We finally replaced our crappy old windows.

[phantom power]

We are now the proud owners of new double-pane, low-E, argon filled windows.

This cost us $7500. I bring that up mostly because when we made that decision, we picked new windows over new A/C, on the general principle that "weather proofing has faster payback time than new technology." On the other hand, a new A/C would also cost us about $7500. And the estimated electric bill savings would actually be roughly comparable. So, I've been philosophizing about how in our case, the decision was pretty close to a wash.

I do love having these new non-crappy windows, though. Reduced the street noise quite nicely too.

[babylonsister]

1. I've been waiting going on 3 weeks to have those

same windows delivered and installed. I'll bet you're going to see a huge savings. I'm hoping we will if we ever get them. The big box store is in the process of disappointing me greatly.

One difference, no argon in ours, I think because it gets so hot here and never very cold.

[Warpy]

2. I made the decision to keep my crappy, single pane,

cast iron casement windows for the sole reason that these are the only windows that withstand the unbelievably harsh environment here in the high desert.

I have shades and heavy curtains over them now, open when the sun is on that side of the house, closed when it isn't in the winter, the reverse in summer.

I've been in this house 12 years. I've seen neighbors replace windows twice in that time because wood and vinyl don't last here. My crummy windows have been here since 1946 and are still working well.

[Orrex]

4. Maybe you could just install big slabs of mica

Or hollow out a burrow in a cliffside?

:evilgrin:

[phantom power]

7. Interesting. We live in the harsh low desert.

Our new windows are vinyl, and warrantied for life. Impervious to UV and heat. Allegedly, anyway.

Guess we're going to find out empirically.

[Orrex]

3. Congratulations on your investment!

My wonderful mother-in-law gave us the incredible gift of 15 new windows this past December, in the same style that you describe. We noticed an immediate reduction in draftiness, and the exterior noise was greatly reduced, as well. With the fluctuations in gas prices, it's been hard for us to determine with certainty whether we've enjoyed significant savings, but a brief comparison of our gas bills suggests that we used a lower volume for heating this winter than last.

I'm a little uneasy with the whole "reduce your heating bills" slogan used by window installation companies. I mean, let's say that it'll cut our bills by 30% in the winter. Well, at that rate, those $5,500 will pay for themselves in just 15 short years, or so! And if I had a loose $5,500 to drop on home improvements, I probably wouldn't be as worried about heating costs as I am, so it's a Catch-22. It's a lot like those "gas mileage" tips that tell you to have your car serviced regularly; every tune-up I've ever had has been about $500, so when I'm counting pennies it's hard to convince myself that a $500 investment on a rapidly depreciating commodity is more financially sound than spending the extra $12 per fill-up.

It might be more direct to say that new windows will improve your comfort and increase the value of your home, both of which are almost certainly true.

Still, congratulations to you! I hope that you enjoy them, and that they provide great comfort for many years! I love ours, and I can never thank my mother-in-law enough!

[phantom power]

9. I agree with you about the payback time.

I can see the improvement already, and it will add up. But it takes years to pay back $7500.

It depends partly on how you parse the decision making. If you start with the assumption that we're buying new windows, for noise reduction and curb appeal, etc, and then say "how long does it take to pay back the cost-premium for argon, low-E, etc, then the payback time on that premium is significantly shorter. If you take the viewpoint that we purchased the windows solely for the energy-efficiency, then you could say we don't pay back until we save the full $7500.

Like many decisions in real life, it's sort of complicated, and not completely rational.

My opinion is, that if you are going to invest in new windows, it's a smart move to pay the extra cost of high energy efficiency.

[MercutioATC]

5. A small sugestion if you havea fireplace:

Make sure the fireplace is drawing adequately before you leave a fire or smoldering embers unattended.

The air the fireplace gets is usually the stuff that seeps in through the cracks around doors and windows. No seepage = poor draw = the possibility of carbon monoxide not drawing up the chimney.

[phantom power]

8. Yes, well my crappy weatherstripping on our doors avoids that problem...

also, we have no fireplace.

[MercutioATC]

10. Well, then, congrats on the new windows :)

Get some weatherstripping :P

[stuntcat]

6. rock on

Last year our landlords finally replaced our windows. They must have been as old as the house, I could feel the wind blowing through the window right next to the bed, like a foot from my frickin pillow. But now the windows are new.

Weather proofing was totally the best decision longterm!