Should I Replace My Windows Or Just Insulate It?
Charles_Todd
| Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on
Hi, I’m Charles from Toronto. We bought our home last year. We are thinking about replacing the windows in order to save energy costs. The house is not that old but the windows are cheap, builder-grade single pane windows with wood frame.
Most of the windows have noticeable drafts, plus the screens are broken in some of em, so we can’t leave the windows open. I thought of replacing the screens and insulate the windows from inside in the winter.
But I think it’s better to replace the windows because it will increase the value of the house if we are going to sell it one day. My friend suggested a nearby doors and windows company( https://www.canglow.ca ). So should I replace the windows or just insulate it?
Replies
The windows are "cheap". They have "noticeable drafts. Screens are broken. Do you need more reasons to replace them?
Replace! Please note that triple glass (Pella) does not substantially increase insulation value. If you are truly serious about conservation, consider roll-down window quilts that are velcro-ed to the window frame. Yeah, they are costly, but they help conserve energy.
What do YOU mean by "insulating them" (the old windows)? Are you referring to a tight-fitting foam board? While that may work for you, it will definitely not work in your favor when it comes time to sell the home. Do the job properly! Good luck.
You can probably improve the comfort and effectiveness of the existing windows significantly by removing the trim around them and injecting spray foam between window frame and house framing members. This adds insulation and, more importantly, blocks drafts.
If you do get new windows it's important to have a good installer who will similarly insulate/draft block around the new windows.
In New Orleans we have lots of drafty old windows on our pre-war homes. Civil War, that is.
One solution is the Magnetite system, which is acrylic sheets with magnetic steel edges that go right over the interior side of the windows.
Pretty much airtight, and help with sound reduction. Easy to remove, and clean. Check them out. They work. You could probably build your own if you're handy.
Rockinroger. Thanks for proposing to keep not replace old windows. If they are old heartwood and not modern, fast growth wood, they likely are worth saving and restoring. Removing them, safely stripping paint and putty (with Speedheater), reglazing, and weatherizing can make huge improvements. Then Indow inserts don't hide the natural beauty of old windows and are custom cut. Worth the investment for longevity.
I have a 1929 house with nice looking, but not very efficient windows. I made indoor "storm windows" - shellaced oak frames (3/4 x 1/2") that fit within the trim frames of the existing windows. Front & back are covered by heat-shrink window film, forming a dead-air space. The perimeter is covered by 1/4" closed-cell foam weatherstrip, with the wax paper still attached. They make a huge difference.
"We are thinking about replacing the windows in order to save energy costs."
Nope. Probably not gonna pencil out as any kind of savings unless you live to be 185.
Yes, you will save some energy but not nearly enough to offset the cost of the windows. It'd actually be cheaper to just blast the heat all winter.
What does save money on energy bills and recoups its cost is weatherizing and air sealing to cut down those cold drafts. Lots of ways to do that.
Have you considered storm windows since you need to replace screens? Also, screens are cheap and easy to fix.
On the other hand, if you want a more comfortable home and are willing to pay for that, then replacing the windows could be considered. As pointed out above, you really need to make sure that the windows are well sealed and weatherized when the work is done or you will see no benefit in comfort or energy costs.
+1. The single most important thing is stop the leaks. If it is the windows that are leaking by all means replace them. But you need to determine just what is leaking first. A blower door test is the gold standard to identify every leak.
After you fill the leaks, then it's time to consider insulation.
Good luck.