My wife says we need new windows. I wish we didn't, but she's right
Any tips on how to buy windows without losing an arm and leg?
Discussion
we had a quote a few months ago because during the winter i noticed that 2 of our windows were a bit drafty. we were quoted 80K to replace all of them. fuck that.
Saw this posted earlier… 
Good Q!! (We also put ours off for awhile, until my wife put her foot down!)
I would say first to try and get a few quotes (3-5 if you are up for it). Try to get a an estimate for the same type of window (sometimes there are multiple levels and it’s best to try to get an apples to apples comparison).
A lot of companies will do replacement/retrofits - that’s what we did at our house last year - which was much more reasonable than doing all brand new windows. You lose a little bit of the window due to the new frame that is put in but it wasn’t deal breaker for us.
Good luck on the window hunt!
Easy. If they ask you if you're willing to pay with limbs, tell them no and ask if they'd accept dirty fiat instead.
But seriously, look for smaller contractors. We got the contact for a small outfit my buddy used for some work and they're typically like half the quote of a bigger crew. Best to have someone's recommendation. Might want to get them to guarantee their work in writing just in case, as sometimes the work quality is not as perfect.
If you can get a good rate on a fair deal then the amount you pay monthly could be covered by the amount you save on electricity
How do I calculate this? I pay about 27 ¢ per kwh with solar.
What % of electricity does it typically save?
Do you own your system? If the answer is yes, does the state you live in do 1 for 1 net metering ? If the answer is no for either of those then the windows probably won’t save you much . General rule of thumb is new windows save you 10% on the low end and 15% on the high end . This will vary based on how bad your current windows are and how efficient the rest of your house is .