Cooling bill

[Ohky0815]

Im sitting at $50 for our apartment.

[kjbrill]

Originally Posted by Ohky0815

Im sitting at $50 for our apartment.

Heating and cooling costs are a big variable. Some people like having the windows open until they are enveloped in sweat. Others, like me, don't want to see any difference in the temperature of my house between winter and summer. As I have stated, our thermostat is set on 72 and the only difference is we switch between heat and cool. So since personal comfort is so variable, heating and cooling costs will be too. Some people crank back the heat in the winter, down to 68 or less. That is their prerogative. Me, I want a sheet to cover me as a blanket year round. Cool enough for the sheet, but not cold or hot.

[h Steve]

Originally Posted by kjbrill

Heating and cooling costs are a big variable. Some people like having the windows open until they are enveloped in sweat. Others, like me, don't want to see any difference in the temperature of my house between winter and summer. As I have stated, our thermostat is set on 72 and the only difference is we switch between heat and cool. So since personal comfort is so variable, heating and cooling costs will be too. Some people crank back the heat in the winter, down to 68 or less. That is their prerogative. Me, I want a sheet to cover me as a blanket year round. Cool enough for the sheet, but not cold or hot.

Different strokes for different folks. I'm of the windows open variety. I have to let the house 'air out'. The thermostat is set for 68 in the winter and 78 for the summer. We're on even billing so our bill is the same every month till December when it's catch up time. We do need new windows. We've got the old metal casement type and they need reglazing now and I'm not up to that anymore. I'm going to start calling for estimates next week.

[kjbrill]

Metal Casements - Oh My God!

Get a number of estimates. I am not going to tell you prices do not vary widely, they do. But so does quality. The biggest problem with low grade vinyl is the windows will tend to warp and stick. But that doesn't mean you have to get the top grade. The most important thing is the glass. There is a great variation there also. But as long as it is two pane, sealed in a single panel, and tinted to prevent sun ray intrusion, you should see a huge difference in energy use.

I would replace those casements with a standard double-hung style replacement window. My original windows were aluminum sliders, almost as bad as metal casements. I have one window in the front window which is a triple double-hung style and two rear windows which are doubles. The originals had a fixed center section with sliders on the end. Of course they were all single pane so out they came. When looking at vinyl windows compare lap joints to welded butt joints. There is a difference in quality right there.

[h Steve]

Originally Posted by kjbrill

Metal Casements - Oh My God!

Get a number of estimates. I am not going to tell you prices do not vary widely, they do. But so does quality. The biggest problem with low grade vinyl is the windows will tend to warp and stick. But that doesn't mean you have to get the top grade. The most important thing is the glass. There is a great variation there also. But as long as it is two pane, sealed in a single panel, and tinted to prevent sun ray intrusion, you should see a huge difference in energy use.

I would replace those casements with a standard double-hung style replacement window. My original windows were aluminum sliders, almost as bad as metal casements. I have one window in the front window which is a triple double-hung style and two rear windows which are doubles. The originals had a fixed center section with sliders on the end. Of course they were all single pane so out they came. When looking at vinyl windows compare lap joints to welded butt joints. There is a difference in quality right there.

I plan on calling Gilkey, Champion, and Pella for sure. The independents I'm a little leary of. The 'big boys' I feel have a reputation to uphold.

[kjbrill]

Originally Posted by h Steve

I plan on calling Gilkey, Champion, and Pella for sure. The independents I'm a little leary of. The 'big boys' I feel have a reputation to uphold.

You can expect Gilkey to be the most expensive. But in my opinion they are the best. I have Gilkey, going on 10 years now, and never a problem. I broke two windows, one from a rock off a lawn mower, and one from a space heater my daughter had running in her bedroom, thermal fractured the window. True to their warranty Gilkey replaced both at no charge. Gilkey is a first class outfit. All of our windows work as well as the day they were new.

[rrtechno]

Originally Posted by h Steve

I plan on calling Gilkey, Champion, and Pella for sure. The independents I'm a little leary of. The 'big boys' I feel have a reputation to uphold.

Unfortunately, I have been seeing some of the "big boys" trying to squeeze by on their reputation. For example, some of them manufacture a lower line of windows to sell at the "big box" stores, with both manufacturer and retailer banking on the fact that many people will just come in and buy them because they think they are getting such a good deal - "Brand Y" windows at a lower price.

[kjbrill]

Originally Posted by rrtechno

Unfortunately, I have been seeing some of the "big boys" trying to squeeze by on their reputation. For example, some of them manufacture a lower line of windows to sell at the "big box" stores, with both manufacturer and retailer banking on the fact that many people will just come in and buy them because they think they are getting such a good deal - "Brand Y" windows at a lower price.

I think that would only apply to Pella. Gilkey is a Cincinnati company, produces their own product, and I doubt if Mike Gilkey would undermine his business that way. Champion is a much larger outfit and may do anything in my belief to sell their product. You have to qualify who the "big boys" are. Much bigger "big boys" than these three.