When repair makes sense
Foggy glass from a failed seal. If the frame is solid and the glass is just cloudy between the panes, replacing the glass unit (not the whole window) often fixes it for much less. Broken hardware. A bad lock, crank, or balance is usually a straightforward part swap. Drafts from worn weatherstripping. New weatherstripping is cheap and effective. One damaged window. A single cracked pane or broken sash doesn't mean the whole house needs replacing.
When replacement is the honest answer
Rotted or warped frames. Once a wood frame rots or a frame warps enough that the sash won't close square, repairs are band-aids. Widespread seal failure. One foggy window is a repair; half the house foggy means the windows are at end of life. Single-pane glass in a Florida home. No repair makes single-pane efficient or storm-safe — replacement is the only real upgrade. Windows that won't stay open or won't lock. Failed balances and locks are safety issues, and on old windows the parts may not exist anymore.
The age test
As a rough rule: windows under 15 years old with an isolated problem are usually worth repairing. Windows over 20 years old with multiple issues are usually worth replacing — you're putting money into windows that will need replacing soon anyway. Between 15 and 20, it depends on the specific problem and the window's condition.
The storm-safety question
Here's the Florida-specific angle: even a perfectly repaired old window is still an old window in a hurricane. If your windows predate modern impact standards and you live with storm anxiety every summer, replacement buys something repair never can — peace of mind from June through November.
Not sure which camp your windows fall in? Send the form — we'll look and give you an honest answer, including when repair is the smarter move.