You know the room.

Every house in Indianapolis has one. The room that's always too hot in July, no matter what the thermostat is set to.

You've already tried everything reasonable. Today, we'll tell you what's actually happening — and what finally fixes it.

Table of Contents

• Why is there always one room that won't cool down?
• What is solar heat gain, exactly?
• Why are older Indianapolis neighborhoods especially affected?
• How do modern low-E windows make that room livable again?
• What does a Modern Day Window & Door assessment look like?
• Frequently Asked Questions

Why is there always one room that won't cool down?

You know which one it is in your house.

• Maybe it's the sunroom.
• Maybe it's the bedroom that faces west.
• Maybe it's the living room with the big picture window.

You crank the AC. You close the blinds. You point a fan at it. And it's still five degrees hotter than everywhere else in the house.

That's not normal AC behavior. That's solar heat gain — and your windows are the cause, not your HVAC system.

What is solar heat gain, exactly?

When glass doesn't have a proper low-E coating — or it's simply past its insulating lifespan — it stops protecting your home and starts working against it.

The glass essentially becomes a collector:

• Sunlight hits the window
• That solar energy converts to heat inside the room
• Your air conditioner can't remove the heat fast enough
• The room stays hot, no matter how hard the AC works

It's a one-way street. The longer the sun is on that wall, the worse it gets. And by the time you're cranking the thermostat down, you're just running up the bill — the heat is already inside.

Why are older Indianapolis neighborhoods especially affected?

In neighborhoods like Broad Ripple, Irvington, Meridian-Kessler, and older homes throughout Marion County, this is extremely common.

The homes are beautiful. The character is part of why you bought there.

But the windows are often 25, 30, sometimes 40 years old — well past the point where the seals, coatings, and frames can still do their job in an Indiana summer.

Common signs you're dealing with end-of-life glass:

• Cloudy or fogged panes
• Condensation inside the double-pane units
• Frames that feel warm to the touch on sunny afternoons
• Drafts in winter and heat radiation in summer
• A room that hasn't been comfortable in years

Older neighborhoods have charm. They also have a lot of original glass that's quietly working against the rest of the house.

How do modern low-E windows make that room livable again?

Replacing those windows with modern low-E units doesn't just lower the energy bill.

It makes that room livable again.

You can actually:

• Sit in it in August without sweating through the cushions
• Use it as the bedroom, office, or playroom it was meant to be
• Stop avoiding it from June through September
• Stop pointing the box fan at the same corner every summer

We've done these installs all across Central Indiana — Noblesville, Avon, Zionsville, Beech Grove, and beyond.

The feedback is always the same: "I wish I'd have done it sooner."

What does a Modern Day Window & Door assessment look like?

We're not going to walk in with a clipboard and a pitch.

At Modern Day Window & Door, we'll assess the specific situation at your home and tell you exactly what's happening with your windows:

• Which rooms are losing the heat battle, and why
• Whether the issue is the glass, the seals, the frames, or all three
• What a low-E replacement would actually change
• Honest expectations on comfort and utility savings
• A clear recommendation — even if it's "not all of them yet"

No pressure. No inflated numbers. Just a real read on what your home is dealing with.

Find out what your home is actually dealing with

If there's a room in your house you've been quietly giving up on every summer, you don't have to keep working around it.

Let's talk about your cooling bill.

In Indianapolis, the average homeowner runs central air conditioning from late May through September. If your windows are older, they're working against every dollar you spend on that cooling.

Here's the mechanics — and the math.

Table of Contents

• How do windows affect your cooling bill?
• What is SHGC and why should homeowners care?
• How much of your cooling load is actually your windows?
• What do Indianapolis homeowners notice after replacement?
• Is window replacement really worth it long-term?
• Frequently Asked Questions

How do windows affect your cooling bill?

Every window is a heat doorway. The question is how much heat it lets through — and how hard your AC has to work to remove it.

Older windows tend to:

• Let more solar heat through the glass
• Conduct more outdoor heat through aging frames and seals
• Force your AC to cycle longer and more often

Newer energy-efficient windows do the opposite. Less heat enters, your AC runs in shorter cycles, and your utility bill stops climbing every July.

It's not a mystery. It's just physics — measured by a single spec called SHGC.

What is SHGC and why should homeowners care?

SHGC stands for Solar Heat Gain Coefficient. It measures how much solar heat passes through a window and into your home.

• Older windows have high SHGC values → more heat makes it inside.
• Modern energy-efficient windows have low SHGC values → your AC has less heat to fight.

