Totally agree on windows making a bigger difference overall. A few quick points from my experience:
- Smart thermostats are handy, but they're mostly about convenience and minor savings—don't expect miracles if your insulation sucks.
- Had a seller recently bragging about their fancy thermostat, yet buyers still complained about drafts during walkthroughs... clearly missed the point.
- Windows are pricier upfront, true, but I've seen them boost resale value noticeably. Thermostats? Not so much.
Bottom line: fix your windows first, then worry about the techy stuff later.
Yeah, windows definitely make a bigger dent long-term. I swapped mine out a couple years back—noticed an immediate drop in heating bills. Thermostats are cool and all, but they're more icing than cake if your home's drafty to begin with...
Totally with you on the windows making a bigger difference. We upgraded ours last fall, and it was like night and day—no more chilly drafts sneaking in! Smart thermostats are helpful, don't get me wrong, especially if your schedule's unpredictable. But yeah, they're not gonna fix the core issue if your house leaks heat everywhere. Windows first, thermostat second seems like the way to go, at least from my experience. Plus, good windows just make the house feel cozier overall...
Gotta say, I see your point about windows making a huge difference—drafty windows are the worst. But honestly, from an investment standpoint, I'm not totally convinced windows always beat out smart thermostats in terms of long-term savings.
Here's the thing: replacing windows can be crazy expensive upfront. Sure, they boost comfort and curb appeal (which is great if you're selling or renting out), but the payback period can stretch pretty long depending on your climate and energy costs. I've had properties where upgrading windows barely moved the needle on monthly bills, especially if insulation and sealing elsewhere weren't addressed first.
On the flip side, smart thermostats are relatively cheap and easy to install. I've put them in several rentals, and tenants love them because they're convenient and feel modern. Plus, they actually encourage people to be more mindful about energy use. One tenant told me she started noticing how much she was cranking up the heat unnecessarily after seeing the usage reports—ended up saving quite a bit just by tweaking habits.
Not saying thermostats solve everything—you're right, they won't fix a leaky house—but dollar-for-dollar, they might give you quicker returns. Maybe it's less about "windows first, thermostat second," and more about tackling the lowest-hanging fruit first? Just my two cents...
That's a fair point—I've seen cases where new windows hardly impacted bills because the attic insulation was terrible. Sometimes it's about addressing the weakest link first... windows aren't always it. Thermostats do offer quicker wins, especially if budgets are tight.
