Honestly, swapping to Harvey windows was one of those home upgrades I actually felt good about after the fact. My 1960s cape finally holds heat in the winter, and the noise from the street is way down. Installers were quick, but yeah, it wasn’t cheap. Curious if anyone else has had a similar “worth it” moment with them or another local brand? Any regrets after a few seasons?
“my 1960s cape finally holds heat in the winter, and the noise from the street is way down.”
I hear you—Harveys made a huge difference in our old colonial too. The upfront cost stung, but honestly, our heating bills dropped enough that it feels justified now. No regrets after three winters; only thing I’d do differently is maybe splurge for the triple panes in the bedrooms. Sometimes I wish I’d done this years earlier.
That’s been my experience too—Harveys are a solid upgrade, especially in older homes where drafts are just part of the deal. I get what you mean about the upfront price; folks sometimes hesitate, but after a couple winters, most say it’s worth it. Triple panes can be great for bedrooms if street noise is a big issue, but honestly, doubles usually do the trick unless you’re right on a busy road. Either way, sounds like you made a good call.
- Yeah, Harveys are tough to beat for older homes with leaky windows.
- Totally agree, the price tag stings at first, but you barely notice drafts after—my coffee doesn’t get cold in five minutes anymore.
- Triple panes are nice if you’re living next to a highway or your neighbor’s got a drum kit. Otherwise, double panes usually handle the noise and cold just fine.
- Only thing I’d flag is watch out for installation—if they’re not squared up right, even the best windows won’t save you from drafts. Learned that the hard way once...
- Price tag was rough, but the energy bills dropped a bit, so it’s slowly paying itself back.
- I’ll second the noise reduction—didn’t expect it to make such a difference, but the street traffic is just background hum now.
- Install quality really does matter. Had one window that wasn’t sealed right and it was draftier than the old ones until they came back to fix it.
- Only downside for me: cleaning the outside panes on the second floor is still a pain. Tilt-in feature helps, but not a cure-all.
- After two winters, no regrets. The rooms stay warmer, and I’m not chasing down cold spots with space heaters anymore.
- I’ve heard some folks say the vinyl frames can yellow over time, but mine still look fine—maybe depends on sun exposure?
All in all, not perfect, but definitely an upgrade over the original 60s windows.
Had mine in for about three years now. Agree on the noise reduction—didn’t realize how much street sound I’d tuned out until it was gone. Cleaning’s still a pain for me too, especially with the screens. Haven’t noticed any yellowing yet, but my windows don’t get much direct sun. Install crew matters way more than I expected; one sloppy job can undo the whole point of new windows. Overall, way better than the drafty old wood frames.
Funny you mention the install crew—I've seen some beautiful windows get totally wasted by a rushed job. Once had a client who spent a fortune on high-end replacements, but the installers left gaps all around the frames. She still felt drafts and was so frustrated until we went back and fixed it up. Noise reduction’s always a big plus, though. As for cleaning, yeah, those screens are never as easy as they look in the brochure... I sometimes recommend just taking them out for a deep clean every spring if you can.
I hear you on the install quality—honestly, even a premium window won’t perform if it’s not squared and insulated right. But I’d actually push back on always removing screens for deep cleaning. Some of the newer screen frames warp or loosen after repeated removals. I’ve had more luck using a handheld vacuum and microfiber cloth while they’re in place, unless they’re seriously caked with pollen or grime. Not perfect, but less wear and tear over time. Anyone else notice this with newer screen designs?
I hear you on the install quality—honestly, even a premium window won’t perform if it’s not squared and insulated right. But I’d actually push back on always removing screens for deep clean...
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I’ve had the opposite issue. If I don’t pull the screens out every so often, the gunk just builds up in the corners, and then it’s way harder to clean later. I haven’t noticed much warping with mine (Harveys, installed 2021), but maybe that depends on the installer or model. For me, leaving them in place just doesn’t cut it—especially during pollen season.