Funny how those “temporary” fixes end up lasting way longer than you planned. I patched a leaky window in our den with some weatherstripping and caulk, figuring it’d hold for a winter or two—five years later, it’s still going strong. Has anyone actually regretted waiting on the full replacement? I sometimes wonder if I’m missing out on big energy savings, but my bills haven’t changed much.
That’s honestly how it goes—those “quick fixes” seem to outlive their welcome. I’ve seen folks slap some caulk and foam on old aluminum windows thinking it’s just a stopgap, but years later, it’s still holding up. Unless you’re seeing obvious drafts or condensation, you’re probably not losing much. Full replacements are great, but I’ve had customers go years before taking the plunge and rarely regret waiting. Sometimes, the energy savings just aren’t as dramatic as the sales pitch makes them sound.
Sometimes, the energy savings just aren’t as dramatic as the sales pitch makes them sound.
Couldn’t agree more. I slapped some weatherstripping and caulk on my 70s-era sliders thinking it’d last a season—three years later, still going strong. Not the prettiest, but my wallet’s happy enough. If it ain’t broke...
my wallet’s happy enough. If it ain’t broke...
I get the appeal of a quick fix, but I keep wondering if these stopgap repairs just delay the inevitable. My place has similar old windows, and yeah, a bit of caulk helped, but I still feel drafts on windy days. Is it possible the energy loss just shifts somewhere else? Or maybe it’s more about comfort than savings over time… Hard to tell if the upfront effort is worth it or if I’m just patching problems that’ll come back bigger later.
Short-term fixes like caulk are fine for a season or two, but you’re right—drafts usually mean the whole window system’s tired. I see this all the time. People spend years patching, and by the time they finally replace the windows, they’ve spent more than they realize on caulk, weatherstripping, and higher utility bills. Old aluminum frames especially tend to leak heat, and no amount of filler really solves that for good.
Energy loss doesn’t just “shift” elsewhere—if your windows aren’t tight, you’re paying to heat the outdoors. Comfort’s a big deal too. If you’re still feeling drafts after your fix, that’s your answer right there. Sometimes, it’s worth biting the bullet and getting new units if you plan to stay put. The upfront cost stings, but you get it back in lower bills and fewer headaches. I’ve seen folks regret waiting too long when rot or mold sets in from leaks they thought they’d patched up. Just my two cents.
I get where you’re coming from about biting the bullet and replacing old aluminum windows, but I think it’s not always a one-size-fits-all answer. I’ve worked on plenty of houses where the owners were set on keeping their original windows—sometimes for architectural reasons, sometimes just because they didn’t want to shell out for new ones. Honestly, with some patience and the right materials, you can squeeze a few more good years out of them.
Now, I’ll admit, aluminum frames aren’t exactly energy champs. But if they’re not warped or showing signs of rot (which is more of a wood window issue anyway), and the glass isn’t fogged up between panes, a thorough cleaning and resealing can help quite a bit. I’ve seen folks use thermal curtains or even add storm windows inside for another layer; it’s not fancy, but it can knock down drafts and help with bills.
One thing that gets overlooked is that window replacement isn’t cheap—especially if you’ve got custom sizes or want something that matches the look of an older house. Sometimes patching things up gives people time to save up or wait for a good deal. And if you’re planning to move in a year or two, dumping thousands into new units doesn’t always make sense.
I’m not saying there’s never a point where replacement’s the way to go—there definitely is. But I wouldn’t write off repairs as just throwing money away every time. Depends on your goals and how much hassle you’re willing to put up with. Sometimes it’s about making do until you’re ready for the big investment.
Totally get what you’re saying. I’m in the “patch it up until you can’t” camp too, honestly. Had the same set of aluminum windows since we moved in—late 80s house, nothing fancy. They’re not the best for energy, that’s for sure, but like you said, if they’re not warped or fogged up, it’s amazing what a little weatherstripping and some elbow grease can do.
Sometimes patching things up gives people time to save up or wait for a good deal.
That’s pretty much where we landed. I did some DIY resealing last winter and slapped on some heavy curtains. Didn’t make the place airtight, but it stopped the worst of the drafts. Replacement quotes were wild—like, more than we spent on our last used car.
I’ll admit, sometimes I wish we’d just replaced them when we first moved in, but now with prices up...not happening anytime soon. Unless they start leaking bad or falling apart, I’ll keep milking these for a while. Not glamorous, but it works for now.
Yeah, those old aluminum windows are a pain, but I get hanging onto them as long as you can. I’m in the same boat—mine are probably original to the house (early 90s), and every time I look at replacement quotes, my wallet tries to run and hide. Last year I tried that clear shrink film over the worst ones and it honestly made a bigger difference than I expected, especially paired with some thick curtains. Not pretty, but it kept the living room from feeling like a meat locker.
Have you ever tried re-lubing the tracks? Mine were sticking like crazy until I hit them with a little silicone spray. Made them feel almost new. I do wonder sometimes if all this patching is just delaying the inevitable, but then again, if it keeps the cold out and buys a few more years, why not? The only thing that really bugs me is the condensation—still haven’t found a great fix for that. Anyone ever actually solve that, or is it just something you live with?
Funny you mention condensation—I’ve been battling that for years in my ‘92 split-level. Tried everything from dehumidifiers to cracking a window just a bit, but with aluminum frames, the cold transfer just seems inevitable. The shrink film helped some, but never fully solved it. I also tried running a bead of clear caulk around the inside stops, thinking maybe air leaks were the issue, but honestly? Didn’t make much difference. Have you checked your humidity levels indoors? Sometimes it’s just too high in winter, especially if you’re cooking or showering a lot. Still, it’s hard to get around that cold metal frame acting like a magnet for moisture...
Those aluminum frames are notorious for acting like little iceboxes. Even with the dehumidifier running, I still get puddles on the sills some mornings—guess it’s just physics doing its thing. I tried lining the frames with foam tape once, but it looked pretty rough and didn’t help much. Honestly, unless you’re up for replacing the whole window or adding storm windows, you’re mostly just managing symptoms. At least shrink film keeps the drafts down, even if it’s not a perfect fix.