new windows don't seem to matter for keeping cold out
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Windows sellers massively exaggerate the benefit of new windows ...
It's not just the glass but they leak air like seives. Storm Windows will certainly help but they are a PITA and if you are going to spend money on them you might as well spend it on new windows.
I don't know if this was mentioned, didn't read whole thread.
In cold weather be sure to lock windows, that pulls frames tightly together and make for a better seal. My newer vinyl windows are drafty if not locked. I think it's the same for most if not all windows.
After a minute on Google: (I skipped all of the links that some might think are biased)
Quote:
Today’s best dual-paned windows are about twice as effective at retaining heat and air conditioning as the single-paned units installed just a couple of decades ago, but perhaps only 15% more efficient if those old units have storm windows on them. And since windows make up only a tiny fraction of your building’s exterior “envelope,” new windows will produce only about 5% to 15% percent total energy savings. The average homeowner in America pays about $1,000 a year to heat and cool a home, meaning it would take you more than 100 years to earn back your investment.
5. Efficiency – Windows account for only 10-20% of energy loss in a typical home (much less than attics and doors), but when tuned and weatherstripped properly, historic windows can be efficient windows. And with the addition of historic storm windows or interior storms, a single-paned historic window can match a replacement window’s efficiency. And the historic storm window will lengthen the life of the window it protects.
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