We went through something similar a couple winters ago. Did the whole window replacement thing—double-pane, low-E glass, the works. It definitely made a difference with condensation and overall comfort, but wasn't quite the game-changer we had hoped for either.
A few things we ended up doing afterward that actually helped more than expected:
- Added heavy thermal curtains to bedrooms and main living areas. Honestly, this was probably one of the best bang-for-your-buck improvements we've made.
- Installed weatherstripping around attic access doors and basement entrances. Those spots were sneaky culprits letting cold air in.
- Used foam outlet insulators behind wall plates—super cheap and easy DIY job.
- Adjusted thresholds on exterior doors. Amazing how much draft comes through if they're even slightly off.
Funny enough, after all that work, the biggest improvement came from insulating our attic better. We had decent insulation already, but adding another layer of blown-in cellulose really cut down on heat loss upstairs. I guess windows are just one piece of a bigger puzzle when it comes to keeping warm air in and cold air out.
Still, no regrets on the window upgrade...it improved our home's look and resale value, so there's always that silver lining. Home renovation is definitely an ongoing experiment, isn't it? Keeps us busy at least, haha.
We had a similar experience—windows helped, but weren't the magic bullet. One thing that surprised me was sealing gaps around recessed lighting fixtures...those little openings let out more heat than you'd think. Worth checking out if you haven't already.
"windows helped, but weren't the magic bullet."
Yeah, I found something similar when we replaced ours last year. Honestly, I expected a bigger difference given the cost involved. Funny enough, what really seemed to help us was adding some heavier curtains—especially on those super chilly nights. Didn't think it'd make much of a difference at first, but it noticeably cut down on drafts. Might be worth considering before diving into more expensive fixes...
"Funny enough, what really seemed to help us was adding some heavier curtains—especially on those super chilly nights."
That's a pretty solid idea. I had a similar experience when we moved into our older house a few years back. We replaced the windows hoping for a huge improvement, and while it did help somewhat, it wasn't exactly life-changing given the price tag. What ended up making a noticeable difference was sealing up smaller gaps around the frames and sills with some weatherstripping and caulking. It was surprising how much cold air was sneaking in through those tiny cracks.
Also, we put up thermal blinds behind our regular curtains, and that helped trap heat inside even better. Between sealing the gaps and adding layers to the window coverings, the house definitely felt cozier without breaking the bank. Might be worth trying something similar before committing to any more big-ticket upgrades...
Heavier curtains definitely help more than most people realize. When we first moved into our place, I was pretty skeptical about curtains making any noticeable difference. I mean, fabric versus freezing air—didn't seem like a fair fight. But after one particularly brutal winter, we finally gave in and got some thick blackout curtains. Honestly, the difference was immediate. Not only did the rooms feel warmer, but the drafts we'd gotten used to were suddenly gone.
I agree with the earlier comment about sealing gaps too. We found a few sneaky spots around our window frames that were letting in cold air, and sealing those up made a noticeable improvement. It's funny how these smaller fixes often end up being more effective (and way cheaper) than big-ticket upgrades like new windows or insulation. Sometimes the simplest solutions really are the best ones...
Totally relate to the skepticism about curtains. We lived in an older house years back with these huge windows—beautiful views but man, winters were brutal. Finally caved and got some heavy thermal curtains, and what a difference. Another small thing we did was putting those shrink-wrap window film kits on the draftiest windows. Looks kinda goofy at first, but honestly, it cuts down drafts a ton, and our heating bills dropped noticeably. It's amazing how these little DIY hacks can make such a big difference in comfort (and wallet).
Thermal curtains and shrink-wrap definitely help, but have you considered checking the actual window seals? In my experience, older windows often have worn or cracked caulking—replacing that can sometimes be even more effective (and cheaper) than plastic film in the long run.
That's a good point about the caulking, but honestly, I've found that even after redoing seals on my older windows, drafts still creep in. Last winter, I spent a weekend meticulously resealing everything, and while it helped somewhat, it didn't fully solve the chill issue. Ended up adding shrink-wrap anyway. Sometimes older windows just have inherent structural gaps or thin panes that sealing alone can't fix completely... at least that's been my experience.
Yeah, older windows can be stubborn like that... sometimes it's like they're determined to let the cold in no matter what you do. Have you checked if the frames themselves might be warped or slightly out of alignment? I've seen cases where sealing doesn't help much because the window itself isn't sitting flush anymore. Also, curious—did you notice if certain rooms or sides of your house were worse than others?
Older windows really can be a pain, especially when the temps drop. Good point about the frames—I've seen situations where folks spend hours sealing and insulating, only to realize later that the frame itself was slightly twisted or warped. One time, I helped a friend troubleshoot a stubborn draft issue, and it turned out the window frame had shifted just enough to create a tiny gap at the top corner. We ended up having to shim it back into alignment before any sealing actually made a difference.
Also, about certain rooms being worse... I've noticed north-facing rooms or those exposed to prevailing winds tend to suffer more. It's like the cold air just finds its way in no matter how meticulous you are. Might be worth checking if there's a pattern like that at your place. Sometimes strategic landscaping or even exterior shutters can help buffer the wind chill a bit. Just throwing ideas out there...