When you look out your home's windows onto your little piece of Toronto, have you ever given any thought to the role those windows play in the cost to heat and cool your house? They say the windows are the 'eyes' of the house but it might be argued that they are also the nose. Leaky, drafty windows 'breathe' in both hot and cold air and have a direct impact on the cost of operating heating and air conditioning units.

If you find yourself asking 'where's that draft coming from?' you might want to have a look at your windows. If the curtains are moving that means the great outdoors and all it has to offer (like pollen and dust) has now become a part of your great indoors.

Replacement windows can do wonders reducing utility bills but they also serve another purpose. New replacement windows can add significantly to the total value of your home. They give your house a smart, updated look that will greatly enhance your curb appeal. If you're considering updating the windows on your home you've landed on the right page.

Handy Canadian's directory of Toronto window replacement contractors is a great place to build a short list of qualified and professional contractors. Each listing will give you a brief overview of the contractor's services, the service area they work in, contact information including a link to their site and some will even have ratings and reviews from past customers. It's a quick, easy resource to build a list of potential window replacement contractors.

But before you make a selection there are a few basics you want to check out to ensure your contractor is totally qualified.

Tips for selecting Toronto window replacement companies

When you're down to a short list of contractors that look promising you want to start to vet their claims and professionalism. This is what you should do for starters:

• Toronto and most of the surrounding communities require that all businesses have a valid Business License. Ask to see the license and then check with the issuing department to ensure that it's valid.
• While most straight window replacement projects don't require a permit, if you are replacing a standard window with something larger that will require removing a piece of wall you may need a permit for the work to be legal. You can ask your contractor what he or she feels but the best path to take is to go straight to the horse's mouth and ask your city's permit division what you need.
• Make sure your contractor has adequate insurance for not only damage to your property but to cover his or her employees and any subs that he might use. If a worker is hurt on your property and he or she is not covered by workman's compensation, you are on the hook for the cost of his injury. Get a certificate of insurance from the contractor and verify that the insurance is in force by calling the issuing agent.
• Reference checking is all important. If you have a good feel with how this contractor has performed in the past then you'll know what to anticipate with your own project. Call the references that the contractor gives you but don't stop there. Ask if there are window replacement projects that he has done that you can drive by. Check with the Toronto Better Business Bureau for complaints and lastly, run the contractor through Google and see what you get.

Once you've qualified your short list contractors then you can talk turkey on price.

When the job is done we can't claim that your home windows will suddenly allow you to see the CN Tower or Toronto's waterfront district but we are confident that you'll be able to see lower utility bills.

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