Yeah, thermal breaks were new to me too until recently. HRVs seem helpful, but I'm with you—probably not a complete solution on their own. Still, if they can buy you some time before dropping serious cash on windows, that's definitely worth checking out. I'm in a similar boat, trying to balance comfort and budget... mountain winters aren't exactly forgiving, haha. Good luck figuring it out!
"Still, if they can buy you some time before dropping serious cash on windows, that's definitely worth checking out."
Yeah, totally agree—HRVs are great for managing indoor humidity and air quality, but they're just one piece of the puzzle. If you're looking at windows, don't overlook triple-pane options with low-E coatings. They cost a bit more upfront, but the comfort difference is noticeable, especially in harsh mountain climates. Also, sealing up drafts around existing windows can help stretch your budget further...every little bit counts when winter hits hard.
"Also, sealing up drafts around existing windows can help stretch your budget further...every little bit counts when winter hits hard."
Couldn't agree more about sealing drafts—made a huge difference for us last winter. Have you tried those insulating window films yet? They're pretty affordable and surprisingly effective at cutting down cold spots. Triple-pane windows sound awesome, but until we can swing that upgrade, the film and some heavy curtains have been lifesavers. Curious if anyone's noticed a big difference between vinyl and fiberglass frames in mountain conditions...
"Triple-pane windows sound awesome, but until we can swing that upgrade, the film and some heavy curtains have been lifesavers."
Same here—those insulating films surprised me too. Thought they'd be flimsy, but they held up great through some nasty storms last year. Haven't noticed a huge difference between vinyl and fiberglass frames myself, but neighbors swear fiberglass handles temp swings better. Honestly, proper sealing and insulation seem to matter more than frame material in my experience...
You're spot on about sealing and insulation—seen plenty of pricey windows installed poorly, and they still leaked air like crazy. Good prep work and careful caulking usually make a bigger difference than frame material alone, in my book...