Storm Window Alternative for Old and Historic Homes

Historic craftsman home with Indow storm windows installed: Inserts don’t harm old home’s windows.

Alternative to Historic Storm Windows

Indow window inserts are an attractive, easy-to-use interior storm window. Original windows are important to the architectural character of historic buildings. Unfortunately, they’re also a top source of energy loss. The drafts can make you feel uncomfortable, but also drive up energy costs. While exterior storm windows provide some energy efficiency benefits to your older home, they’re difficult to use and often unsightly. Indow window inserts are an alternative to exterior storm windows.

Diagram of how to install indow insulating window inserts

The Problem with Replacing Your Historic Windows

The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency put together a great report on why you should use storm windows for historic homes. It outlines the harm that can come to a historic home if the owner replaces the windows instead of restoring them.

Use interior storm windows for old houses because of:

  • Sustainability: Tearing out old windows and putting them in landfills harms the environment.
  • Aesthetics: New windows cannot mimic the look of historic windows or use same materials like old-growth wood. Indow inserts are interior storms that both look good and are barely noticeable.
  • Maintenance: Many new window materials (vinyl, fiberglass, sealants) are difficult or impossible to recycle. Indow inserts come with a limited lifetime warranty and do not require any maintenance – just occasional cleaning like all windows.
  • Cost: High quality replacement windows cost three times as much as restoring original windows.
  • Ease: Measuring for, receiving, and installing Indow inserts can typically be done with only one person and requires around a combined time of around 15 minutes per window.

Historic storm windows are one solution to avoid doing a full replacement. Unfortunately, many storm windows require installing a track system on the window frame. This not only alters the frame, but isn’t aesthetically pleasing.

Indow window inserts in historic windows to improve performance without harming the historic value

The Storm Window Alternative

Indow inserts are custom storm windows for historic homes. Indow uses proprietary measurement verification software to ensure a perfect fit – up to 1/32’’, even in out-of-square windows. The simple and elegant design makes them hardly noticeable once installed. Unlike other storm windows, Indow inserts fit without any modifications to the window frame, and are held in place with our patented silicone compression tube around the outer edge. This means your old, historic windows will perform like new windows without losing their historic value.

If your historic home needs an alternative to replacements or clunky storm windows, contact us today!

More Resources: Storm Windows for Historic Homes

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  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    We installed the windows in our four seasons room We got some 85 degree days recently and the area stayed amazingly cool usually we would have the AC on it was not needed !!!

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Indow has established the complete breadth of custom service, from initial enquiry to being very responsive to "after-sales" questions. Ours was and out-of-the ordinary project involving casement windows in a solarium and the end result turned out quite perfectly. Access to information online, instructions arriving with the delivered windows, and answers by phone insured we "enthusiastic amateurs" completed the job to satisfaction.

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    I am very pleased with my Indow window inserts. I have a very old house and am near a busy road. I wanted to reduce the noise. I've just installed them and find a considerable reduction in traffic noise. They definitely were worth the cost. The measuring process is quite detailed but easy to follow and my inserts fit perfectly in crooked, 265 year old openings. The company representative Hannah Hendrickson

    was very professional, knowledgeable, and courteous. I highly recommend the Indow

    company.

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    I appreciate everything about the whole Indow window process.

    Scheduling and holding a consultation online was easy and seamless. I consultant with KAYA, and he provided a thorough easy-going no pressure to move forward until I was ready consultation.

    Incentives were clearly outlined if I decided to move forward and order to be able to make my inserts even more affordable if I acted in a timely manner with measuring and submitting my order as well as returning the measure kit.

    The Indow inserts arrived within the expected timeframe and installing them was very easy. One of my favorite parts was watching how to install video, because they used humor, and it really held my attention and put me at ease, allowing me to take in all the little details I needed to insert my Indows correctly.

    Within hours, I noticed a temperature shift in the room. It was cooler and more comfortable. The next day when I worked in my office with the Indows the landscaper was across the street with the leaf blower and there was considerable reduction in noise making it a low background buzz instead of a disturbance to the work I was doing. I’ve only had them installed for three weeks and I’ve been so happy with them. It was a great investment for that room in the house that I use for my office.

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    A great product. Excellent fit. Greatly reduced outside noise. Easy to install. Very happy!! Match your frame color to your current frame color and they disappear. So glad I got them.

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Well it all starts with customer service. 10 out of 10. Brain McCracken did a great job. The waiting period wasn’t long considering they had to make the window inserts and measuring the window units with the laser was actually fun. Worth every penny!

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    They are working great! Very happy with the purchase.

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    I'm enjoying the units, however will need to wait until next year's colder weather to get a truer feel or read on how well they work - thanks

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    They work very well for my 3 Bedroom windows.easy to install.

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    I purchased two Indow window inserts for two west-facing bedroom windows. These windows are exposed to the hot afternoon sun, making it difficult to cool the bedroom, and there is considerable outside noise. The Indow inserts work great at reducing the outside noise and keeping my bedroom cooler. I absolutely recommend Indow window inserts.

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Very professional from website to delivery and installation was well explained and easy.

    Noise reduction was quite noticeable and sealing from cold just as good if not better.

    Would recommend 100%.

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Wonderful product

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    My husband and I can finally sleep all night without being woke up by outside noise! Indows are game changers if you live on a busy road, by a loud industrial business or just want a quieter inside environment. The customer service is pretty amazing too! Thanks Indow group for giving us back great sleep!!

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    fit perfect, weny in easyand make a diffrence with noise ,thank norbert

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Easy DIY measuring, and an obvious immediate increase in warmth. Huge difference in a historic home with historic windows.