Why You Should NEVER Buy Andersen Windows

If you’re considering buying Andersen Windows you’ll want to read this post. Here we’re outlining the reasons that everyone should avoid Andersen windows.

To be fair you’ll find that a window salesman will always tell you why you shouldn’t buy this brand or that brand so you’ll want to take this with a bit of a grain of salt. We’re playing devil’s advocate here a little bit, but these are the reasons a competing salesman will tell you to avoid Andersen windows.

Remember, if you think I’m wrong about something post a comment below.

Glamour shot of beautiful Andersen A-Series windows.

First, Andersen Windows are less efficient than a vinyl window.

Andersen used to make a lot of vinyl windows, but they sold that division a little while ago. Now, they make wood, composite and vinyl clad windows.

In their brochures and marketing materials you see a lot of talk about efficiency. When you compare the actual efficiency ratings you see they’re really not any better than most other options. In fact, many Andersen windows are less efficient than a good quality vinyl window.

Don’t believe me? You can see this in the efficiency ratings. Common U-Factors (a measure of overall efficiency) for nicer vinyl windows will fall in the range of 0.21 to 0.29. Lower is better when it comes to U-Factors and the lower end of that range would be for triple pane windows.

I reviewed ratings for many Andersen models and couldn’t find anything lower than 0.24 with most being in the 0.27+ range. That’s not bad performance, but it’s definitely not better than the efficiency you’ll achieve with many other options.

Next, the air infiltration rates are higher than other options.

Air infiltration is a big deal when it comes to new windows. It’s a major concern for many customers. All windows have an air infiltration rate which measures how much air should be able to pass through the window when it’s closed and locked during a constant wind.

Now, Andersen only publishes their air infiltration rates in ranges so it’s hard to say what the exact ratings are. For most models they advertise air infiltration under 0.20 which is not so great. Most nice vinyl windows will have air infiltration rates under 0.05. Lower is better when it comes to air infiltration so the 0.20 of the Andersen windows is pretty high.

The window business can be pretty competitive so I would assume they’d advertise lower ratings if they could. We’ve already identified areas where they seem to stretch in their marketing. For example, in the Andersen 100 Series they say you never need to paint the frames, but then only put a 10 year warranty on the finish.

To me that’s an indication that they’re happy to stretch in the marketing of these products, but then they still advertise the higher air infiltration numbers. That would indicate to me that they don’t really have a way to make these windows seal better. I don’t have any inside info on that and if you think I’m wrong post a comment below.

Finally, the Andersen Window warranty is questionable.

Andersen just recently made their warranties worse in a way people might not appreciate. It’s the kind of thing that’s not a big deal until it is a big deal.

Andersen windows warranty limitations and restrictions.  Watch out!
Here you can see the new section of the Andersen window warranty.

They added this section to all of their window warranties as far as I can tell. This is the sort of thing that doesn’t matter at all until it’s a big deal.

They’re basically saying if there is some systemic problem with the windows that they’re not covering under the warranty you’ve given up your rights to participate in a class action suit or to even have a jury trial. That’s not ideal.

The sneaky part is that you have 1 year to opt-out of this restriction. That’s 1 year from the date of purchase, not even from the date of install. So, if it takes 3 months for your windows to be delivered and installed you only have 9 months remaining to opt-out. Of course most people don’t have any serious problems in the first 9 months so you may not even actually read the warranty documentation until it’s too late.

There are other limitations to the warranty that you should also be aware of and we’ve reviewed the E-Series window warranty here.

Like anything, the Andersen window warranty isn’t all bad. In my mind it’s not a good thing that they’re trying to limit your rights to pursue a remedy to a problem with the windows.

What’s the bottom line?

Andersen has been in the window business for a long time producing a lot of windows. They make perfectly nice windows, but they’re certainly not perfect. You can often find a vinyl window that would be more efficient at a better price and with a better warranty.

That doesn’t necessarily mean you should never ever buy Andersen windows. It does mean that their name recognition isn’t a good enough reason to buy these windows without understanding the advantages and disadvantages. You may find projects from another manufacturer are a better fit for your window project.

Other Andersen window posts you might find helpful:

How can you find a great window company?

That part is easy.  Check this section for recommendations of window companies all over the country. There’s no better way to get new windows.

Other posts you might find interesting:

Why You Should NEVER Buy Great Lakes Windows

If you’re considering buying Great Lakes windows you’ll want to read this post. Here we’re outlining the reasons that everyone should avoid Great Lakes windows.

