Getting help with window upgrades: what’s actually available?

My house is from the 70s, and honestly, the drafts are next level.

I feel you—my place is a ’68 special and the living room used to feel like a wind tunnel. I did actually get a provincial energy rebate for new windows last year. The paperwork was... not fun, but it wasn’t impossible either. Had to get an energy audit first (which cost a bit), but in the end, I got about 20% back. Not life-changing, but it helped. If your windows are really bad, the energy savings alone might be worth it over time—my heating bill dropped noticeably. Just double-check which programs are active in your area since they change all the time.

I’m in a similar boat—bought my first place last year and the windows are original (1973). Looked into the rebate programs, but honestly, the upfront cost for the audit made me hesitate. I get that you save on bills, but the payback feels pretty slow unless your windows are truly awful. That said, I did some DIY weatherstripping and it made more difference than I expected... not a full fix, but way cheaper.

That said, I did some DIY weatherstripping and it made more difference than I expected... not a full fix, but way cheaper.

I totally get this. My place was built in ’68, and the windows were leaky as heck. I started with weatherstripping too—just grabbed a kit from the hardware store and did one room at a time. It’s not a miracle, but honestly, it cut down the drafts and the heating bill dropped a bit. If you’re on the fence about upgrades, I’d say: step 1, seal the gaps; step 2, maybe try those shrink-wrap window films for winter. The audit fee put me off too, but chipping away at the little stuff first gave me time to save up. Not perfect, but it’s progress.

Honestly, weatherstripping did more for me than I expected too. It’s kind of wild how much air sneaks in through tiny gaps. I got a roll of that foam tape and just went around the frames—definitely felt the difference, especially in the living room where the draft used to hit right at ankle level.

About the actual window replacements and financial help, I looked into a few programs last year (in Ontario, if that helps). The Canada Greener Homes Grant was the big one at the time—up to $5,000 back, but there were a lot of hoops. First, you needed an energy audit before and after. The audit alone cost about $600 upfront (though some of it was supposed to be reimbursed later). Plus, you had to use specific certified installers and products. I stalled out because every local company was booked up for months, and prices shot up once they knew you had “grant money” coming. Not saying it’s a scam, but it felt like costs magically increased.

For me, by the time I did the math—factoring in upfront costs and all the paperwork—it just wasn’t worth it right then. I ended up replacing two windows out of pocket with basic double-pane units. They’re not top-tier, but they made a noticeable difference in temperature swings.

If you’re in a colder climate, even small upgrades can add up. Draft snakes, thermal curtains, caulking—none of it’s fancy but sometimes the simple stuff gives you more bang for your buck than chasing rebates. Still keeping an eye on new programs though… maybe next year I’ll try again if anything changes. The process isn’t super user-friendly, that’s for sure.

I’ve been in and out of houses for years and it always surprises me how much difference a bit of weatherstripping or caulking can make. One winter, I did a job on an old farmhouse—owner thought she needed all new windows, but after sealing up the gaps and adding some heavy curtains, her heating bill dropped more than she expected. Grants sound great on paper, but yeah, the hoops can get wild. Sometimes it feels like you spend more time wrangling paperwork than actually fixing anything. I do wish the process was more straightforward... not everyone has the patience (or budget) for all those steps.

It’s wild how folks jump straight to “replace everything” when a bit of elbow grease and $20 in supplies can seriously cut drafts. I get why people want the grants, but man, those forms are a headache. Last time I tried, I felt like I needed to submit my entire life story just for a rebate. Honestly, unless your windows are rotting out, sealing and curtains do more than people think... and way less hassle.

Honestly, a tube of caulk and some weatherstripping go a long way. I did my living room windows last winter—took maybe an hour, and the drafts basically vanished. Not glamorous, but way less drama than chasing rebates or new installs. Curtains help too, especially those thick ones.

That’s pretty much what I did last fall—just grabbed some caulk, foam strips, and took a Saturday to seal up the worst spots. Didn’t look fancy but my heating bill dropped a bit. Heavy curtains made a bigger difference than I expected too. Sometimes the old-school fixes are enough, at least for a while.

Sometimes the old-school fixes are enough, at least for a while.

I get where you're coming from—I've done my share of caulking and shoving towels under drafty sills. But honestly, after a few winters patching things up, I started wishing I'd just bitten the bullet and replaced my windows sooner. The heavy curtains trick is solid, but in my place, it just made the living room feel like a cave half the year. Not exactly cozy.

Swapping out the worst windows (the ones that rattled in a stiff breeze) made a way bigger dent in my bills than all the foam strips and plastic film combined. Plus, I didn’t have to keep redoing it every year when stuff peeled off or shrank. Upfront cost stings, sure, but I’m not missing the cold drafts or the annual ritual of taping plastic everywhere.

Old-school fixes are fine in a pinch, but sometimes it’s like duct taping a leaky pipe—works for a bit, but eventually you want a real fix.