I’m tempted, but honestly, I’m skeptical they’d do much with old plaster walls.
I get the hesitation—those stick-on fans usually just recirculate air unless you can actually vent them outside, which is tricky with thick plaster. Have you looked into humidity-sensing switches or even just a beefier exhaust fan? Sometimes upping the CFM makes a surprising difference, especially if your duct run isn’t too long. Curious if anyone’s tried drilling through old lath and plaster for proper venting... seems like a pain, but maybe worth it?
- Totally get where you’re coming from. That old plaster can be a bear to work with.
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“Curious if anyone’s tried drilling through old lath and plaster for proper venting...”
I’ve done it once—messy, but doable with patience and the right bits.
- Upping CFM does help, but if your vent path is long or has bends, results can vary.
- Humidity-sensing switches are underrated, especially if you can’t do major venting upgrades right now.
- Don’t let the old walls stop you from experimenting. Sometimes small tweaks go further than expected.
- Old windows can be a headache, but swapping them out really does help with drafts and bills, even if the upfront cost stings a bit.
- If you’re dealing with plaster, careful prep makes a big difference—slow and steady, and use a vacuum as you go.
- I’ve seen folks regret going too cheap on replacements, so it’s worth weighing the long-term savings against the hassle and expense.
- Don’t underestimate how much quieter and less drafty your place can feel after an upgrade. It surprised me in my own 1920s house.
I totally underestimated how much of a difference new windows would make—my old ones rattled every time the wind picked up, and now it’s actually quiet. Did anyone else notice weird smells disappear too, or was that just me? Maybe my old windows were holding onto history...
I swapped out the original windows in my place about two years ago. Honestly, didn’t expect much except maybe a lower heating bill, but the difference was immediate. Not just quieter—like you said—but the weird drafty smell that always lingered in the living room just kind of vanished. I figure the old wood frames were probably trapping moisture or who knows what else over the decades.
One thing I’ll say though, the cost was no joke. Took a while to save up, and the install crew left some scuffs on the wall I had to fix myself. Still, no regrets. The house feels tighter and more comfortable, especially during storms. Can’t say I miss the rattle or the musty smell at all.
the weird drafty smell that always lingered in the living room just kind of vanished.
That’s one of those things people don’t really expect until it’s gone, right? I had a similar thing happen in my own place—old aluminum frames, and every time it rained, you’d get this damp, earthy odor. Once the new windows went in, it was like the house could finally breathe properly. I do wonder, did you go with double or triple glazing? I’ve noticed some folks regret not splurging for the extra layer, but honestly, even the standard upgrade makes such a difference. The install mess is a pain though... why do crews always seem to miss those little details?
I’ve seen that drafty smell thing a bunch—sometimes folks don’t even realize it’s the old putty or the frame material just soaking up moisture over time. Funny how your nose kind of tunes it out until it’s suddenly gone. About glazing, I usually lean toward double unless you’re in a really harsh climate or have crazy street noise. Triple is nice, but the cost jump can be hard to swallow. Did you notice any difference in outside noise after the swap? Sometimes that’s the biggest surprise for people.
- You’re spot on about the nose tuning out those old window smells—seen it a ton.
- Double glazing is usually plenty unless you’re right on a busy street or in a super cold spot.
- Triple’s quieter, sure, but the price jump rarely adds up for most folks.
- A lot of my clients say the biggest shock is how much quieter their house feels after swapping out the old panes.
- Energy savings are real, but the sound difference can be just as satisfying... if not more.
- If you’re not dealing with heavy traffic or wild weather, double’s probably your best bet.
A lot of my clients say the biggest shock is how much quieter their house feels after swapping out the old panes.
That’s the thing nobody really expects, right? I remember one job where the homeowners were convinced it’d just be about heating bills, but after we finished, they said the quiet was almost eerie at first. Still, I’ve had a few folks on busier streets who wished they’d gone for triple glazing after all—guess it depends on what’s outside your window. Has anyone here noticed condensation issues after upgrading? Sometimes that’s the one surprise people don’t see coming.
Condensation is one of those weird side effects nobody warns you about. When we swapped to double glazing, the house felt tighter and quieter, but suddenly I noticed more condensation on the inside of the new panes, especially in the mornings. Turns out, it’s because the new windows are so much better sealed that moisture’s got nowhere to go. We ended up adding trickle vents and running the bathroom fan more often. It’s not a dealbreaker, but definitely something folks should plan for if they’re used to drafty old windows.