@breeze_wright That's encouraging, thank you! It'd be great to give the A/C a lighter workload. I'll tackle the attic insulation next, but windows are first on my list. Glad to hear your A/C cycling improved with the new windows.
As someone living on the Gulf coast side of Pinellas (near Tarpon Springs), I'll add my perspective: I didn't have much of a choice about impact vs non-impact – local code pretty much requires impact-rated windows here because we're within the wind-borne debris zone. So we went with PGT WinGuard impact windows for our whole house.
Even though the priority was hurricane protection, we made sure to get the Low-E glass package on them, and the energy efficiency has been excellent. Our PGT vinyl impact windows have an SHGC of 0.21 (they use a slightly tinted Low-E laminate), which is actually lower (better) than some non-impact windows we saw. So it's nice – we got both storm safety and really good solar heat blocking.
Cost-wise, yeah, impact windows were more expensive, but we did get a bit of a break on insurance as mentioned, and we also sleep better not worrying about putting up shutters. During this past summer, our home stayed much cooler than the previous year (when we still had old windows + shutters). I think a lot of that is the Low-E and argon doing its thing, which you'd get in either impact or non-impact if you choose the right options.
So for coastal folks or those in hurricane zones: you can absolutely get impact windows that are also very energy-efficient. Just make sure to specify the high-performance glass. Our house is proof you don't have to sacrifice efficiency for strength.
We basically ticked both boxes, and the house is quiet and cool. Even if a storm never comes, the investment pays off in energy savings and comfort.
All great advice here. One more tip for maximizing your home's efficiency (beyond windows): don't neglect your attic insulation and other areas once the windows are done. I upgraded my windows and saw a big improvement, and later I also added more insulation in the attic and sealed some air leaks elsewhere. The combo has made my home dramatically more efficient overall.
Before, my new windows helped a ton with the radiant heat, but I still had some heat coming through the attic. After beefing up insulation, the house stays even cooler and the A/C runs even less. So if you've done windows and want to push it further, check your insulation levels – many older homes in Florida are under-insulated by modern standards.
But indeed, starting with windows is great because, as many have said, it's often the most noticeable change for comfort (plus no more hot drafts or cold drafts by the windows). Just think of it as part of an overall efficiency game plan.
For me, windows were step 1, insulation step 2, and now my energy bills are about 40% lower than when I bought the house. Pretty awesome!
I want to echo something that was mentioned earlier – make sure your installer pulls the proper permits! I'm on the border of Hillsborough/Pasco, and a neighbor of mine replaced their windows through some handyman under the table without a permit. It became a headache when they went to sell the house; the home inspector flagged that the windows were new but there was no permit record or inspection, and the buyer got cold feet until they resolved it.
In Florida, replacing windows legally requires a permit and then an inspection to ensure they meet code (impact ratings if required, proper egress, etc.) and are installed correctly. Reputable companies will handle this for you as part of the job. It protects you, actually, to have that inspection – another set of eyes to confirm the install was done right.
So even if someone offers to do it cheap without "the hassle" of permits, don't do it. The money you save isn't worth the potential trouble. Plus, if something goes wrong (like a leak during a storm), your insurance could question the unpermitted work.
All the companies mentioned here (Karoly, ProTech, etc.) will do things by the book. Just wanted to throw out that cautionary tale from my neighborhood. Always good to dot those i's and cross those t's when it comes to home improvements.
@marks96 Absolutely! Our installers made a point to show us the permit they posted in our window and then the final inspection approval. It might seem like bureaucracy, but it's there for a reason. The inspector who came out to my place actually checked that the windows were the correct rated ones and even looked at the caulking to ensure it was done right. It gave me extra peace of mind that another professional eyeballed the work.
So yeah, anyone reading: always insist on pulling permits. A legit contractor will never object to that. If they do, major red flag! Thanks for highlighting this, @marks96.
Just wanted to share a quick result from our window upgrade. We got ours done in March, and comparing our April electric bill to the previous year's April, we saw about a $50 decrease (from $180 down to $130). 😃 The weather was pretty similar, so I'm attributing most of that to the new windows. It's only one month of data, but it's in line with the 20-30% savings others mentioned.
