Aluminum storm windows

[SLONG1958]

Hi everyone
This post has nothing to do with a garage but I've gotten good advise on here before. When I build my home 15 years ago we used a moderate double panel aluminum windows but they are cold to the touch and drafts ,would it benefit me to install storm windows. I've gotten a price for 18 windows at 2800.00 and I've got another guy coming today to give me a price. I just don't want to waste our money on something that want help that much.

Thanks

 

[Gary S]

Good windows are a great investment to save fuel. Aluminum or any other metal frame window just aren't energy efficient. You need wood or plastic framed windows. Wood will be more expensive, but can be expected to last longer than plastic.
My 60 year old house originally had wood windows, single pane with removable screen/storm that had to be switched Spring and Fall. A few years ago I upgraded the windows. The inner window frames were still in good shape, so I tossed the separate screen/storm windows and put on replacement drop-in plastic frame 2 pane thermopane windows on the outside of my original wood frame windows. This gives me a total of 3 panes with a wood frame inside and plastic on the outside.
Wood replacement windows would have cost me much more than the plastic and would do no more for insulating the house. I still have my nice wood frame windows inside to look at so I don't see the cheap plastic that looks so lame. It gives me the best I could do at the lowest price.
Bottom line, is I have no drafts, no condensation on the glass inside anymore on cold nights, and a very comfortable house.
And, my heating bill dropped significantly. This winter has been about average temps for this cold part of the country. Nights have typically been between 0 and -20. Days have been 10-30 degrees. During December, January, and February, my house furnace is consuming about $1 a day in natural gas.

 

[NUTTSGT]

New windows will be a big help as those aluminum frames are sucking heat right out of the house.

You don't have to do them all at once if you can't afford it, do them as you can afford them.

 

[inphx]

The key specifcation words to look for are "thermal break" when buying aluminum casement windows. I have a preference for the solid feel and tilt/turn features over the popular vinyl offerings and made a recent purchase of thermal break low e windows argon filled dual pane windows.

 

[CNGsaves]

Sounds like you have two options:
a) Install aluminum or steel-frame storm windows over existing windows
b) Yank out existing windows and just replace with high-quality doublepane windows with integrated screens

Recommend you go "window shopping" at Lowes or HD and see all the choices for storm windows. You'll have to decide whether that look and function will work for you.

If you don't like the look and function of Add-On storm windows, then I'd vote for option (b) above.

Depending on how long you stay in house will help you decide whether the storm window approach makes financial sense or not. Long-term a good quality set of windows will raise the value of your house.

Post up some pics of what you have now.

 

[Falcon67]

We bought new vinyl windows for our house - Anderson 8500 series through HD. The price including install is about what you are paying and way, way better than adding storm windows. Aluminum over aluminum is not really the way to go. Window tech is way better than 15 years ago. If you are going to drop $3000, get rid of those aluminum things. We have two big doubles 72x72, one small in the kitchen, two 36x72 and one 36x60. All but two set in brick.

Garage content - the kicker here is I like white windows. I went with bronze on the shop because it matched the house. The new house windows are white - and now the shop doesn't match. Go figure. However, I now know how to get those things out of the wall so I can go vinyl in the shop later.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Each layer of glass is an R1, so a double pane is R2 and triple pane is R3. The Argon filled or Low E glass does not raise it another full number, so total for Triple pane with Low E glass is about a 3.5 or so. Yes a thermal break does make a difference in the frame temps but windows will always be the biggest heat loss in a house unless you leave a door open all the time. Will it ever pay for itself to spend $2800, probably not in your lifetime. I did replace single pane wood windows in my house several years ago with better grade double pane w/thermal break. Do I notice a difference in heat cost????? I do notice that the house is a lot quieter with the new windows, that's the most difference I have seen.

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

First, don't pay someone to install storm windows, it is an easy do it yourself job...

Second, you would be better advised to pay someone to install new windows instead of storms.

 

[readhead]

If you can afford it I would recomend replacement windows even if you do a few at a time. The storms will help but I think the money will be better spent on new windows.

 

[SLONG1958]

Thanks everyone the the replies. The reason for checking on the aluminum storm windows is all my windows are set in brick and I don't know how you get the window out plus I just hate to just throw away a window. The storm windows I've check on are imperial windows and there is a thermal break which is a piece of rubber between the 2 windows but I just don't know if that's enough to make a difference. I'm looking for heat lose plus noise. I just inclosed our breeze way and installed very good vinyl windows which I can tell by touching them. Just wondering if anybody has done the aluminum storm windows over aluminum windows with good results. The windows in the house now are Danvid. Here's a pic of the windows.

Thanks

 

[Falcon67]

We just tossed our aluminum double pane sealed glass - 11 years old and already used up.

The way they come out is simple - they heat the glass edges with a heat gun, gently, then pry out the glass. If the inside frame will come apart, then that's easier. Once the glass is out, you pry the bottom center of the frame up away from the brick and cut it in the middle with a sawsall. Beat the center brace out with a hammer and then peal the frame out of the opening. The new windows are measured brick-to-brick and the manufacturer reduces that by 1/8"~1/4" per side.

There is a HUGE difference between 1/2 trip E coated argon vinyl and 1/2" sealed air gap aluminum. not only in thermal conduction but also noise transmission. The vinyl is 10~15F warmer at exterior 40F than the aluminum. When the heat is on the big 72x72 window on the west side, you can't feel it at all on the inside.

Payback is about 15 years, per our energy audit.