I noticed something interesting after getting low-E windows: it's like the house has sunglasses on now. Our family room gets direct sun and used to be super bright and give you a tan through the window 😂. After installing the low-E glass, the light is softer. You can still see perfectly, it's not dark or anything, but there's a slight tint that cuts the harshness. This has the effect of not only reducing heat but also protecting our furniture from fading. We used to have sun-faded curtains and even a bleached spot on the wood floor by the window; hoping that won't continue now.
Energy efficiency is a lot about keeping heat out here, and these windows definitely help. It's been mentioned, but bears repeating: even if the dollar savings aren't huge monthly, the comfort difference (less sun glare, more even temperatures) is immediately felt. We actually spend more time in the formerly sunny front room now because it's cooler and not blinding in the afternoon.
@kathyw32 Same experience here – our west-facing kitchen was unbearable from 3-6pm in summer. You'd be sweating just prepping dinner. After we put in windows with a good low-E coating, it's like night and day. We can actually use that space comfortably during the afternoon. I'd say low-E is a must in Florida. Some older double-pane windows (like early 90s ones) might not have low-E, so even if they’re double-pane, they let in a lot of heat. Upgrading to modern low-E glass gave us an immediate comfort boost.
I also find we don't have to close our blinds as much. Before, we’d shut blinds and curtains to keep the heat out. Now, we can leave them open longer without the room heating up dramatically. It's nice because we get more natural light without roasting. So even though windows are a pricey upgrade, that everyday quality-of-life improvement is hard to put a price on.
I'll note that we paired our window upgrades with some other things like adding solar shades and an attic radiant barrier, so it's hard to isolate the effect of just the windows. But in combination, our house in Riverview is much more efficient now. The windows were a key piece of the puzzle. Without decent windows, other improvements won't be as effective because you'll still be leaking energy.
After doing these upgrades, our electric bills dropped enough that we downsized our AC unit when it came time to replace it (old one was on its last legs). The AC contractor determined our load was reduced thanks in part to better windows. So we went from a 5-ton to a 4-ton unit. That will save energy and money long-term too. Just showing how windows tie into the whole home system. If your AC is running constantly, windows could be one of the culprits, along with insulation and such.
On the financial ROI topic: I recall reading an annual remodeling report that in the Tampa area, window replacement tends to recoup around 60-70% of its cost in increased home value. Not 100%, but it's one of the higher return projects for exterior improvements. And if you go with impact windows, you also add a selling point of "hurricane-ready," which buyers do value here.
So while you might not make money on the upgrade, you typically get a good chunk back if you sell, plus the enjoyment and savings while you live there. I looked at it this way: windows might not pay back fully in cash, but neither does buying a new car improve your finances – yet we do it for the comfort and safety. With windows, you're investing in your home's comfort, aesthetics, and safety. The ROI is partly financial and partly personal satisfaction.
One benefit that I think is huge and yet often overlooked until you experience it is noise reduction. When we swapped our old single-pane windows for double-pane (non-impact) windows, the noise drop was very noticeable. We live under a flight path near Tampa International, and airplane noise that used to rumble through is now a faint background sound at most. Also, general traffic noise from the street is way down.
If you live in a quiet area you might not care, but for us this was a game changer in terms of enjoying our home. We can sleep better and watch TV without hearing every car or loud conversation outside. If you get laminated impact glass, it's even better for sound. So even though we didn't primarily do it for noise, it's one of our favorite outcomes of the project. It makes our home feel more like a peaceful retreat.
@sophierunner318 Oh yes, the noise reduction is real. We live up in Pasco near a busy road and our old windows did nothing to block sound. After getting new impact windows installed, it's amazingly quiet inside 👍. We no longer hear the early morning trucks or loud mufflers zooming by. It's almost eerie how much sound the laminated glass cuts out, but in a good way!
In addition to outside noise, I think the insulating aspect also dampened noise between rooms a bit. Hard to tell, but the whole house feels more solid. We used to hear wind whistling on stormy nights too, and that has stopped with the new tight-fitting windows. So for anyone on the fence, remember to factor in the comfort of quietness. It's a quality of life thing you appreciate once you have it.
For those considering doing only some windows now and some later, a tip: maybe start with the bedrooms or the areas you spend the most time. That way you benefit from the comfort where it really matters. We initially could only afford to do four windows, so we chose the bedrooms first (to help us sleep cooler and quieter). It really made a difference at night not hearing as much outside and not feeling the heat radiate in.
Later on, we did the remaining windows when we saved up more. The house did look a bit funny with different windows for a year or two, but we were strategic – we did all the front-facing ones first, so from the street it matched. The back of the house had the old ones until we finished. If you do phase it, try to do an entire side or facade of the house for the sake of appearance. Also, keep all your window info so you can match the same model when you do the rest (same manufacturer and series, so they look identical). Ours turned out fine; you can't tell which were first or second batch.
We went the phased route as well. Did the front of our house in 2023 and the back in 2024. We chose front first mainly for curb appeal (didn't want the front looking mismatched) and because our living room (front) got the most sun. It worked out because once the front was done, the house already felt cooler due to those big windows being upgraded. The back side was less urgent. When we did finish the back, we noticed the remaining improvements in those rooms too, especially in winter (less drafty).
Visually, doing front first meant that for a year the back windows were old and the front were new, but nobody could tell unless they walked around the house. One lesson: order the second phase windows from the same manufacturer if you want a perfect match. We made sure to specify the same series and color. There was a slight risk if that series was discontinued, but thankfully it wasn't. So, yes, you can split the project – just plan it out.
I have to say, out of all the home improvements we've done, window replacement was one of the best upgrades. It’s one of those things that you interact with daily (opening, closing, looking through them, feeling the temperature), and it improved our day-to-day life more than I expected. Our home just feels more "solid" and well-insulated now. I remember before, during a windy thunderstorm, I could feel the air seeping through the closed windows and hear them rattle. Now, everything is tight and quiet.
Our AC runs a bit less and cools the house faster after work. We also noticed our humidity level indoors went down slightly once the old leaky windows were gone (less moist air leaking in). That was an interesting bonus. Overall, it just feels like our 1980s house caught up to modern standards.
Since we're on energy efficiency, I'll just add: windows are a big part, but also consider your attic insulation and other factors in Tampa Bay homes. I upgraded my attic insulation around the same time I did my windows, and that combo made a noticeable dent in my energy use. If you have an older home and you do windows but still have, say, minimal insulation or an old AC, you might not see full benefits. So, for anyone planning, it might be worth doing an energy audit or at least checking insulation, sealing up any other leaks (like under doors or recessed lights, etc.).
In my case, the windows were the most tangible improvement (could feel right away), but the insulation and sealing work complemented it. All together, my electric bills went down by about 25%. It's like each thing by itself is good, but together they make your home much more efficient.