To be fair you’ll find that a window salesman will always tell you why you shouldn’t buy this brand or that brand so you’ll want to take this with a bit of a grain of salt. We’re playing devil’s advocate here a little bit, but these are the reasons a competing salesman will tell you to avoid Great Lakes windows.

Remember, if you think I’m wrong about something post a comment below.

First, limited distribution can mean pushy salespeople

I mentioned this in some of the Great Lakes windows reviews and it bears repeating. Commission based in-home window salespeople can be a challenging bunch to deal with. As the owner of a window company I know this first hand.

Great Lakes windows uses a limited dealer network to reduce competition in each market. That means there is probably only one or two companies offering these windows in your area. In my opinion this leads to long, very fancy sounding, sales pitches and higher than average prices.

The individual may seem like a great guy, it’s his job to seem that way, but this business model is designed to encourage higher profits for the dealers and that means higher prices for you.

The Great Lakes windows block more light

The popular Eco Smart and Comfort Smart windows come with a sales pitch that is very focused on efficiency. In any window the vinyl frames and sashes are more efficient than the glass. If you made a window that was all vinyl with no glass it would be very efficient, but you wouldn’t be able to see out of it. That’s not ideal.

So, in trying to make very efficient windows Great Lakes uses thicker frames than you’ll find from some other manufacturers. That means in the same size opening these windows will allow for less glass area. That means less light is entering the house. Some customers don’t care much about that, but to me it’s a big deal. If that’s a big deal to you I would suggest you might not be thrilled with these windows.

Great Lakes widows are more likely to form condensation

I believe this is true because of the interior coating of low-e that they use on the windows. They call this the Interior Shield and it’s a coating of a hard coat low-e on the inside of the house.

Now, Great Lakes doesn’t publish condensation resistance ratings (also called CR Ratings) on their website with leads me to believe the ratings don’t tell a great story.

Imagine if it’s very cold outside and nice and toasty inside (or vice versa). The least efficient part of any window will be the corner of the glass. If the temperature of the glass falls below the dew point in the air you’ll see condemnation start to form.

This is mostly based on environmental factors and isn’t really caused by the windows themselves, but if the glass is warmer it is less likely to fall below the dew point of the air and then less likely to form condensation.

To be fair I don’t have the CR Rating of the Great Lakes windows options handy since it’s not on their site. If you do have that info send it on over and we’ll update this post with that info. This info is based on the ratings of other manufacturers that also offer an interior low-e.

The advertised efficiency ratings might not be what you actually get

I am sure that if you get a quote for EcoSmart or Comfort Smart windows you’re going to hear a lot about efficiency. They advertise options with a 0.14 U-Factor in the brochures and that rating is very good.

It’s important to note that the packages that achieve that rating are likely not the most popular packages that are actually sold. The reason is that they’re expensive.

As you get towards the upper end of the efficiency scale each dollar that the price goes up will lead to less of a return in increased efficiency. It’s neat to advertise super duper efficiency ratings. In real life these aren’t the packages that I would assume most people actually order.

If you’re in love with the idea of a very efficient window you’ll want to get the ratings in writing on your contract. You’ll want to compare them with the actual NFRC stickers on the actual windows.

What’s the bottom line?

Great Lakes make fine windows. Like anything they do have downsides and the commission based salesmen probably don’t tell you much about them.

These windows will use thicker frames than some other options, they’ll often be sold by some pushy folks, and the windows you end up actually picking might not be the super efficient variety after all.

My company has never been interested in offering these windows because I just don’t think they represent a great value. It’s always possible that one of their dealers is really doing a great job and this could be a fine solution. Just be sure you’re ok with the thicker frames and potentially darker glass. If you’re considering going this route you may want to get another quote or two to compare before committing.

Other posts about Great Lakes windows that you might find helpful:

How can you find a great window company?

That part is easy.  Check this section for recommendations of window companies all over the country. There’s no better way to get new windows.

Other posts you might find interesting:

Why You Should NEVER Buy Polaris Windows

If you’re considering buying Polaris windows you’ll want to read this post. Here we’re outlining the reasons that anyone should avoid Polaris windows.

To be fair you’ll find that a window salesman will always tell you why you shouldn’t buy this brand or that brand so you’ll want to take this with a bit of a grain of salt. We’re playing devil’s advocate here a little bit, but these are the reasons a competing salesman will tell you to avoid Polaris windows.

