Signs you need energy-efficient windows
If any of these sound familiar, it might be time to talk to a pro.
- Drafty rooms even when windows are closed
- High summer cooling bills
- Condensation or fog between window panes
- Difficulty opening, closing, or locking windows
- Faded floors, drapes, or furniture from intense Albuquerque sun
- Outside noise easily heard indoors
- Visible damage, warping, or seal failure on frames
How it works
Our process is simple and stress-free.
- 1
In-Home Estimate
A real Epex installer (not a high-pressure salesperson) walks every window in your home, checks frame condition, measures with thermal imaging where it helps, and gives you a written quote that breaks every line out. No 'today-only' pricing — the quote is the same next week.
- 2
Product Selection
We install Anlin vinyl windows with double-pane Low-E glass and argon fill, tuned to Albuquerque's South-Central climate zone (U-factor ≤ 0.28, SHGC ≤ 0.23). We bring real samples to your home and walk through frame styles, grid options, and glass packages — including upgrades like triple-pane or laminated glass if your situation calls for them.
- 3
Custom Manufacturing
Every Anlin window is custom-built to your home's exact measurements. Manufacturing lead time is typically 4–8 weeks, sometimes longer in peak season or for custom shapes and colors. We confirm your order in writing before it leaves the line.
- 4
Professional Installation
Our trained crew removes the old windows, prepares the openings (including any necessary rot or stucco repair), installs the new units with proper flashing and seals, and verifies smooth operation. Most homes complete in 1–2 days; larger projects up to 4 days.
- 5
Final Walkthrough
We confirm every window opens, closes, and locks properly, check all seals, remove product stickers (yes, all of them), and clean up completely. You get the Anlin warranty paperwork in your hands before we leave.
$0 Down Financing Available
Most homeowners qualify for $0 down financing with monthly payments as low as their current energy bill. Multiple financing options available.
Subject to credit approval. Terms vary by project type.
Get Your Free EstimateWhat's Different About Replacement Windows in Albuquerque
Most national window guides aren't written for the high desert. Three things about Albuquerque change the calculation:
- UV intensity. At 5,300 feet elevation with summer UV index regularly 10–11, the sun here is harder on interiors than at lower altitudes. Faded floors, drapes, leather, and art are a real and visible problem. Low-E coatings on modern windows block roughly 95% of UV — the strongest practical benefit you'll feel.
- The energy math in 2026. PNM residential electricity is around 13–16¢ per kWh, which is actually below the national average. That sounds like good news, but it also means dollar payback on new windows is slower here than the national averages suggest. The comfort and UV benefits are immediate; the bill savings build over years.
- Federal tax credit is gone. As of January 1, 2026, the federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (Section 25C) no longer covers windows. The New Mexico Sustainable Building Tax Credit is still on the table — up to $500 per Energy Star window for general homeowners, $1,000 per window for affordable-housing or low-income households. We help with the paperwork.
What We Install: Anlin Vinyl Windows
We're an authorized Anlin dealer. Anlin is a California-based manufacturer with about 30 years in the business, and we picked them as our primary product line for two reasons:
- The warranty is real. Anlin's True Double Lifetime warranty covers parts, labor, and shipping for as long as you own the home — and it transfers to the next owner. That transferability is unusual and matters if you might sell within 10 years.
- They tune their glass packages for the western US. Low-E coatings with low Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) are what perform well in Albuquerque's UV and cooling-dominated climate. Anlin's standard package hits the Energy Star v7.0 South-Central spec out of the box (U-factor ≤ 0.28, SHGC ≤ 0.23).
For most Albuquerque homes, double-pane with argon fill and a low-SHGC Low-E coating is the right answer. Triple-pane and krypton fills are available, but they're rarely worth the upcharge here — our winters don't punish double-pane the way Denver or Minneapolis would.
Color, Style, and Frame Options
Anlin's standard catalog covers the configurations 95% of Albuquerque homes need. Common choices you'll be asked about at the estimate:
- Frame color. White and tan are standard (no upcharge) and the most common picks for Pueblo Revival and ranch-style ABQ homes. Bronze and black are available for a modest upcharge and pair well with newer modern builds in the foothills and Rio Rancho subdivisions. Two-tone (different interior / exterior color) is available on most styles.
