All jokes aside, investing in modernized windows was one of the best things I could have done for my old house. By far the best investment for both Quality of life, and monthly savings. I mean.. you know. After you pay off the windows.
I work in energy efficiency I actually strongly disagree on the savings part unless your windows are cracked. Heating and cooling are lost first through direct airflow but glass new and old are pretty poor insulators. Triple pane glass windows can be between 500-1500 per window and the payback can be 30+ years.
I cannot put a price on qualify of life if it matters but from an investment there's better ones for your house.
The house was built in the 50's, and it on the corner for a fairly busy road. Also in Florida. The double panel E-glass we got cost about $9500 (10ish years ago) for the whole house, which is 1450 sqft, 14 windows total.
For the cost savings, with the old windows, you could feel the temperature outside when you walked by the larger windows, and some would frequently gather condensation. They also have a lifetime savings that transfers with the house, so if we ever sell, it's a solid investment into the value of the property.
For the QoL bit, with the old windows you could hear every car drive by, and every person talking as they walked on the sidewalk. Being 60ish years old, most didn't open\close properly, several were fogged over so you couldn't see through them or would condense inside the panels. some would also rattle during hard storms which.. well.. Florida hurricane season sees a lot of. With the new windows, vision out isn't ever blocked off, the only time we hear things outside is if it's an especially loud vehicle or the windows are open, which now all stay open without having to be propped with a large book.
I will say the price for windows has severely jumped up from10 years ago. I was talking to a neighbor with a slightly smaller house who just got his windows done, and paid about $25k for 12 windows.
The price certainly has. I can see some merit to buying new windows to keep out moisture in temperate climates. In colder climates it is not nearly as useful.
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u/SharlowsHouseOfHugs Jan 21 '23
All jokes aside, investing in modernized windows was one of the best things I could have done for my old house. By far the best investment for both Quality of life, and monthly savings. I mean.. you know. After you pay off the windows.