Replacement windows?

[JEDI]

25yr old Townhouse.
Avg $150/month electric+gas combined.

1 Window is drafty and there's condensation in-between some of the panes on a couple of other windows.

I got a quote of $3300 to replace 6 windows.
4 regular Windows, a kitchen bay window, and a large master bedroom window.

Even if the new windows are 20% more efficient, I only save $30/month.
($150 x 20%)

3300/30 is 110 months (9 years) for break even.

What's your opinion?
Thx

 

[snoopy7548]

I'd probably do it. There's more than just the payoff period to the decision - your home may feel more comfortable and the new windows will probably cut own on any noise, plus it should help with resale value. Depends on how long you're planning on staying there, too.

 

[Greenman]

Are the existing windows wood, aluminium, or vinyl? If they're wood or vinyl, just have the failed glass replaced, as you won't see any benefit by replacing like for like. If they're aluminium, then you should probably replace them.

I've looked at a lot of replacement windows, most look like shit on the inside because they use an enormous chunk of plastic to cover the old frame. On the outside the entire waterproof seal is a bead of caulking, they often use the .99 cent a tube stuff. It fails early and often.

The proper way to replace windows is difficult, time consuming, and requires patch work.

 

[highland145]

80 y.o. house, wooden single pane windows. Screw painting 16 windows just so I can do it again in a few years. IIRC, replacements (double pane, vinyl) were ~$175 each but mine were pretty simple to replace. Just pull off the window sash trim on the inside, take out the old, put in the new and insulate around them.

Am I saving $$ on the AC. Probably but it's minimal. Single pane are R1, double R2...big whoop but I don't have to paint.


And I doubt you'll save 20% of your entire electric/gas. Fridge/stove/washer/dryer/lights/electronics....

 

[JEDI]

Are the existing windows wood, aluminium, or vinyl? If they're wood or vinyl, just have the failed glass replaced, as you won't see any benefit by replacing like for like.

Hm.. just the glass?
So I could just replace all the glass for every window (double pane) with low-E glass?

What about the air inbetween the panes?

 

[Greenman]

Hm.. just the glass?
So I could just replace all the glass for every window (double pane) with low-E glass?

What about the air inbetween the panes?

The panes come as a sealed unit.

 

[JEDI]

The panes come as a sealed unit.

So low-E panes comes as a sealed unit?
So for normal double panes, like mine that cracked, it doesn't?

Just replace the single cracked pane?
What about moisture inbetween the panes?

 

[Greenman]

So low-E panes comes as a sealed unit?
So for normal double panes, like mine that cracked, it doesn't?

Just replace the single cracked pane?
What about moisture inbetween the panes?

No no no no no. All replacement glass for dual pane windows comes as sealed units. Both layers of glass sealed to a spacer. You never replace just 1 pane, it's always both with the spacer between them. That glass can be low e, and even argon filled if you like. Depending on the location of the window, it might need to be tempered as well. Note that in the newer wood windows, the glass isn't replaceable at all, you have to buy all new sash.

 

[JEDI]

(Will edit later)

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Windows for energy savings almost never make sense, windows because you need new ones (as in they're replacing 30 year old windows that don't open correctly) makes sense.

 

[Greenman]

Windows for energy savings almost never make sense, windows because you need new ones (as in they're replacing 30 year old windows that don't open correctly) makes sense.

Or for sound control. Dual pane are considerably quieter than single.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Or for sound control. Dual pane are considerably quieter than single.

Probably, I live in the Northeast never seen single pane windows nobody buys them.

 

[Greenman]

Probably, I live in the Northeast never seen single pane windows nobody buys them.

Here in the land of fruits and nuts they were common for many years. No one uses them now. I don't think I could even buy a single glazed window anymore.