New windows, do they help? - Page 2

[Lucky Charm]

Who knew windows would be so popular

I have printed out the thread, and I will update after the guy leaves Saturday.

I still wanna know what Argon gas is

[westernmamomma]

When we rented, I made heavy curtains out of some inexpensive fabric I found. I used this ugly blue fabric that was really heavy, and then sewed a pretty fabric to the front of it to hide the hideousness of the fabric. It kept the drafts out and the heat bills down.

[kayjayjay]

We are in the process of replacing our ca. 1958 single-pane window sashes with wood double-pane sashes (the original windows are Anderson and they make replacement sashes that fit the original frame). This was much less expensive for us than replacing the entire window.

My DH is an architect and for aesthetic reasons he wouldn't even consider vinyl windows, so that is one of the reasons we're going this route.

We have about half of our 14 sashes done right now, and the others had been icing up earlier this week. I put plastic shrink wrap on the insides of the old ones and there hasn't been any condensation since. This is a good temporary measure.

Good luck.

[srain]

If it's colder upstairs in the winter (like it is in our house, too!) it probably means that the roof or attic is not well-insulated. Depending on the accessibility of your attic (if you have one) your money may be better spent in putting insulation in there. Not that replacing windows isn't helpful; it just might not be the most cost-effective route. Or it maye mean that your heating ducts are along the outside walls and the air in them is cold before it gets upstairs (a problem at my parents' house).

If you don't want to pay for all-new windows, other options are:
-installing storm windows
-putting plastic over them
-covering with quilts or insulated drapes or shutters at night

[kate42]

Originally Posted by sweetbaby3

I still wanna know what Argon gas is

Me too, so I looked it up and found this...http://www.energy.state.md.us/energy...al/windows.htm

I asked DH exactly what we got, and we have double-paned, argon-filled, low-e windows. To me it just looks like glass.

[Owen'nZoe]

We used Norco windows in our old house (replacing the 1954 originals that were there previously). I was very happy with them - just wanted to throw that out there as another brand you might want to consider.

Prior to that, we had plastic on all of the windows. It helped quite a bit, but it was nice to have a more permanent solution once we could afford it.

[RiBe ccaLin]

We bought a "fixer-upper" built in 1896 and this summer we actually had the money to replace 3 windows in what will eventually be the master bedroom. Now we only have 22 left to go. :

But we can feel a major difference in the room now.

For the main part of the house I made some horribly ugly curtains out of some flannel that I will eventually make into baby stuff (or at least that was the plan when I bought it....). The difference was dramatic and instant. I got HOT hanging the curtains (and it was negative 3 outside!!) and not just cause I'm pg! :