Yeah, the film thing was a bit of a letdown here too. I put it on our south-facing windows thinking I’d finally outsmart summer, but honestly, the room still turned into a sauna by mid-afternoon. The edges started peeling up after a few months and it looked like I tried to wrap my windows with cheap plastic wrap. Not my best DIY moment.
We looked into low-e windows too, but the sticker shock is real. I mean, they claim to block a lot of heat, but I keep wondering if it’s actually going to make a huge difference or just a small improvement that I only notice in my wallet. A neighbor did the swap last year and swears their AC isn’t running as much, but they also went all-in and did new shades at the same time, so who knows what actually helped.
Honestly, I’m still on the fence. Part of me wants to just invest in some blackout curtains and call it a day. But then again... sweating through July is getting old.
We looked into low-e windows too, but the sticker shock is real. I mean, they claim to block a lot of heat, but I keep wondering if it’s actually going to make a huge difference or just a small improvement that I only notice in my wallet.
I get where you’re coming from. We replaced half our windows with low-e a few years back (the worst offenders, south and west facing) and honestly, it helped some, but didn’t turn the place into an icebox or anything. Our electric bill dropped a bit, but not enough to offset the cost for a long while. Blackout curtains made a bigger immediate difference for us—just not the prettiest solution. If you’re planning to stay in the house long-term, maybe it’s worth it, but otherwise... yeah, it’s a tough call.
That sticker shock is no joke. I remember running the numbers when we first moved in and honestly, I spent a good week just second-guessing whether the low-e upgrade was worth it. On paper, the energy savings look great—manufacturers love to tout those percentages—but in practice, it’s a lot more subtle. We’re in a 90s-era ranch with a ton of west-facing glass, and the summer sun used to turn our living room into a greenhouse by late afternoon.
After a lot of research (and some spreadsheet action), we opted to swap out just the two biggest offenders for low-e double panes. The immediate difference wasn’t dramatic, but I did notice the room didn’t get that “oven” feeling nearly as fast. Our AC still kicks on, but it cycles less often. Over the first year, our cooling bill dropped maybe 8-10%. It’s something, but yeah, not enough to pay for the windows anytime soon.
I totally agree about blackout curtains—they’re ugly, but man, they work. We tried cellular shades too, which helped a bit and looked less like a college apartment. If you’re handy, adding some weatherstripping and caulk around the frames can also cut down on drafts and heat leaks for way less money.
One thing I’ll say: if you’re planning to stay put for a long time, there’s a kind of peace of mind knowing you’ve improved the envelope of your house. It’s not just about bills—it’s comfort and even resale value down the line. But if you’re looking for a quick fix, or if you’re not sure how long you’ll be there, it’s a tough investment to justify.
It’s a tradeoff either way. I’m glad we did it, but I wouldn’t call it life-changing. Maybe incremental improvement is the best most of us can hope for with these old houses...
That’s interesting—an 8-10% drop is about what I’d expect, but yeah, it’s not exactly a huge payoff given what those windows cost. I keep wondering if the real value is more about comfort than savings, like you mentioned. Do you feel like the house stays more consistent temp-wise, or is it just slightly less hot in the afternoons?
I’ve also heard mixed things about low-e coatings—some folks say they can mess with winter heat gain if you’re in a colder climate. Did you notice any difference in winter, or was it pretty much the same? I’m debating whether to go all-in on low-e or just stick with cheaper fixes like shades and weatherstripping for now. The resale angle is tempting, but it’s hard to guess if future buyers would even care.
Curious if anyone’s tried those exterior solar screens or window films as a middle ground. Are they worth the hassle, or do they just make the room dark and weird?
That’s pretty much where I’m at too—trying to figure out if the comfort is worth the cost, since the energy savings aren’t exactly jaw-dropping. I’ve got a 70s ranch with a ton of west-facing glass, and afternoons used to be brutal. After putting in low-e windows, I did notice the living room didn’t turn into an oven by 4pm, but it’s not like the whole house magically leveled out. The bedrooms on the other side still get warm, just not as extreme.
