new windows

juliejules4

Gal from Texas here again. We have 13 year old house with aluminum single pane windows. The builder used the cheapest I am sure. We had astronimical a/c bills this summer, mainly becuase TXU is a ripoff but also b/c we had a really hot summer. I figure my windows are leaking like crazy. My friend in the window business said only replace windows when you cannot see out of them anymore (not the case). Now that we have had our first freeze, i can feel the drafts near the windows like crazy. My kids room had condensation dripping in her room. A lit candle near the base of the window blow sideways.

So, is it time to replace windows or can i caulk inside of the metal window frame all around (and at the bottom where the window frame meets my wood trim).

We have alot of windows and I hate to have to replace b/c of cost. Also i hate to replace with the same junk we have unless of course it really isn't junk, just my perception.

Any advice would be great so we don't end up in the poor house replacing windows. My husband is not a handyman but I am willing to become one. We can't continue with $800 electrical bills.

Also, Yellow pages advertised a window company that promised to cut utility bills by 40% with new windows. Is that possible (might be a 300 year payback though!).

Thanks everyone.

redline

Is the house well insulated?

juliejules4

So I think our house is well insulated. a building contractor said it was when he was here 3 years ago and my HVAC guy said it was pretty good (he was here this summer). but, ask an insulation salesperson and i am sure it's terrible! I feel drafts everywhere, especially on outside walls and around the windows.

redline

Are you able to remove the interior trim around the worst (drafty) window and see if it has insulation or caulk around it?

juliejules4

so i am not sure. i think that is above my level of competence! i did have a window friend (he just sold his window company but specialized in aluminum builders windows)....come over yesterday and showed me how to minimze drafts at the bottom of the window. he said the black felty stuff (i am high tech you see!) gets stiff and loses its abilty to seal properly. he showed me how to use some sticky foam stuff to close that off. he thinks the windows are in good shape, but they are aluminum which probably means they are least efficient.

that should help with the candle blowing sideways draft issue at the bottom. he also said to keep the blinds open and allow the heat to properly heat the window so condensation does not occur...he said keeping the windows covered with a blind makes it a cold spot where condensation will occur. that made sense to me.

i think the bottom line now is if we can afford to replace aluminum windows with super efficient double pained ones, maybe vinyl. we may have to move first!

thanks for the input. does any of that make sense to you?

#CARRIERMAN

Hi juliejules4

I am no expert in any way shape or form on windows. But we just had vinyl double payne with low E glass installed in our house. It cut our utility bills in half. I dont have to paint or stain anymore. I could not be happier.

Good luck
Rusty

juliejules4

so what kind of costs were you looking at if you don't mind sharing? i suspect that we could really lower our costs but we have lots of windows (big ones) and i think it will be $20K or so. maybe we could do it one window or one room at at time. thanks for sharing!

#CARRIERMAN

Hi juliejules4

The average installed cost per window including the big bay window we have was right around $230.00 per window. We have a big two story and they replaced 22 of them. The one thing we did was made sure our windows had a factory warranty and not just an installer warranty. Other than that, we didn' have to do much.

Good luck
Rusty

clasact

I am not sure if you have one in your area but I found a contractor suplus dealer in my area and replaced 12 windows and put in 4 doors for less then 1100 dollars .These were not just some cheep junk either all were double hung tilt in all are either Anderson or Grandview and the doors are steel and two even have side lites.They were very easy to install myself and have saved me a considerable amount on heating already but I did take the time to flash calk and insulate all around them before closeing them up.If you can find a suplus dealer in your area you will save thousands heres just an example of what you might find I picked up 3 50x50 picture windows for 60 buck each so if you going to replace all the window and not go in the poor house you might start checking around Good luck

juliejules4

thanks fellows. the cost is not as scary as i thought so i think i will get some bids. unfortunately i can't install but can make an awesome gumbo. that won't help though. i think i will start with the upstairs since it probably sucks the most cool air out in the summertime. you have gotten me on my way. I will check with surplus dealers too, you would think in Dallas that they exist and i do know of a contractor that can install. thanks everyone and merry christmas!

juliejules4

carrierman, one more question. did you use a big window operation or go to home depot and then have a contractor install. also what brand did you go with, something well known or generic??

(well that's 2 questions...thanks!)

redline

How many windows do you have?
Are most of them the same size?
What would be the largest sized window?

#CARRIERMAN

Hi juliejules4

We contracted somone to come in and do the work. The original windows that I installed were Croft from the lumberyard. Six of them have been in the house for about 10 years now and I haven't had a single problem with them. I cant remember off the top of my head what make the siding company put in. Let me know if I can help further.

Rusty