Wow, your experience sounds frustratingly familiar. I moved into my first place last winter and noticed my living room window was always colder than the rest of the house. At first, I thought it was just because it's a big window, but after reading your post, I'm starting to wonder if something similar might be going on here. I haven't noticed any obvious drafts or gaps visually, but now I'm tempted to pry off the trim and see what's hiding behind there...though honestly, I'm a bit nervous about making things worse since I've never done anything like that before.
Did you find any good resources or tutorials before tackling yours? Or did you just dive in and hope for the best? I'm curious how tricky it actually is for someone who's pretty new to DIY home fixes.
Honestly, you're smart to be cautious—prying off trim can feel intimidating at first. But trust me, windows are pretty forgiving DIY-wise. YouTube has tons of solid tutorials; just watch a few first, take your time, and you'll surprise yourself with how capable you actually are.
I agree to a point—windows can be forgiving, but honestly, it depends a lot on your house and how well the original install was done. When I tackled mine, I watched hours of YouTube tutorials (some great, some questionable...) and still ended up fighting with stubborn trim and hidden nails. Got through it eventually, but I'd suggest being prepared for surprises. Definitely doable DIY-wise, just don't underestimate how finicky older houses can be.
"Definitely doable DIY-wise, just don't underestimate how finicky older houses can be."
Haha, ain't that the truth? Ever tried prying off trim only to discover it's practically welded on by decades of paint layers? Older homes always seem to hide their secrets well...
Haha, been there with the trim—felt like I needed an archaeological permit just to pry it loose. Older homes definitely have their quirks, but when it comes to windows, especially in colder climates or higher altitudes, it's worth the extra hassle. If you're dealing with thin air and chilly temps, I'd seriously recommend looking into triple-pane windows with low-E coatings and argon or krypton gas fills. They significantly reduce heat transfer and condensation issues that older houses are notorious for.
Also, don't underestimate the importance of proper sealing and insulation around the window frames. Even the best windows won't perform well if you've got drafts sneaking in through gaps or poorly insulated walls. A good expanding foam sealant (the low-expansion type specifically for windows) can be your best friend here—just don't go overboard or you'll end up with bowed frames and stuck sashes... ask me how I know.
Anyway, good luck with your project—sounds like it'll be worth the effort once winter rolls around again.
I feel your pain on the expanding foam... learned that lesson the hard way myself. Another thing I found helpful was adding thermal curtains after upgrading my windows. Even with triple-pane, those curtains made a noticeable difference on extra chilly nights. Plus, they're pretty affordable and easy to install—just make sure you get ones wide enough to fully cover the window edges, or you'll still feel drafts sneaking around the sides.
Thermal curtains definitely help, but honestly, I've found cellular shades to be even better. They're pricier, sure, but the insulation they provide is impressive—especially if you get the double-cell ones. Plus, they fit tighter against the window frame, so fewer sneaky drafts...
I've been looking into cellular shades myself, but I wonder—are they really worth the extra cost compared to thermal curtains? I've got thermal curtains right now, and they're decent, but like you said, drafts still sneak through. I've heard good things about double-cell shades, though... Do they make a noticeable difference in your heating bill, or is it more about comfort? Also, how durable are they long-term? I'm a bit skeptical about investing more upfront if they'll wear out or lose effectiveness after a couple years. Would appreciate hearing from someone who's had them installed for a while.
I've had double-cell shades for about four years now, and here's my take:
- They definitely help with comfort—less drafty feeling near windows, especially noticeable on colder nights.
- Heating bill difference was subtle. Maybe a slight improvement, but nothing dramatic enough to justify cost purely on savings alone.
- Durability-wise, they've held up surprisingly well. No sagging or noticeable loss in insulation yet. I was skeptical too, but they're still going strong.
- One downside: cleaning them can be a pain compared to curtains. Dust settles inside the cells, and it's tricky to get out completely.
Overall, I'd say they're worth it if comfort is your main concern. If you're looking strictly at energy savings, you might be disappointed. I kept thermal curtains in one room as a comparison—honestly, the shades do feel warmer and less drafty overall, but it's not night-and-day different.
Your experience lines up pretty closely with what I've seen installing these shades over the years. Had a customer once who was convinced they'd slash his heating bill dramatically—he was a bit disappointed when it didn't happen. But he did mention the comfort factor was noticeable, especially in his drafty old farmhouse. You're spot-on about cleaning too...I've heard plenty of grumbles about dust buildup. Still, glad they're holding up well for you—four years without sagging is pretty solid.