Energy improving double hung windows

This neat old house has wooden double hung windows that are in very nice shape. I'd like to keep them. Still, the single pane glazing will probably bleed heat, and there is that noisy freeway a few blocks away...

Is it possible to double glaze these windows, or retrofit some other efficiency?

 

Retrofit them with vinyl windows. The freeway noise will virtually disappear, and the money you save on your utilities will pay for the new windows in 5 to 10 years, depending on how efficient the windows you use are.

 

You can't go wrong with Certainteed vinyls. All their models feature insulated welded cornered frames. Add their Low-E glass and your'e all set.

Important: Read my reply to josky99's "Vinyl Windows Won't stay Up" post dated Sept 28th. Regarding proper installation of vinyls.

-Chris

 

norandex mkes a very high quality replacement window at reasonable prices

 

You said "You'd like to keep them", then why not a storm and screen combination window? Good insulation from the cold & noise.

[This message has been edited by johnam (edited October 10, 2000).]

 

DON'T LISTEN TO THEM ABLE, YOUR URGE TO KEEP YOUR ORIGINAL WINDOWS IS A SOUND ONE.ALTHOUGH VINYL WINDOWS ARE ENERGY EFFICIENT, IN EVERY OTHER RESPECT THEY ARE INFERIOR TO YOUR WOODEN SASH.SASHES ARE EASILY RETROFITTED WITH DUAL GLAZED UNITS, AND JAMB LINERS ARE AVAILABLE TO UPGRADE AIR INFILTRATION BARRIERS.

 

Wes, I can appreciate what you are saying, HOWEVER, you have to realize that Able lives in Stockton CA. That may not seem like much of a consideration until you realize what is about to occur (within the next few years) in the electric industry here in CA. The electric utilities are deregulating, as San Diego's already has. In the past nine months there, electric bills have increased 5 to 6 fold. What was a $50 per month electric bill is now something in the neighborhood of $250 to $300 per month. THAT ISN'T MY KIND OF NEIGHBORHOOD!! Anything Able (or anybody else) can do to improve the efficiency of their home now will pay HUGE dividends in the not too near future. And retrofitting 100 year old wood framed, double hung windows with efficient vinyls would be something that will pay for itself in a matter of MONTHS (not years) once the electric dept. in CA is deregulated.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by WES:
DON'T LISTEN TO THEM ABLE, YOUR URGE TO KEEP YOUR ORIGINAL WINDOWS IS A SOUND ONE.ALTHOUGH VINYL WINDOWS ARE ENERGY EFFICIENT, IN EVERY OTHER RESPECT THEY ARE INFERIOR TO YOUR WOODEN SASH.SASHES ARE EASILY RETROFITTED WITH DUAL GLAZED UNITS, AND JAMB LINERS ARE AVAILABLE TO UPGRADE AIR INFILTRATION BARRIERS.<HR>