02-13-2012, 02:12 PM
Grateful11 wrote:
[quote=M>B>]
Windows are one of the most expensive replacements that you can make!
I would recommend that your local gas, electric or utility company do a energy audit and see what they would recommend.
I would bet that they would recommend caulking, weather striping, insulation and more similar things.
Priced a new roof or HVAC system lately? Our roof cost twice what our windows cost.
Get Low-E glass in whatever you get, which I think is about all they make now. We had aluminum crank outs from
the mid 50's and on really cold mornings there be ice on the inside of the aluminum frames, even with some kind
of weird storm window that you could put on with screws and clips in the Fall. We moved here in '95.
Had the same type of aluminum crank outs. Same issue with ice on the inside. Replaced them with Anderson windows with low E glass. Made a big difference with comfort level. Not sure that it saved a lot on energy.
Make sure that if you replace windows, you get a quality unit. There are a lot of crappy windows out there.
I would go thru an energy audit. You might find that you've got bigger issues than your windows. For double hungs where the top sash is dropping, why not cut a board to hold the sash up? Not pretty, but it works.