I've installed quite a few smart windows over the past few years, mostly SageGlass, and reliability-wise, they're solid overall. Hardware itself rarely gives trouble—it's built to last. The software updates tend to slow down after a couple years, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Once the system's stable, frequent updates aren't really needed. Biggest issue I've seen is occasional connectivity hiccups, but nothing major or deal-breaking. Just make sure your installer knows their stuff during setup... saves headaches later.
"Biggest issue I've seen is occasional connectivity hiccups, but nothing major or deal-breaking."
Have you noticed if these connectivity issues happen more with certain setups or networks? I had a client who went with View windows last year, and we ran into similar hiccups—turned out their home Wi-Fi mesh system wasn't playing nice. Once we sorted that, it was smooth sailing. Curious if SageGlass behaves similarly or if it's more forgiving with different network setups...
Honestly, I wouldn't be too quick to blame the Wi-Fi mesh system for those hiccups. When we installed smart windows (went with View, not SageGlass), the rep initially suggested upgrading our network because we had some minor connectivity drops here and there. But after shelling out extra cash for a new router setup, guess what? Still had those occasional glitches.
Turns out, at least in my experience, the smart windows themselves were just a bit finicky. It wasn't constant or anything—just random disconnects every couple of weeks. Nothing major, but enough to notice and be mildly annoyed about. My neighbor down the street installed SageGlass around the same time, and while he didn't have exactly the same issue, he mentioned a similar "occasional drop" scenario. He’s on a totally different network setup too.
My point is: maybe it's less about your network gear and more about how these windows communicate overall. I'm no tech genius, but from what I've seen and heard around here, smart window tech still feels like it's ironing out some kinks regardless of brand or setup.
Don't get me wrong—I'm generally happy with them. The convenience is great, and they look slick as hell. But if you're expecting flawless connectivity just by tweaking your Wi-Fi gear...ehhh, I'd keep expectations realistic. Seems like these occasional hiccups might just come with the territory for now.
- Had a similar experience after installing SageGlass last year.
- Upgraded to a high-end mesh system, but still get random disconnects every now and then.
- Seems like it's just the tech itself...still worth it overall, but yeah, not perfect.
- Had similar hiccups with my SageGlass setup too.
- Mesh helped a bit, but yeah...still drops occasionally.
- Honestly though, minor annoyances aside, wouldn't trade the comfort and convenience for anything.
Yeah, I've had my SageGlass windows for about two years now, and I can relate to the occasional drops. Mesh definitely smoothed things out a bit, but it's not perfect. Still, gotta say, the difference in comfort is pretty amazing. Before upgrading, my living room used to get unbearably hot in the afternoons, even with blinds and curtains. Now, it's consistently comfortable without me having to constantly fiddle with shades.
I haven't personally tried View, but my neighbor has them installed, and from what he's mentioned, they're pretty similar performance-wise. He did mention their app interface was a bit more intuitive than SageGlass's, so if that's something important to you, might be worth considering. But honestly, minor connectivity hiccups aside, smart windows have been one of the best upgrades I've made to my home. The convenience and energy savings alone make them worth it in my book.
- Good points overall, but I'd caution about relying too heavily on the energy savings claim.
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"The convenience and energy savings alone make them worth it in my book."
- I've seen mixed results with smart windows in terms of actual energy bills—sometimes the upfront cost outweighs immediate savings, especially if your home's insulation or HVAC isn't optimized.
- Definitely agree on the comfort factor though; clients often mention how much nicer their rooms feel after installation, even if the numbers don't always show huge savings.
I've installed both View and SageGlass for different clients, and honestly, the comfort factor is usually what they rave about most. Had one homeowner who was skeptical at first—he kept crunching numbers and worrying about ROI—but after a few months, he admitted the rooms just felt better to be in. Like you said:
"clients often mention how much nicer their rooms feel after installation"
Energy savings can vary, sure, but sometimes comfort alone makes it worthwhile...especially if you're spending lots of time at home.
Comfort definitely counts. When I upgraded my windows, I was mostly thinking about energy bills at first, but honestly the biggest difference turned out to be how much nicer the space felt. Didn't even realize how much glare and heat I was putting up with until it was gone. Now, whenever I visit friends who still have regular windows, their rooms feel harsh by comparison. So yeah, ROI is important, but if you're spending a lot of time in your home (which most of us do), it's worth considering comfort as a real factor in your decision. Sounds like your clients figured that out pretty quick.
"Didn't even realize how much glare and heat I was putting up with until it was gone."
That's exactly the kind of feedback I hear a lot from people who've switched to smart windows. Between View and SageGlass, both are solid choices, but they differ slightly in how they handle tinting and controls. View tends to use predictive algorithms and sensors to automatically adjust tint levels based on weather, sunlight direction, and occupancy. It's pretty seamless, but some folks prefer more manual control. SageGlass offers a bit more flexibility there—you can override settings easily if you want a specific tint level at certain times.
From a technical standpoint, both brands perform similarly in terms of energy efficiency and glare reduction. Installation-wise, they're comparable too, though SageGlass sometimes has an edge in retrofit situations because of their wiring setup.
If comfort is your main goal (and it sounds like it is), either brand will significantly improve your indoor experience. Just consider whether you prefer automation or manual tweaking...that usually helps narrow down the choice.