new windows or insulate the house?

[mskin]

I have a 150 year old house... no insulation, original windows.

 

whats more effective? replace the windows or to insulate? i understand that the whole system needs to work, but it's only affordable to do one or the other.

 

my thoughts...

 

current U-Value of windows = bad, unknown.

 

current R-value of walls = low, unkown.

 

i can add about an R-9 to may walls or i can make my windows at least U.35. given the fact that U.35=R2.9 and R9=U.1, im thinking it makes more sense to insulate the walls (2000$) rather than to replace the windows(7000$).

 

if i assumed, based on no scientific exploration whatsoever, that my walls are currently around an R9 and my windows and R.6 - do you think this makes sense?

[TheAllusionisst]

Heat loss coeficient times area would break it down mathmatically for you, I am sure you have much more wall surface than you do windows in an old house, so you get a bigger bang for your buck, but R-9 for walls isn't much unless you live in a real temperant climate.

[mbowers]

R-9 does seem low. I'm assuming that your looking at blown-in fiberglass or cellulose? I would pump more insulation into the house at this point given that you've, as mentioned in the previous post, got more wall surface than window. Hope that helps.

[mskin]

after a few probes i've decided that there is a 1 1/2" available airspace to pump something into. im thinking of a low expansion foam of some sort (still researching) but discovering on average an R-6 per inch thus 9. Am assuming that i have R4.5 existing based on text book description of my wall system so i would be going from r4.5 to r15.5

[mwhite]

If you pump or blow anything into the wall cavity that isn't a rigid foam, you have to be very carefull about not having a vapor barrier.

 

If you pump cellulose into the wall cavity without a vapor barrier you could end up with a soggy mold infested mess once the interior moist air condenses on the outer region of the insulation when it meets the cold air.

 

I would investigate this with a professional - this may also have implications on creating paint peeling problems also.

 

I'm not a professional but learned about this working on actual projects.

 

Good luck.

[chiquito]

whats the wall material?

[Ernest Burden III]

We recently hired a company to do an 'energy audit' on our house (about 80 years old, brick). It was like the engineer's inspection we had done before buying the house, but targeting energy use. The idea is to have the air-tightness, R-values, heating efficiency etc. evaluated. The report will list ways to improve your energy use in order of 'bang-for-the-buck'. For example, an old heating system like I have may only be 65% efficient, while a new one can be 95% efficient or better. With a natural gas bill of at least $5000 per year, you could save enough to cover the cost of the new system, then the saving are 'profit'.

 

The testing and report (haven't gotten the report yet) cost us about $650. If you want the contact for our tester I'll send it along. Connecticut is close the Westchester, so he would either be able to work for you or if not suggest someone.

 

In general, though, insulation, insulation, insulation.

[vizwhiz]

fixing The windows is a lot less mess Than Tearing The walls out

can you add anything To The exterior To minimize The heat loss?

 

Thermal underwear? ok not probably very viable during extreme winter

 

i Think 70 F is cold weather

 

i dont Think i would be able To 'live' in anything colder Than 50 F

my son Thinks That a penguin can outrun me in The AZ mornings

 

bad knees

[S & S Stucco]

Most renovations I've seen on exterior walls start with new windows; new windows are much more energy efficient than those old existing ones are, and as an exterior stucco contractor, I know from experience that older homes do not have the moisture barriers that new ones are built with. Consider adding insulation to your attic, it will help keep heat from escaping. Good luck!

[TheAllusionisst]

Typically the windows are what are swapped out because really old ones don't have much R-value at all so it is almost like having all your windows open and trying to heat your house. However, in this case the walls apear to be really bad, so if you replace the windows, it would be sort of like having great windows, but no sheathing or siding on the house. Of course it isn't that bad in either case but that is to illustrate the case. In some jurisdictions the electric company, if you use electric heat, would finance and subsidize an update of windows and blown in wall insulation in older homes, just food for thought, they drill a 1" diameter hole in each stud space outside and blow in insulation and then install plugs in the holes.

 

I would contact a reputable contractor from your area and ask their opinion, they probably know what types of options are available from local utility companies and comparable performance of your existing R-values in your climate. As Ernest mentioned a gas furnace is 92-95% efficient and may only cost $2,500.00 to convert an old oil furnace, could be a lot cheaper heating the outside that way