Winter’s a bit of a mixed bag for me. I’m in central Texas, so “cold” is relative, but I did feel like the house held heat a little better at night. I’ve heard in colder climates, the low-e can block out some of that nice passive solar heat you’d want, though. Guess it depends on which way your windows face and how much sun you get in December. For me, the difference wasn’t huge, but maybe that’s because our winters are so mild.
I’ve tried window film before, just the peel-and-stick kind, and honestly, it helped with glare and took the edge off the heat, but yeah—it made everything feel a bit dim and gray. Not terrible, but not exactly cheery either. Never messed with the exterior solar screens, but a neighbor swears by them. His place looks a little bunker-ish from the outside, but he says it’s way cooler inside and he can still see out okay. I guess it’s a tradeoff between light and heat.
I keep going back and forth between spending big on new windows or just layering up with shades, film, and weatherstripping. The resale thing is tricky—some people care, some don’t even notice. I feel like unless you’re in a super competitive market, comfort now might be worth more than a maybe-someday resale bump. Still, would love to hear if anyone’s found a magic bullet for this.
You’re not wrong about comfort being the real payoff. I’ve done both—added film, then eventually bit the bullet on new windows in my ‘68 split-level. The film helped a bit, but honestly, new windows made the place livable in July. Still, it’s a chunk of change, and like you said, the energy savings aren’t as dramatic as the ads make it sound. For me, just not sweating through dinner was worth it. Resale? Meh, buyers barely noticed.
Couldn’t agree more about the whole comfort thing outweighing the numbers on paper. I swapped out the worst windows in my 70s ranch a couple years back and, yeah, my power bill dropped a bit, but the real win was not waking up drenched in sweat every morning. I do wish the resale bump was more noticeable, though. Seems like unless the windows are falling apart, buyers just shrug. Still, I’d do it again for the sanity during heat waves.
Seems like unless the windows are falling apart, buyers just shrug.
I actually had a different experience with resale. When I was house hunting, new windows were a selling point for me—maybe not a dealbreaker, but I definitely noticed. If you’re looking for a better bump, maybe try adding low-e film or shades instead of full window replacement? Cheaper, less hassle, and you still get some comfort gains. Full replacements are great but not always necessary if the frames are solid.
If you’re looking for a better bump, maybe try adding low-e film or shades instead of full window replacement? Cheaper, less hassle, and you still get some comfort gains.
Tried the low-e film thing last summer, actually. My house faces the sun like it’s sunbathing 24/7, so I was getting roasted in the afternoons. I didn’t have the budget (or patience) for a full window swap, so I grabbed some film from the hardware store and slapped it on. Not gonna lie, it was a little like wrestling with cling wrap at first, but once it was up, I did notice the living room didn’t turn into a sauna by 3pm.
I get the appeal of new windows, but unless the old ones are leaking air like a sieve, I’d say films and decent blackout shades are a solid halfway move. Plus, you don’t have to deal with contractors traipsing through your house for days. Maybe not as sexy as brand new windows, but my electric bill was a bit happier.
- Seen a lot of folks go the film-and-shade route, and honestly, for most, it’s a solid move. I’ve put up low-e film on my own rental before—bit of a pain to get bubble-free, but worth it once you get the hang of it.
- Blackout shades make a bigger difference than most people expect, especially if you layer them with lighter curtains.
- Unless your windows are ancient or drafty, total replacement usually isn’t worth the cost just for heat. I’ve swapped out plenty for clients, but most are after noise reduction or fixing leaks.
- Only thing to watch: some films can void window warranties if you have double-pane glass. Not a dealbreaker, but something to check on.
- Electric bill drops are real… just don’t expect miracles if your attic insulation’s still lousy. It all adds up.