Locate an Auto Repair Shop in Pella, Iowa

Well, one thing is for sure. Our house isn't poorly insulated or leaky. We have nice Pella windows and twice the insulation needed for the house. Both our electrician and our plumber have remarked as to how well the house is insulated. The Lennox unit is seven years old and is checked twice a year for efficiency and performance. Our HVAC company did say that the unit could be a little bigger. Still, I don't think that the size is a problem. Our last home had two units for downstairs and upstairs. We had the same results that we do now. I have to conclude that it is just the nature of the beast. Our present unit works well most of the time, but it struggles in temperatures in the 20's or in the 100's. I just prefer the feeling that the gas pack offers. I suppose that we could call it "the feel of the house". :D Thanks for the tip on the controlled humidifier. Richard

We have Pella windows and have been very pleased. This is not a recommendation. Some people don't like them, and there is a class action suit against the company. My feeling is that the installer is more important than the window itself. If not properly installed, any brand will leak and rot. Get a really good service company---NOT LOWE'S. I would stay away from those people. They give contracts to some sorry installers because of the low bids. Do the job right the first time, and save yourself some trouble later. Good luck. Richard

Our highest winter bill is about $225 and the highest summer bill is about $200. The Pella windows have made a big difference. I do believe that they pay for themselves in the long run. I’m not against Pella, I was about to buy their siding glass door but I wanted to see what Anderson had. That’s why I went to Home Depot, just for a sanity check. I’m glad I did. The R rating was the same for both and I saved around $200 with the Anderson. My satisfaction with this Anderson product won’t lock me into Anderson if and when we do any more window and/or door replacements. Each application has to stand on its own as far as I’m concerned. As for the esthetics being important, living with Mrs. j, I’m well aware of that and we always consider that. Even ‘you know who’ won’t do something just for looks if it is going to compromise everything else. She starts off with the design thingy in mind then looks at the function side. Me, I do just the opposite. I guess we prove that opposites can coexist, I think. jmonroe

The Andersen windows and doors are great. The Pella windows and doors are great and a little pricier. In both cases do some homework about the retail product from the company and its sellers vs the home stores and builders product versions. There are lower level products that are on display, at least for Pella when I was shopping, and are not the quality of the retail product. I have found the Andersen company to be very reputable. After our home was about 15 -20 years old, a regional distributor of same came door to door in our region because many of the homes had Andersen windows. They serviced the double hung windows because of a loosening problem. No charge. A policeman living down the road came along before the representative. When they had come to his home about the windows, he was suspicious and checked them out; so he came to let the others know the representative was legitimate so he wouldn't get shot or rejected by someone thinking he was trying to gain access to their house. Several years after that, I somehow checked into the Renewal window inserts and had the Andersen distributor install those in all our windows at a charge. But they were even tighter and better than the windows the builder had put into our home in the 70s.

I've had both Anderson and Pella doors and windows. Both are great products. The Pella products do cost more, but may be worth the extra expense. We have Pella windows on our current house. For 3,000 square feet, our utility bills are rewarding. Our highest winter bill is about $225 and the highest summer bill is about $200. The Pella windows have made a big difference. I do believe that they pay for themselves in the long run. Richard