Remember, if you think I’m wrong about something post a comment below.

Here are several reasons why you should never buy Polaris windows.
Here you can see another one of these cool angled pictures from the Polaris windows brochure. Am I the only one who thinks these look a little amateur?

First, small manufacturers are risky

Avid readers of this site will know that I routinely suggest avoiding smaller manufacturers. After nearly 20 years in this industry I’ve seen many of these small manufacturers vanish into thin air.

Some of the companies that have gone belly up were very well regarded by “experts” who loved to tell people to buy those windows. When those manufacturers vanished those same “experts” just moved on and started recommending other small manufacturers. It didn’t seem that there were too many lessons learned.

I would only suggest buying windows from one of these small companies if there was a really compelling reason to do so. Maybe there is some feature or option that makes the windows absolutely perfect for your project and is not available anywhere else. If that’s the case maybe you should take the risk, but Polaris doesn’t really offer anything very unique.

I don’t see a compelling reason to take the gamble.

Second, Polaris windows are unremarkable

The features and options you see from Polaris are pretty typical. I would assume it’s hard for a small manufacturer to do much innovating.

They also don’t publish air infiltration rates. That might not be a big deal. I don’t know what the Polaris windows air infiltration rates are. I do assume that if they were outstanding they would be advertised online and in the brochures. If anyone has more info, real info, on Polaris air infiltration rates please post a comment below.

They use the lower end constant force or coil balances even in their top of the line UltraWeld windows. That indicates to me that they weren’t trying to really compete with the nicer windows on the market.

Third, the Polaris windows warranty isn’t that great

The lifetime warranty on the Polaris windows is definitely more limited than warranties you’ll see from other manufacturers. Overall it’s decent, but it’s certainly not a selling point for Polaris windows.

You can find more info on the Polaris window warranty here.

What’s the bottom line?

Overall there are several reasons that a competing salesman would say you shouldn’t buy Polaris windows. Obviously the person trying to sell you these windows would have a different perspective. It’s up to you to evaluate that info and come to a conclusion.

I don’t really see any remarkably redeeming qualities that would make me want to take the gamble on them. If you have questions or comments about Polaris windows I invite you to post a comment below. I do my best to respond to as many comments as I can.

How can you find a great window company?

That part is easy.  Check this section for recommendations of window companies all over the country. There’s no better way to get new windows.

Other posts you might find interesting:

You Should Never Buy Vytex Windows – Here’s Why

If you’re considering buying Vytex windows you’ll want to read this post. Here we’re outlining the reasons that anyone should avoid Vytex windows.

To be fair you’ll find that a window salesman will always tell you why you shouldn’t buy this brand or that brand so you’ll want to take this with a bit of a grain of salt. We’re playing devil’s advocate here a little bit, but these are the reasons a competing salesman will tell you to avoid Vytex windows.

Remember, if you think I’m wrong about something post a comment below.

First, they’re a small regional manufacturer

Buying windows with a lifetime warranty from a small local company is risky. That’s just a fact. I’ve been in this business for nearly 20 years now and I’ve seen many well respected window manufacturers close up shop with little to no notice.

It happens. When it does it leaves all of their customers out of luck. When a company vanishes there is no access to replacement parts. There is also no warranty at all at that point.

Will Vytex vanish like so many others? I have no idea, and neither do you and neither does the salesman trying to convince you to buy these windows. That’s the risk you run buying from a small manufacturer. It’s real and it shouldn’t be undervalued.

They use cheaper hardware than other higher-end brands

As an example of this, you will see most nicer window manufacturers using upgraded block and tackle balances in their windows. Vytex uses the constant force or coil balances that you commonly see in lower priced options.

That fact by itself may not be a huge deal, but it signals to me that they weren’t trying to compete with the nicest replacement windows. Even their top of the line Potomac HP windows use the constant force balances.

You will find the higher end hardware in premium brands like Sunrise, Okna, Gentek, Preservation and more.

The air infiltration rates are higher than the competition

When I started in this business nobody ever talked about air infiltration rates, but today it’s a big deal. Even their top of the line Potomac HP model doesn’t have ratings as good as the competition. Even lower cost brands will often be slightly better.

For all the talk about magnetic weather-stripping the air infiltration rate of these windows is higher than I’d like to see.

