And don’t forget winter (we do get a few chilly weeks in Tampa!). My old windows were so drafty that on cold nights I could feel the chill seeping in. After replacing them, this past winter I hardly ever felt cold spots near the windows. The heater didn’t run as much on those 40°F nights. So while keeping heat out in summer is priority one here, keeping warmth in during the occasional cold spell is a nice secondary benefit of insulated, low-E windows. My January heating bill dropped too (not by a lot in our climate, but it was noticeable).
One thing to keep in mind when ordering new windows: lead times. I’m in Palm Harbor and when I ordered my impact windows last year, it took about 10 weeks for them to be manufactured and delivered. Apparently, with everyone upgrading and some supply chain delays, you might wait anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks (or more for custom shapes) from order to installation. So, don’t be surprised if your contractor says it’ll be a couple of months. Plan accordingly (for example, order in spring if you want them in before the peak of summer). The wait was worth it, but I definitely got impatient staring at my old windows in the meantime 😅.
Good point by @luckyeditor. Also, if you live in a neighborhood with a homeowners association, check if you need HOA approval for new windows. In my community in Westchase, we had to submit the window style and frame color to the HOA for okay. They just wanted to ensure the replacements looked similar (white frames, grid pattern same as others). It wasn’t a big deal – they approved it in one meeting – but it’s something to not overlook. A neighbor of mine got new bronze-colored frames and our HOA actually made him repaint them white to match the community look. So yeah, coordinate with any architectural guidelines to avoid headaches.
I live under the flight path near TPA airport, and let me tell you, the noise reduction from new windows is amazing. We went from single-pane to laminated impact double-pane windows. Before, we could hear every plane and lots of street noise; it was like the windows were paper. Now, it’s much quieter inside. Planes are a distant hum, and we actually sleep better. We pursued the window upgrade for energy reasons, but the soundproofing benefit has been the cherry on top. If you live near a busy road or other noise, keep that in mind as another reason to upgrade.
Another often overlooked benefit: my homeowner’s insurance premium went down after I installed impact-rated windows. I’m in Pasco County, and once I showed proof of hurricane-rated openings, my insurer gave a wind mitigation discount. It wasn’t huge, but a few hundred bucks off the yearly premium is nice. So energy savings, check. Insurance savings, check. I’ll take it!
I have a question that I didn’t see covered yet (hopefully I didn’t miss it). Has anyone here tried those removable solar screens instead of window tint or replacement? I have a friend who swears by the mesh solar screens that you can put over your windows to block sun. I’m considering them as a cheaper alternative to film or new windows for a couple of really hot windows in my house.
Do solar screens work as well as tinting or Low-E glass for reducing heat? My concern is they might make the room too dark or be a pain to put on and off (maybe I’d only use them in summer?). If anyone has experience with solar screens in our Florida sun, I’d love to hear how they compare.
@design_tyler Yep, I’ve experimented with solar screens on my home in Brandon before I eventually got new windows. Here’s what I found:
Solar screens are like a dark mesh that you either install in place of your normal window screen or over the window. They do an excellent job of shading – they can block something like 70-90% of the solar heat coming through the glass. When I had them on my west windows, the rooms were definitely cooler, almost on par with what my Low-E windows achieve now in terms of heat reduction. So in that sense, yes, they work quite well for cutting heat.
However, there are some downsides. As you suspected, they do make the room darker. It’s like having a heavy tint; you lose a lot of natural light. We joked that it felt a bit cave-like with them on, especially on cloudy days. Also, looking out through them can be a bit like wearing sunglasses – your view is compromised.
They’re not too hard to put on or remove (if they’re the frame type, you just pop them in like a regular screen). I ended up only using mine in the summer months and then storing them in the garage during winter to enjoy more light. It was a bit of a hassle to do that seasonal swap.
Another thing: from the outside, they change the look of your windows (it makes them look almost blacked out). Some people don’t mind, but our HOA wasn’t thrilled with the appearance.
In summary, solar screens do work to reduce heat, and they’re relatively inexpensive. They’re a decent interim solution if you can live with the reduced light and altered aesthetics. I eventually opted for new Low-E windows, which keep most of the heat out and still let in plenty of light, so I got the best of both worlds. But if new windows aren’t in the budget yet, solar screens can help in the meantime, especially on those brutal west-facing windows.
@saraha70 Thank you for the detailed insight on solar screens! That’s exactly the kind of info I was looking for. It sounds like they do work but come with trade-offs like darkening the room and aesthetic issues. I think I’ll hold off on buying those and maybe put that money toward the real solution (window upgrades) when I can. Or at most, use them temporarily next summer. Appreciate your experience – saved me from potentially investing in something I might not like long term.
Quick update on my end (since I posted earlier about my old jalousie windows): I finally got those replaced! 🎉 I took the advice from this thread and hired a pro. We installed new vinyl windows with Low-E glass in my Florida room and a couple of other drafty spots. The difference is huge – that Florida room is now usable in the afternoon, whereas before it was an oven unless I ran a separate AC out there.
Big thanks to everyone here for convincing me not to DIY and to go with energy-efficient replacements. It wasn’t cheap, but I already see the improvement. Even during the recent hot spell, the rest of the house stayed cooler with that sunroom not acting like a heat trap. And no more worrying every time it rains whether water is seeping through those old crank windows. I’m a happy camper!
@bmoore98 Thanks for the cleaning tips! Good to know I can clean my future Low-E windows normally without special treatment. And I’ll be gentle with any film if I add it. You probably saved me from accidentally Windex-ing something I shouldn’t 😅.