Storm Windows for Double Hung Windows

The double-hung is the most common window in American housing stock and the one that leaks the most air, because the draft comes through the meeting rail where the two sashes overlap. An exterior storm window puts a sealed barrier across that entire assembly.

We size the unit to your opening and set the meeting rail to line up with your existing sash, so it reads as part of the window rather than something bolted over it.

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Where a Double-Hung Actually Leaks

People assume the glass is the problem. On a double-hung it usually is not. The losses concentrate at the joints: the meeting rail where the upper and lower sashes pass each other, the sash channels on either side where the sash has to stay loose enough to slide, and the gap under the bottom rail. Those are all moving joints, which means they cannot be sealed permanently without disabling the window.

That is precisely the problem a storm window solves. Rather than trying to seal a mechanism that has to move, it puts a second, sealed plane across the whole opening and leaves the original window free to operate behind it. This is also why storm windows tend to outperform expectations on old windows: the worse the sash joints are, the more the storm window is doing.

Which Configuration for a Double-Hung

Both fit. They differ in how much of the opening you can glaze and open.

Recommended

Triple-Track

vertical triple track storm window in white
Two glass sashes mirror the two primary sashes
Full glass coverage across the opening in winter
Screen positions independently at any height
Open top, bottom, or both, same as the primary window

Lower cost

Two-Track

vertical two track storm window in white
One glass sash and one screen share two channels
Glazes roughly half the opening at a time
Slimmer frame, less of the original window obscured
Best on secondary rooms and whole-home budgets

Matching the Meeting Rail

This is the detail that separates a storm window that looks original from one that looks added. Your double-hung has a horizontal line where the two sashes meet. The storm window has one too. If they do not align, you get two parallel bars a few inches apart across the same opening, and the eye catches it immediately from the street.

Measure it

From the inside of the sill up to the top edge of the primary meeting rail, in inches.

Specify it

Enter that figure when configuring rather than accepting the default centre-of-height setting.

It gets built to it

The unit is fabricated with the rail at your dimension, so the lines land together on the wall.

On a standard double-hung the primary rail sits at or near the centre of the opening, so the default is often correct. On older homes with tall lower sashes it frequently is not, which is why we let you set it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Kind of Storm Window Works Best on a Double-Hung Window?+

A triple-track unit. A double-hung window has two operating sashes, and a triple-track storm window mirrors that with two glass sashes plus a screen, all in independent channels. That means the storm window can be opened at the top, the bottom, or both, the same way the primary window can. A two-track unit will fit and will insulate, but it only glazes about half the opening at a time.

What Is the Meeting Rail and Why Does It Matter?+

The meeting rail is the horizontal bar where the upper and lower sashes overlap. On the storm window it should line up with the meeting rail of your primary window, otherwise you end up with two horizontal bars at slightly different heights across the same opening, which is visually obvious from both inside and out. We let you specify the meeting rail height rather than defaulting everything to center, so it can be matched to your existing sash line.

How Do I Measure a Double-Hung Opening for a Storm Window?+

Measure the opening itself, not the old storm window and not the sash. Take the width at the top, middle, and bottom of the blind stop opening and use the smallest figure. Take the height at the left, center, and right and use the smallest there too. Older homes are rarely square, and using the smallest reading in each direction is what keeps the unit from binding in the opening. The full measuring guide walks through it with diagrams.

Will a Storm Window Stop My Double-Hung Windows from Rattling?+

It usually helps a great deal. Most of the rattle and most of the draft in an old double-hung comes through the meeting rail and the sash weatherstripping, and an exterior storm window puts a sealed barrier across all of it. The storm window does not repair the primary sash, but it does take it out of the wind, which is why rattling and whistling typically stop even when the original window itself is unchanged.

Can I Still Open My Double-Hung Windows with Storm Windows Installed?+

Yes, with a triple-track unit. Slide the storm window glass to open whichever part of the opening you want, position the screen there, and then open your primary sash behind it. Because all three panels move independently, you are not limited to opening only the bottom half.

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Order Storm Windows for Double-Hung Openings

Triple-track and two-track units sized to your opening with the meeting rail set to your sash line. Built in the US and shipped nationwide.

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