You’re spot on about old houses being unpredictable. When we swapped out our drafty windows, it helped with noise and cold spots, but honestly, the attic insulation made a bigger dent in our bills. Windows just made the place feel less damp and weirdly “chilly,” if that makes sense. Still, I’d do insulation first if I had to pick.
Totally get what you mean about the “chilly” feeling. We just moved into a 1920s place last year, and man, it’s like the house has moods. Some days it’s just cold, even if the thermostat says otherwise. We did windows first because the old ones were basically held together with paint and hope, but honestly, I was kind of expecting a bigger drop in the heating bill. It’s quieter now and the drafts are gone, but the attic insulation did way more for the actual warmth.
Kind of wish I’d known that before dropping all that cash on windows. Not that I regret it—no more rattling frames every time a truck goes by—but if I had to pick one, insulation wins hands down. Plus, crawling around up there with a staple gun was way less expensive than replacing every window.
One thing I didn’t expect: new windows actually made the house feel less damp, like you said. The old ones would fog up and drip water all winter, which was gross. But yeah, if you’re looking for bang for your buck, insulation is the move. Windows are more of a comfort/looks thing, at least in my experience.
Guess it depends on what bugs you more—cold toes or foggy glass. Either way, old houses are full of surprises… sometimes the fun kind, sometimes not so much.