Has anyone tried those window film kits as a stopgap? Curious if they actually help or just end up peeling off mid-season...
I tried one of the 3M window film kits last year because I was too lazy to deal with new caulking right before winter. It actually stuck way better than I expected, but it looked a little weird—kind of like shrink-wrapped leftovers on my living room window. Didn’t peel off, though, even with all the condensation we get here in Michigan. Not sure how much it really helped with drafts, but the room didn’t feel as cold near the window.
I get what you’re saying about fancy upgrades being pointless if you’ve got leaks everywhere. My neighbor spent a fortune on argon-filled windows, but then left his old wood frames untouched and still complains about “cold air sneaking in.” Makes me wonder how much difference the gas makes if your house is basically a sieve.
Anyone notice any difference in noise reduction with argon vs air between panes? I’ve heard people say argon helps with sound too, but I’m skeptical. My place is on a busy street and honestly, the only thing that made a real dent was adding heavy curtains.
Kind of tempted to just keep using the film kits until I can afford proper replacements, but yeah… not exactly pretty. Has anyone had them leave sticky residue or mess up paint when you take them off? That’s my main worry with these quick fixes.
I’ve used the 3M film a couple winters now—honestly, I was surprised by how well it held up considering our old windows and all the moisture in upstate NY. No peeling or sticky mess when I took it off, but I did notice a bit of paint came with it on one sill where I hadn’t sanded properly. As for argon, I replaced one window with an argon-filled unit last year and didn’t notice much difference in street noise. The biggest change was just not feeling that icy draft when sitting nearby. Heavy curtains still win for sound, at least in my place.
Interesting—I've seen that with paint peeling too, especially on older sills that weren’t prepped right. Did you notice any condensation issues after switching to the argon window? Sometimes I hear folks say the inside glass stays warmer, but I wonder if that's just marketing talk or if you actually felt a difference.
Honestly, I wouldn’t put too much stock in the “inside glass feels warmer” claim. I’ve swapped out plenty of old double panes for argon units, and yeah, the glass is a bit less chilly to the touch in winter, but it’s not night and day. If your house is drafty or you’ve got moisture issues already, argon won't magically fix condensation. Proper sealing and insulation around the window make a bigger difference in my experience. Argon’s nice, but it’s not a cure-all.
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, after I swapped out my old windows for argon-filled ones, I did notice a difference—not just in how the glass felt, but with fewer cold drafts near the window. Here’s what worked for me: First, made sure the frames were sealed tight (like you said). Then, went with argon units. It wasn’t dramatic, but my heating bill dropped a bit over winter. Maybe it’s not magic, but it helped more than I expected. Drafts and moisture definitely need their own fixes though—no argument there.
I totally get the “not magic, but it helped” vibe. I swapped out my old single panes for argon-filled last fall—honestly, the difference was subtle, but I don’t get that icy blast when I walk by the window anymore. If you’re expecting your heating bill to get sliced in half, it’s not gonna happen, but every little bit helps. One thing though: if your frames aren’t sealed up tight, even the fanciest glass won’t save you. Learned that the hard way after a drafty winter in my 1950s ranch...
if your frames aren’t sealed up tight, even the fanciest glass won’t save you
That’s spot on. I did a thermal scan after installing argon units and still saw cold spots—turned out the culprit was old weatherstripping around the sashes. Did you end up redoing your frames, or just add more insulation? Curious if you noticed a bigger difference after sealing everything up.
if your frames aren’t sealed up tight, even the fanciest glass won’t save you
That’s exactly what I ran into with my 80s colonial. I swapped out the old double panes for argon-filled units a couple winters ago, thinking I’d finally be rid of those chilly drafts. But after a week, the living room still felt weirdly cold near the windows. Did a little detective work (read: stuck my hand around the edges and nearly froze my fingers off), and sure enough, the draft was sneaking in right around the sash.
Here’s what worked for me, step-by-step:
1. Peeled off all the old weatherstripping—some of it basically crumbled in my hands.
2. Cleaned the tracks and frames with rubbing alcohol so the new stuff would stick.
3. Installed fresh foam weatherstripping where the sashes meet the frame, plus some V-seal along the sides.
4. Sealed up any visible gaps with clear caulk (careful not to glue the window shut... learned that the hard way).
After that, I noticed a much bigger difference than just swapping out the glass alone. The room actually held heat, and my furnace wasn’t kicking on as much.
I’m curious if you found a particular type of weatherstripping worked better for your windows? I tried felt first but it didn’t last through one winter—foam seemed to hold up better for me. Also, did you notice any condensation issues after sealing everything up tighter? That’s something I hadn’t really expected, but it popped up in my bathroom window after I finished.
Sometimes I wonder if all these upgrades are overkill, but honestly, it’s been worth it for comfort alone. Anyone else have luck with specific products or tricks for older wood frames?
I tried felt first but it didn’t last through one winter—foam seemed to hold up better for me.
Same here. I went with felt strips my first go-around because they were cheap, but they basically disintegrated after a few months. Switched to the sticky-backed foam and it’s held up way better, especially on my old wood sashes. I did get a bit of condensation in the kitchen window after sealing things up tight—guess it’s a tradeoff, but I’d rather wipe down a little moisture than freeze every morning.
Funny, I had almost the same experience with felt—total waste for me. I think the foam compresses better and holds up to all the opening and closing, especially when you’re dealing with older windows that don’t line up perfectly. The condensation thing is always tricky, though. If you’re sealing up tight, especially in a kitchen where there’s more humidity, it’s kind of inevitable unless you add a vent or crack a window now and then.
But speaking of window upgrades, has anyone actually noticed a big difference after switching from air to argon between panes? I keep reading that argon’s supposed to cut down on condensation and boost insulation, but I’m skeptical if it’s worth the extra cost—especially if your frames are old or not perfectly sealed anyway. I can see the science behind it, but in real-world conditions, does it really make your house feel warmer or your bills go down? Curious if anyone’s tracked their before-and-after numbers or noticed less frost buildup in winter.