Interesting about the furnace cycling—I'd assumed triple panes would noticeably cut heating needs, but maybe not if the rest of the house isn’t super insulated. Did you notice any difference in condensation or drafts around the new windows? I’m curious if that’s where the real benefit shows up.
We put in triple panes last winter, and honestly, the drafts by the windows are basically gone—that was the first thing I noticed. The condensation is much less too, especially compared to our old single panes. But you’re right, the rest of the house matters. Our walls aren’t great, so the rooms still feel a bit chilly near the exterior walls. Did you do anything about your doors or attic insulation when you upgraded the windows? I’m wondering if that combo makes a bigger difference.
Honestly, I’m not convinced triple panes are the magic bullet for saving money unless the rest of the house is up to par. We did ours a couple years back, but until we beefed up attic insulation and sealed up the doors, the difference was barely noticeable. Windows get all the hype, but leaky walls and thin attic insulation can eat up any gains. Sometimes I think the window industry oversells the payoff...
That’s been my experience too. We swapped in triple panes a while ago, but honestly, the real drop in our energy bill came after we did some serious air sealing and got the attic insulation up to R-60. Windows helped with drafts and noise, but if your walls or attic are under-insulated, it’s like wearing a thick coat with shorts in winter... not much point. I do think the window industry leans a bit heavy on the marketing, especially if folks haven’t tackled the basics first.
That’s a great way to put it—thick coat with shorts. I’ve always thought windows get a little too much credit for energy savings, at least compared to insulation and sealing. We put in triple panes a few years back, mostly because our old ones were shot and the street noise was getting on my nerves. They definitely made the house quieter and stopped some drafts, but honestly, the real difference in our bills happened after we finally dealt with the attic and those weird gaps around the sill plate in the basement.
I get why folks jump to windows first, though. It’s a visible upgrade and the sales pitches make it sound like you’ll be swimming in savings. But unless your house is already tight, it’s probably not the magic bullet. I remember crawling around the attic with a caulk gun and rolls of insulation, thinking, “Is this really going to do anything?” Turns out, it did more than the fancy windows ever did.
That said, I don’t regret the triple panes. The comfort level is better, especially in winter—no more cold spots by the glass. And the peace and quiet is worth something, even if it’s not showing up on the utility bill as much as I hoped.
If anyone’s on the fence, I’d say tackle the basics first, just like you did. Windows are nice, but they’re kind of the cherry on top once the rest of the house is sorted out.
Couldn’t agree more with this:
I fell for the window hype at first, but sealing up the attic and basement made a way bigger dent in my bills. Windows look cool and help with noise, but it’s not where the real savings come from. Comfort’s better though, so I get why you don’t regret it. Good call focusing on the basics first.“Windows are nice, but they’re kind of the cherry on top once the rest of the house is sorted out.”
I totally bought into the triple-pane thing when we moved in—figured it’d be a game changer for heating bills. Honestly? Didn’t notice much difference compared to what happened after I finally sealed up the crawlspace. Windows are nice, but air leaks are sneaky.
Totally agree—air leaks are the real wallet drainers. When I bought this place, I thought new windows would fix everything. Turns out, crawling around with a caulk gun made a bigger difference. Triple panes are nice for noise, but sealing up drafts paid off faster for me.
Turns out, crawling around with a caulk gun made a bigger difference.
That lines up with what I see all the time. Folks expect new windows to be a magic fix, but air leaks around the frames, sills, and even electrical outlets can undermine those pricey upgrades. When I install windows, my checklist always starts with finding and sealing drafts—weatherstripping, foam backer rod for bigger gaps, then caulk for the fine cracks. Triple panes are great for sound and extreme climates, but if you skip the prep work, you’re basically letting your investment leak out with every draft. Sometimes it’s not glamorous, but a tube of caulk and some patience really do go a long way before you even think about glass specs.
I totally underestimated how much those little drafts add up. First winter in my place, I was sure the old windows were the main problem, but after crawling around with a candle and finding all these sneaky air leaks, I spent a weekend sealing gaps with caulk and foam tape. Honestly, my heating bill dropped more from that than anything else I tried. Triple pane windows sound awesome, but if you don’t tackle the basics first, it’s kind of like wearing a fancy jacket with holes in your shirt underneath.