This thread is gold. I'm in Ybor City (Hillsborough) with a 1920s bungalow, and the windows are original wood single-pane – beautiful but terribly inefficient. I've been on the fence about replacing them because I wasn't sure the real-world payoff. After reading all these experiences, I'm pretty convinced it's worth it for the comfort and eventual savings. The noise reduction perk is a big deal for me too (living in the city means lots of outside noise).
I'm going to start getting quotes now. I'll definitely call the companies you guys mentioned like Karoly Windows and ProTech Windoors to see what they offer. Thanks for educating me, everyone!
Just to add on the timeline, @guitarist20 is right. We ordered our windows last year and it took about 4 months for them to come in and get installed (supply chain issues and all). So don’t wait until the peak of summer to order, or you might miss out on that season’s savings. Do it in the cooler months if you can, so by the time summer hits, you’re reaping the benefits.
Has anyone here upgraded their sliding glass doors when doing windows? My sliders are old and definitely not energy-efficient, and I suspect they're leaking a lot of cold air. I'm thinking if I do the windows, I should probably do the sliders too. Just wondering if others did it and if they noticed as much difference with the doors as with the windows.
@sgamer48, yes, I included two sliding glass doors in my window project. They were a significant source of heat for me (big south-facing glass area). After replacing them with new insulated impact sliders, I noticed a big difference. The new sliders have double-pane glass with low-E just like the windows, and you can feel that the glass stays much cooler under the sun. Before, if I stood near the old slider, I could feel the heat radiating in and drafts around the edges. Now, no more of that. It also improved our security and they're smoother to operate. If it's within budget, I'd say do the sliders along with the windows, since they can be one of the largest "windows" in your house in terms of glass area.
I'm curious, did any of you notice a difference in how your furniture or floors held up to sun exposure after getting low-E windows? Like less fading of hardwood floors, carpets, or couches? I know the UV blocking is touted as a benefit, but wondering if people actually observed it.
@sky_paws, one of the reasons we wanted low-E glass was exactly that. Our old windows were basically letting in UV that bleached out our curtains and some artwork on the walls. It's a bit early for me to tell (only a month in with new windows), but knowing the tech behind it, I expect it will help a lot. Even in this short time, I notice that the sun rays feel "softer" coming through the windows – hard to describe, but it's less intense. So I'm hopeful our wood laminate floor and furniture will thank us in the long run. Maybe some others who have had low-E windows longer can chime in on long-term observations.
Following this thread with great interest 😃. I'm about to sign a contract for new windows for my home in Trinity (Pasco). Sounds like pretty much everyone is happy they did it, even if the dollar savings take time. The extra benefits (comfort, noise reduction, peace of mind in storms) seem worth it. Feeling much more confident about moving forward now!
One thing I'd add from my experience: when the old windows came out, we discovered some rotted wood in the frame of one window due to long-term water leaks (the old aluminum frame had been leaking). The installer had to do a bit of repair before putting the new window in. So, if you have an older home, be prepared for the possibility of some extra work if there’s hidden damage. It's usually not a huge deal, but just something to keep in mind budget-wise. In our case it was one windowsill that needed replacing. Glad we did the windows when we did or that rot would have only gotten worse.
I totally agree about the extra benefits being worth it. New windows even improved the aesthetics of my house a lot. I'm in Seminole (Pinellas), and my old windows had foggy glass and worn-out frames. Replacing them not only made the house more efficient, but it also gave it a fresh, updated look. Several neighbors commented on how nice the new windows looked. So while ROI can be measured in dollars, there's also an "enjoyment ROI" of living in a nicer looking and more comfortable home.
On the topic of ROI, keep in mind energy prices might not stay the same. If electricity rates go up in the future (which wouldn't surprise me), the savings from energy-efficient windows will be more significant. So the payback time could shorten if power gets more expensive. In Florida, we tend to have decent electric rates, but who knows 5-10 years down the road. So investing in reducing consumption now isn't a bad idea.