- Operation style. Single-hung and double-hung (the classic up/down sash) are standard. Sliders, casements (crank-out), and picture (fixed pane) windows all available — we walk every opening in your home and recommend per location based on view, ventilation, and egress code.
- Grid patterns. Colonial (rectangular grids), prairie (perimeter-only), or no grids at all. Grids sit between the panes (no cleaning hassle) and can be ordered to match a historic look or kept off for clean modern lines.
- Glass packages. Standard is double-pane Low-E with argon — the right pick for most ABQ homes. Upgrades include laminated glass (sound dampening, security), obscure / privacy glass (bathrooms), tempered glass (code-required near doors and floors), and triple-pane for west-facing rooms that take the worst summer sun.
- Screens and hardware. All operable windows ship with fiberglass insect screens. Hardware finishes (locks, sash lifts) come in white, tan, oil-rubbed bronze, and brushed nickel.
We bring physical samples of the most common frame colors, grid patterns, and hardware finishes to the estimate so you're not picking from a website. If you have specific HOA color requirements or are matching a historic district palette, mention it when you book — we'll know in advance whether to bring extra samples.
Show This to Your Partner
If you booked the appointment, there is a good chance you are explaining it to a spouse or partner who was not on the call. Here is the 30-second version they can read:
- Who: Epex Home Performance, an Albuquerque local home services company. NM contractor license #395807.
- What: Replacement windows from Anlin, a 30-year California manufacturer sold only through authorized dealers (we are one).
- Warranty: Anlin True Double Lifetime — parts, labor, shipping. Transfers to the next owner if you sell.
- Cost: Most Albuquerque homes (10–15 windows) come in around $9,000–$14,000. Full range is $5,000–$20,000 depending on size, frame, and glass package.
- Timeline: 6–10 weeks from contract to install. Install itself is 1–2 days. Custom manufacturing is the long part, not us.
- The appointment: 45–90 minutes at your house, free, no pressure to sign that day. The price we quote stays the same next week.
If anything on this list looks off, the easiest thing is to call us before the visit. We would rather answer the question now than have you sit through an estimate you have already decided against.
How a Window Replacement Actually Goes
Here's an honest timeline from contract to last screwdriver:
| Phase | Time |
|---|---|
| In-home estimate to signed contract | varies |
| Contract to final-measure visit | ~1 week |
| Manufacturing lead time (custom vinyl) | 4–8 weeks (sometimes 8–12 in peak season or for custom shapes/colors) |
| Scheduling buffer | ~1 week |
| Install (10–15 windows) | 1–2 days (30–60 minutes per window) |
| Total | 6–10 weeks contract to install complete |
If anyone promises you a custom window install in 2–3 weeks total, ask hard questions — they're either using stock sizes (which usually means shimming and gaps), shortening the manufacturing step in a way that compromises spec, or pulling a switch-and-bait.
What to Expect at Your Free Estimate
Most people booking a window estimate are picturing a high-pressure pitch. We don't do that. Here's the actual visit:
- Who shows up. An Epex window specialist, not a commission-only outside salesperson. Branded shirt, marked truck.
- How long it takes. 45–90 minutes for a typical home, more for large or complex jobs.
- What we do. Walk every window, check frame and seal condition, take rough measurements, identify which replacements will have the biggest impact, and discuss product options.
- What we DON'T do. We don't require both decision-makers to be present. We don't quote a "today-only" price. We don't apply pressure to sign on the spot.
- What you leave with. A written quote in your inbox that day or the next, broken out by window, with no hidden line items. The price stays the same whether you decide that week or next month.
If you're worried about cancelling, don't be — just call. We won't try to talk you out of it.
License, Insurance, and Coverage
- New Mexico contractor license: #395807
- Insurance: General liability and workers' compensation. Certificates available on request.
- Manufacturer warranty: Anlin True Double Lifetime — parts, labor, shipping, transferable to next owner.
- Service area: Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Bernalillo, Corrales, Santa Fe, and the broader NM market.
Frame colors and styles you can choose from
Standard white and tan are the most common picks for Pueblo Revival and ranch ABQ homes. Black is a modest upcharge that pairs well with modern builds and foothills remodels. We bring physical samples to your estimate so you're not picking from a website.