The glass area is smaller than other models

Based on the published VT ratings it appears the Vytex models will use darker glass and/or thicker frames than other window models. That means you’ll get less visible light in the same size window than you would with other options.

That might not matter a whole lot if you have large windows. If you have an older house or smaller windows this can be a big deal.

What’s the bottom line?

Considering the price that dealers usually charge for Vytex windows there may be better options out there. You can check this section to find recommended companies all over the country. It might be worthwhile to consider an option or two before you commit to Vytex windows.

If you’ve already committed you do have three business days to cancel an order in most states. With that in mind it might be worthwhile to get a second opinion quote so you understand the options.

Remember, we are playing devil’s advocate with a post like this. Vytex windows are fine and if you’ve bought them already I wouldn’t loose any sleep thinking about it. If you’re still shopping it might be worthwhile to consider your options.

How can you find a great window company?

That part is easy.  Check this section for recommendations of window companies all over the country. There’s no better way to get new windows. You can find my company here and you can find recommendations of other companies in other parts of the country here.

Other posts you might find interesting:

Why You Should NEVER Buy Simonton Windows!

If you’re considering buying Simonton windows you’ll want to read this post. Here we’re outlining the reasons that anyone should avoid Simonton windows.

To be fair you’ll find that a window salesman will always tell you why you shouldn’t buy this brand or that brand so you’ll want to take this with a bit of a grain of salt. We’re playing devil’s advocate here a little bit, but these are the reasons a competing salesman will tell you to avoid Simonton windows.

Remember, if you think I’m wrong about something post a comment below.

First, they’re lower end or “contractor grade” windows.

This is something you’ll always hear about Simonton windows. There is a little truth to it as Simonton is widely distributed and typically sold by smaller contractors who are more focused on price than quality.

The terms like “contractor grade” are always a little silly since they don’t really mean anything. The nugget of truth here is that they do use lower end components and older designs. That’s why you generally don’t see nicer window companies selling Simonton windows.

Next, Simonton windows use lower end components than other brands.

This one is mostly true. You’ll see Simonton windows use the lower end constant force or coil balances. Higher end products will generally use the upgraded block and tackle type balances that are tested to last longer and operate better.

best replacement window balances
Here you can see the main differences between constant force (used in Simonton windows) and the nicer block and tackle balances.

This is something that most customers don’t really know anything about. You can’t really see the balances when you’re looking at the windows. That means it’s an easy way for a manufacturer to cut a corner.

Simonton is owned by Ply Gem which also makes higher end brands like Great Lakes. They don’t want to interfere with the high end window sales so they keep Simonton windows a little cheaper. That makes sense from a business standpoint.

Simonton windows have higher air infiltration rates.

This is a common line used against Simonton windows and it’s worth considering. The air infiltration rates will be different with different Simonton models so there isn’t one answer. In general Simonton windows do have higher (worse) air infiltration rates than you’ll see from higher end manufacturers.

For example, most newer window designs will have air infiltration rates under 0.05. With some common Simonton models the air infiltration rate will be 2x or 3x that rate. Some new construction windows will be even worse.

That means more air can get through the windows when closed and locked. This is a common complaint about windows, so it’s something to consider.

Finally, the thicker frames will block more light.

This is another one that people sometimes don’t consider until it’s too late. Some popular Simonton windows like the 5500 series will use thicker frames than many other models. That means the same size window will provide less glass area than you’d get with a different window model.

Now, that’s not true with every model. For example the Impressions 9800 or the Reflections 5500 models do tend to have thicker frames but the Daylight Max or 5050 series will use slimmer frames.

The trick is that the slimmer models from Simonton tend to be their lower end designs so you give up other features when switching to those models.

So, you can get the nicer windows and features but you have to take the thicker frames. Or, you can get the slimmer windows with more glass are, but you get lower end windows. That’s not a great trade off if you ask me.

So, what’s the bottom line?

Keep in mind that a salesperson will typically tell you all about the downsides of any window model. The issues listed above are generally based in reality, but only you can decide how important they are.

It is true that most larger window companies don’t sell Simonton windows. They’re usually sold by smaller handyman or jack of all trade type of operations. That’s one indication that they’re not the best windows out there and they’re not a product my company would typically offer.

How can you find a great window company?

That’s easy. If you’re considering a window project you can check this section for recommendations for window companies all over the country. That’s the best way we know of to find a great local window company.

Other posts you might find interesting: