Replies

1. 
   Steve_Zerby | Sep 22, 2001 04:48am | #1

   *
   Brennan,

   Critters have never been a particular problem with storm windows in the Northeast. Maybe it's different in CA. Anyway, I don't think you can get a perfect seal between the prime windows and the interior of the house or between the storms and exterior, so you you must allow for weepage out of the storms. If the critters become a problem, just take the storms off periodically and clean em out.

   Steve

1. 
   David_Thomas | Sep 23, 2001 01:24am | #2

   *Steve: "Critters have never been a particular problem with storm windows in the Northeast." That's because they FREEZE in the winter! Brennan is in CA where a cold day is 48F.But I agree, put them up without drilling holes and see how it goes. Remove and clean as neccesary. You can probably go from R-1 to about R-1.6 and that will not only help with heating bills but will also reduce that condensation that runs down the windows and pools on the windowsills. -David

1. 
   Wayne_Law | Oct 04, 2001 11:28pm | #3

   *Talk to a glazier about low-e glass. I don't know the price adder, but if it's small, the savings in heating (and cooling) might make it attractive. An energy contractor could run some energy saving calculations for you.

1. 
   piffin_ | Oct 07, 2001 04:22am | #4

   *A lot of glas places will do "Interior Storm panels" too. They snap in and out easy like

2. 
   Brennan_O'Brien | Oct 07, 2001 04:22am | #5

   *
   I have an old (for California) ranch house built in the days when cars had fins and gasoline came with triple green stamps, so it is not a model of energy efficiency. I have done some of the basics such as insulating the ceiling and some stud bays ( There was no insulation when I bought the house except the asbestos on the duct work :( ). My current dilemma is trying to tighten the windows up without changing the character of the house. Now these are big picture windows, in the six foot by ten foot meaning of the word big, so on a cold day (for California) we are doing our part for global warming.
   I need to create a series of storm windows that might well stay up all year since the ventilation is mostly done by skylights and screen doors. However I have no idea how to balance condensation and critters. Drilling enough holes to drain trapped moisture and get sufficient air movement to avoid a loss of clarity, will allow the spiders to spin webs in comfort. I tried to tell my wife that it could be educational, like those old ant farms we had as kids, but she didn't seem moved. How do you fix a second pane with out gaskets and argon?