Black frame · kitchen
Black frame · bath
White frame · living room
Frequently Asked Questions
Honest answer: 6–10 weeks from contract to install, sometimes 12 in peak season. That breaks down as roughly 1 week from contract to final measure, 4–8 weeks of custom manufacturing lead time, 1 week for scheduling, and 1–2 days of install work for most homes. Anyone promising 2–3 weeks total for custom windows is either using stock sizes or cutting a corner — ask what specifically would make their timeline that short.
We install Anlin vinyl windows. Anlin is a California manufacturer with about 30 years in the business, sold only through trained authorized dealers (we're one of them). Their True Double Lifetime warranty covers parts, labor, and shipping for as long as you own the home, and transfers to the next owner if you sell. That transferable warranty is the strongest reason to choose Anlin over a no-name builder-grade vinyl window for a home you might not own forever.
We install Energy Star v7.0 certified windows for the South-Central climate zone (U-factor ≤ 0.28 and SHGC ≤ 0.23 — the ratings that actually matter in Albuquerque's UV and heat profile). Important update for 2026: the federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (Section 25C) was terminated for windows installed after December 31, 2025 by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. If you finished an install in 2025, you can still claim it on your 2025 return; new installs in 2026 don't qualify federally.
Yes. The New Mexico Sustainable Building Tax Credit covers 50% of product + installation cost up to $500 per Energy Star window or door for general homeowners, and 100% up to $1,000 per window or door for affordable-housing or low-income households. We help with the paperwork. PNM does not currently offer a standalone window rebate, but their Home Energy Checkup program rebates adjacent measures (insulation, smart thermostats, AC and heat pump replacement) that often pair well with a window project — we'll flag eligible programs during your estimate.
It depends heavily on what you're replacing. Single-pane or failed dual-pane windows in older Albuquerque homes can lose a meaningful chunk of cooling and heating energy, and replacing them produces a noticeable comfort improvement immediately — drafts gone, temperature gradients evened out, AC running less in summer. Honest dollar payback is slower than most sales pitches imply: somewhere between $100 and $400 per year for a typical Albuquerque home depending on glass package, orientation, and current windows. The bigger immediate wins are UV blocking (low-E coatings block roughly 95% of UV — which is why floors, drapes, and art fade so fast here without it), noise reduction, and comfort.
Standard sized vinyl window replacements typically run $500–$1,200 per window installed, depending on size, frame style, and glass package. Whole-home projects come in between $5,000 and $20,000 for most Albuquerque homes. The biggest cost variables are: number of windows, custom shapes (arches, octagons), frame color (anything beyond white or tan is an upcharge), and glass upgrades (laminated, obscure, tempered). Your written quote breaks every line out — no hidden line items.
Some, but not as much as the marketing implies. The 2025 Remodeling Cost vs. Value report puts vinyl window replacement at roughly 68% recouped at resale — meaning you get back about two thirds of what you spend, with the rest coming from energy savings and comfort over the time you live in the home. Windows are a better investment for owners staying 5+ years than for short-term flips.
Low-E (low emissivity) glass has a microscopic metallic coating that reflects heat while letting visible light through. In Albuquerque's high-altitude UV environment (around 5,300 feet, summer UV index regularly 10–11), Low-E coatings block roughly 95% of UV radiation and a large share of solar heat gain. That's what protects your interior finishes and reduces summer cooling load. Combined with argon gas between the panes, you get the meaningful thermal performance — without paying for triple-pane that the Albuquerque climate doesn't reward.
Yes, and we recommend it where it fits the budget. New windows reduce your cooling load, which means you can install a smaller (and cheaper) solar system to cover the same percentage of your bill. We design both together so you don't oversize the array.
Common signs: drafts near closed windows, condensation or fog between the panes (sealed-unit failure), difficulty opening/closing/locking, visible frame damage or warping, and noticeably warm interior surfaces on hot afternoons. If your windows are single-pane, or dual-pane older than about 20 years, replacement will produce a real comfort improvement. We'll tell you honestly during the estimate if some of your windows are still in good shape and don't need to be in the project.
Yes. Epex Home Performance is a licensed New Mexico contractor (license #395807). We carry general liability and workers' compensation insurance — certificates available on request. All install work is performed by trained Anlin authorized crews.