Doors and Windows - New windows=higher heating bill?

In Sept '03 we replaced our single pane wood frame windows with double pane, low-e, argon filled, insulated frame vinyl windows. Aside from the fact that I'm finding alot of crud between the windows from the assembly, (and even one spot that looks like some kind of mold) , poor workmanship in the form of missing or gouged out weatherstriping between the glass and the spacer, and ice as thick as my thumb on the interior windows on cold days, I also have higher heating bills. I've taken everything I can imagine into account such as price increases, avg monthly temps, thermostat settings, etc. The only variable has been the windows. I have been using my wood burning enclosed fireplace with a blower to help supplement the heat but I still continue to use more therms. I've compared the months of Oct,Nov,Dec for 2002 vs 2003. Is there anyone out there who has encountered this before. My installer is no help and states its not from the installation. The window manufacturer states the windows are performing like they should. Please respond if anyone has heard of this before. :confused:

Did you really expect either party to accept responsibility? Get an independent evaluation and go from there.

What brand of windows?

The mold is an indication of moisture leaking around the windows. The condenstation and/or ice is an indication of air leaking around the windows.

A really good window that was installed incorrectly, or a really bad window that was installed properly -- either way, you'll get the same results.

My suggestion is to start with the mfgr. Have a rep come out and look at things. (Search on-line and get either the "800" number, or their website.)

If this was happening at just 1 window, then you might have gotten a bad window. (Hey, things happen -- but the mfgr. should stand behind it.) But if it's happening at most, or all of the windows, then it's on the installers, and I'm SURE that the mfgr. wants to know about it.

Be the squeeky wheel, but remember, you'll catch more flies with honey that you will with vinegar!!

Lefty, Thanks for responding. They are Softlite windows and from all the research I did before the installation and from the current conversations with dealers in other states, they are supposed to be a really good window. The dealers did state that they do have alot of quality control problems from time to time but all agreed that my problems are atypical. A mfr rep did come to my house and offered to replace the window with the science experiment growing in it after grilling me as to what I clean my windows with. He also stated that the windows were normal while chipping off chunks of ice off them with his car keys and completely danced around the subject of the sloppy weatherstripping. As for the higher heating bills, the company stated "we cannot control how many people come and go from your house". I've contacted the Better Business Bureau in an effort to get some kind of resolution. But back to the bills, after going from single pane, wood casements to the "space age technology" windows on now, shouldn't I have seen some sort of improvement? We just rec'd our bill for January and we're up yet again on therms and almost $50.00 more just on heating.

Lefty, Thanks for responding. They are Softlite windows and from all the research I did before the installation and from the current conversations with dealers in other states, they are supposed to be a really good window. The dealers did state that they do have alot of quality control problems from time to time but all agreed that my problems are atypical. A mfr rep did come to my house and offered to replace the window with the science experiment growing in it after grilling me as to what I clean my windows with. He also stated that the windows were normal while chipping off chunks of ice off them with his car keys and completely danced around the subject of the sloppy weatherstripping. As for the higher heating bills, the company stated "we cannot control how many people come and go from your house". I've contacted the Better Business Bureau in an effort to get some kind of resolution. But back to the bills, after going from single pane, wood casements to the "space age technology" windows on now, shouldn't I have seen some sort of improvement? We just rec'd our bill for January and we're up yet again on therms and almost $50.00 more just on heating. :eek:

EVERY house that i have ever replaced single pane windows in with dual panes, Low-E glass, vinyl frames, etc. has experienced a significant reduction in their heating and cooling costs.

The formation of ice on the interior side tells me you have air leaks, and since it's occuring at all of the windows, I'm thinking it's probably due to poor installation of the windows, rather than a problem with the windows themselves.

Lefty, I went to a home improvement show this weekend and found out alot of information in regards to my windows and my dealer. I now believe that my dealer has decieved me from day 1. She stated that 1) She was the exclusive dealer in this region for the mfgr's product and she was selling me their top of the line product. - Wrong, I ran into a construction contractor who also sells these windows(although they do not specifically name the mfr in their brochere, he did state that they are Softlite windows). My windows are also not top of the line, in fact the contractor's brochere shows a picture of a ice-encrusted window showing what can happen to inferior windows using poor "warm edge technology". The picture they use looks identical to what happened to my windows. 2) "You will never have ice on these windows" - Obviously not. 3) "You will see significant heat savings and the windows will eventually pay for themselves"- I have continually used more therms every month since the install compared to the same months last heating season. I even compared avg monthly temps, thermostat settings etc. My heating bill for last month(Jan) was over $50 more. These are just three of the many of the problems I've uncovered of the statements she made. This also explains why the "most current" brochere she could ever provide me with was dated 1997. I have yet to find anyone who has ever replaced their windows to have dramatically higher heating bills. Please tell me that the problems I have been having with these windows and this dealer are the exception and not the rule. I'd hate to have this happened to anyone else. :mad: