Good points, but honestly, thermal imaging and audits can sometimes be overkill. Had mine done last year—ended up confirming what I already suspected. Sometimes just checking seals and caulking yourself first can save you a chunk of change...
Totally agree, sometimes simpler is better. I usually start by checking for drafts around the frames on a windy day—just run your hand along the edges. If you feel air coming through, that's your first clue to reseal or recaulk before spending big bucks on audits.
Fair point, but do you think just checking for drafts by hand is reliable enough? I've had windows that felt fine on windy days but still leaked heat like crazy. Maybe a basic thermal leak detector could catch stuff your hand misses...
"I've had windows that felt fine on windy days but still leaked heat like crazy."
Yeah, that's a good point. Hand-checking can catch obvious drafts, but subtle leaks are tricky. I remember replacing windows in my old place—thought I'd done a thorough check by hand, but when winter hit, the heating bills told a different story. Ended up borrowing a friend's thermal leak detector, and it pinpointed spots I never would've guessed were problematic. Honestly, for the relatively low cost, it's worth having one around if you're serious about energy efficiency. Have you tried one yet, or just considering it?
"Ended up borrowing a friend's thermal leak detector, and it pinpointed spots I never would've guessed were problematic."
Yeah, those thermal detectors are surprisingly handy. I thought my windows were solid too—no obvious drafts or anything. But when I borrowed one of those devices, I found out the frames themselves were leaking heat. Ended up having to redo insulation around the window casings as well... wasn't even on my radar initially. Definitely worth checking before committing to a full window replacement—it might save you a chunk of change.
I had a similar experience last winter. Thought my windows were the main culprit, but after borrowing one of those thermal detectors, turns out my biggest heat loss was actually around the electrical outlets and switches on exterior walls. Who would've guessed that? Ended up getting some foam insulation pads to put behind the outlet covers—cheap fix, but it made a noticeable difference.
Honestly, I think a lot of us jump straight to window replacements because that's what everyone talks about, but there are so many sneaky little spots that leak heat. Makes me wonder how many people spend thousands on new windows when they might've solved most of their issues with some simple sealing or insulation tweaks.
"Honestly, I think a lot of us jump straight to window replacements because that's what everyone talks about..."
Haha, guilty as charged. I once had a client convinced their windows were the issue—until we did a quick attic inspection. Turns out, their insulation was practically nonexistent up there. After beefing that up, their heating bills dropped dramatically. Windows are often the scapegoat, but houses have plenty of sneaky spots that leak heat... attics, basements, even gaps around plumbing pipes. Always worth checking before dropping thousands on new windows.
True, windows get blamed a lot, but sometimes they really are the culprit. I spent ages sealing gaps and insulating every nook in my house—attic, pipes, doors... you name it. Helped a bit, but the drafts persisted. Finally bit the bullet and replaced the windows. Huge difference. Moral of the story: check everything else first, but don't rule windows out completely—they can still be sneaky little heat thieves.