More importantly, the comfort level is way up. My wife keeps remarking how the house just feels "less muggy" and the temperature is more uniform. We can sit by our big front window in the afternoon and not feel like we're under a heat lamp anymore.
Anyway, it's gratifying to start seeing the payoff immediately. At this rate, the windows will essentially help pay for themselves over time through energy savings (and of course, improve our day-to-day living in the meantime). Win-win.
I haven't even gotten my windows yet, but thanks to all the info here, I felt like an informed consumer when getting quotes. I actually surprised one salesman by asking about the SHGC and whether the windows had argon gas – he did a double-take like "this guy did his homework." 😆 So kudos to this thread for educating me!
We're scheduled to have our new windows installed next week. We're going with a local company that offered everything we wanted (vinyl, Low-E, good ratings, etc.). I'll post later if anything interesting comes up, but I'm expecting a smooth process thanks to all the tips I've gathered here. Feeling pretty good about it!
Update: I wanted to circle back and let everyone know how my window project turned out. We ended up choosing ProTech Windows for the job (their quote was very competitive and we were impressed with their knowledge of energy-efficient options). They installed our new windows about a month ago, and we could not be happier!
We went with double-pane vinyl windows (non-impact, since we have shutters) with a high-performance Low-E glass and argon fill. The specs on our windows: SHGC ~0.26 and U-factor ~0.29, so right in the sweet spot we discussed. ProTech's crew did a fantastic job on the install – they were in and out in two days for all 10 windows. They used foam insulation around the frames and everything was sealed up neatly. The county inspector came and gave a thumbs up with no issues.
As for the results: immediately we felt the difference. The house is so much cooler and more stable in temperature now. No more hot spots by the windows in the afternoon or mysterious warm drafts. Our AC now actually shuts off on occasion during the day, which never used to happen in summer. The noise reduction is noticeable too; the street noise is much more muted.
And the look of the Low-E glass is just fine – if anything the windows look clearer because we're not dealing with haze or condensation anymore. From the outside, they have a slight reflection but nothing drastic; the curb appeal actually improved with the new clean frames.
To give a concrete example, the other day it was 95°F out. We kept the thermostat at 76°F, and the AC had no trouble maintaining it. Before, on a 95° day we would have set it to 73-74 just to feel 78 in some rooms, and it would run non-stop. Now 76 feels cool everywhere. Our first electric bill post-install was about 18% lower than the same month last year, and we had even lowered the thermostat a bit later in the day because we were more comfortable. I expect we'll see even more savings as the really hot months continue.
I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone in this thread. Your advice and shared experiences absolutely guided me to make the right decisions. We focused on the features that mattered (Low-E, vinyl, etc.) and chose a great installer. The investment was substantial, but seeing the immediate comfort improvements and knowing we'll save on bills long-term, it feels worth every penny.
If anyone reading this is on the fence about getting energy-efficient windows in Florida, I'd highly recommend it. And use the collective wisdom here to ensure you get the right windows and a good installer.
Thanks again, all! I'm so happy with how everything turned out.
@data843 So glad to hear your project went well! 🎉 It sounds like a big success. Those are some excellent results – an 18% drop in the bill and, more importantly, a much more comfortable home. There's nothing better than feeling that immediate difference, right?
ProTech is a solid choice and it’s great that they lived up to their reputation. Welcome to the ranks of happy window-replacers! And thank you for coming back to share the outcome – it's really satisfying for all of us who gave input to know it helped.
Enjoy your cooler, quieter home. I'm sure when the next summer heat wave rolls around, you'll be extra glad you did this. Cheers!
@data843 That's fantastic! Congrats on the successful install and the awesome results. Hearing your update just reinforces everything shared here. I'm actually scheduled to do my windows in a couple of months, and your story has me even more excited (and less anxious) about it.
Big thanks to you and everyone in this thread. This really has been one of the most informative and friendly discussions.
Enjoy those lower bills and comfy temps! You've earned it. 😁