaks, drafts and higher energy bills months later. Here is how to check your windows after a hailstorm and what to do next. Step 1: Stay safe first If glass is broken, keep kids and pets away from the area, wear gloves and shoes, and cover the opening with plastic she

When a room bakes every afternoon, most people blame the AC. Often the real problem is the windows. In a Texas summer, heat gets into a house through windows in three ways, and the best windows deal with all three. 1. Heat through the glass Sunlight carries heat straight through ordinary glass. The fix is Low-E glass: a microscopically thin coating that lets visible light through while reflecting much of the sun's heat. The number to look for on the window label is the Solar