I've used a dehumidifier pretty regularly in our basement, and it definitely makes the space feel warmer and more comfortable. Can't say I've noticed a huge difference in heating bills upstairs though...maybe slightly? But honestly, upgrading insulation and sealing drafts made way more impact for us. Still, if humidity's an issue, it's worth trying—just don't expect miracles on your energy bill, haha. Anyone else have different experiences?
Interesting points about the dehumidifier. I've seen similar results myself—humidity control definitely makes things feel more comfortable, but energy savings? Eh, not so much. Honestly, from what I've seen working with window installations, upgrading windows can be a bit hit-or-miss too. Had a client last year who spent a fortune on triple-pane windows expecting huge savings. Sure, their house felt cozier and quieter, but their heating bill only dropped slightly. Turns out their attic insulation was practically nonexistent...go figure.
On the flip side, another homeowner replaced just a few drafty old windows in their living room and saw a noticeable difference right away. Sometimes it's less about the windows themselves and more about how bad your old ones were to begin with. So yeah, windows can help—but they're not always the magic bullet people expect. Usually it's a combo of sealing drafts, insulation upgrades, and yes...sometimes even humidity control that really does the trick.
Had a similar experience here—replaced some really old windows in our bedroom and immediately felt warmer. But did you notice if sealing drafts or insulation played a role too? For us, tackling attic insulation afterward made an even bigger difference...maybe it's all connected somehow?
We had a similar situation—new windows helped a lot, but sealing up drafts around doors and baseboards made an even bigger impact. Makes me wonder if windows are just the first step...did you notice any other sneaky spots letting cold air in?
We went through something similar last winter. After replacing our old drafty windows, we noticed a big improvement, but there were still these weird cold spots around the house. One night, I was sitting on the couch and felt this icy breeze coming from somewhere...turned out our electrical outlets on exterior walls were letting in cold air! Who knew outlets could be drafty, right?
Ended up getting those little foam insulation pads to put behind the outlet covers—cheap fix, and it actually made a noticeable difference. Also found out that attic insulation was pretty thin in some spots, so we topped that off too. It's funny how once you start noticing drafts, you can't stop finding new ones. Feels like an endless game of hide-and-seek with cold air...but at least we're winning now, haha.
Yeah, those foam pads behind outlets are surprisingly effective. We did the same thing last year after noticing drafts around ours—it's weird how much cold air can sneak through such tiny spaces. Another spot we found was around the baseboards along exterior walls. Turns out sealing those gaps with a bit of caulk helped a ton too. It's crazy how once you start hunting for drafts, you realize your house is basically swiss cheese, haha...