Lower SHGC means a cooler house with the same thermostat setting and a smaller cooling bill at the end of the month.

When you're comparing replacement windows, SHGC is one of the first numbers worth asking about — right alongside U-factor and low-E coatings.

How much of your cooling load is actually your windows?

A 2024 U.S. Department of Energy study estimated that inefficient windows account for up to 25–30% of residential heating and cooling load.

Let that sink in.

In a state like Indiana — where you're paying for both heating and cooling — that's not a rounding error. That's a meaningful chunk of every utility bill you've ever paid for that house.

If you've been telling yourself the bill is "just what it costs to live here," it's worth doing the math on what 25–30% of your annual HVAC spend actually looks like over five or ten years.

What do Indianapolis homeowners notice after replacement?

We hear from homeowners in Carmel, Westfield, Brownsburg, and Plainfield all the time who notice the change in their first full summer with new windows.

And it's not just the bill. It's the comfort.

• Rooms that used to heat up by noon stay cool through the afternoon
• The AC cycles less frequently because it's not chasing solar heat gain
• The whole house feels more even — fewer hot rooms, fewer cold corners
• Sun-facing furniture and floors stop fading

The bill is the headline. The day-to-day comfort is what people actually remember.

Is window replacement really worth it long-term?

Let's be honest about it: window replacement isn't a one-season payback.

The financial case builds over time. But two things are working in your favor:

• Utility costs keep rising. Every year your new windows save you more in absolute dollars than the year before.
• Comfort is immediate. Even before the math fully shakes out, you feel the difference the first hot week after installation.

The longer you keep the home — and the longer utility prices keep climbing — the better the math gets.

At Modern Day Window & Door, we'll give you an honest picture of what to expect:

• Realistic savings estimates based on your home size
• A clear look at your current window conditions
• A spec-by-spec breakdown of what we'd actually install
• No inflated numbers. No worst-case-to-best-case theater.

Just a real case for making the change — or, if it's not the right time, an honest answer about that too.

See the real math on your home

If your cooling bill has felt off for a few summers running, your windows are the most likely culprit you haven't addressed yet.

We'll come look, measure, and tell you what new windows would actually do for your home — not a national average.

If you've been shopping for replacement windows in Indianapolis, you've seen low-E glass everywhere. It's on every spec sheet. Every website. Every brochure.

But what does it actually mean — and does it really matter for your home?

Short answer: yes. Here's why.

Table of Contents

• What is low-E glass, in plain English?
• How does low-E glass work in summer vs. winter?
• Why does low-E matter so much for Indianapolis homeowners?
• What does life without low-E actually feel like?
• How do you choose the right low-E package?
• Frequently Asked Questions

What is low-E glass, in plain English?

Low-E stands for low emissivity. It's a microscopic coating applied to the glass that controls how heat moves through the window.

You can't see it. You can't feel it on the surface. But it changes how your house behaves in every season.

Think of it as a smart filter for your home — one that lets light pass through while pushing heat back to whichever side it belongs on.

How does low-E glass work in summer vs. winter?

The coating does one job — reflect heat back to its source — and that single job pays off twice a year.

• In winter, it reflects indoor heat back inside so your furnace doesn't work as hard.
• In summer, it reflects solar heat back outside so your AC doesn't have to work as hard.

It's one coating. Both directions. Year-round savings.

That's why low-E is the baseline expectation on any quality replacement window — not a premium upgrade.

Why does low-E matter so much for Indianapolis homeowners?

Indiana is one of those states that demands real climate performance from building materials.

• Summers here are hot and humid.
• Winters are genuinely cold.
• There's no season where you can just coast.

A window that performs decently in a mild coastal climate can fail spectacularly in Central Indiana. The temperature swings, the humidity, the long cooling and heating seasons — all of it stress-tests your glass.

Low-E glass is what makes a window suitable for our climate in the first place. Without it, you're paying premium prices for builder-grade performance.

What does life without low-E actually feel like?

Here's the thing about solar radiation: you don't always feel it as raw heat. You feel it in the symptoms.

Without low-E glass, sunlight comes straight through your window and radiates into your living space. The result:

• A room that's always three degrees warmer than the rest of the house
• Curtains that fade faster than they should
• A leather couch that's too hot to sit on by 2 p.m.
• Hardwood floors that change color in patches near the windows
• An AC that runs constantly in the rooms with the biggest glass

If any of that sounds familiar, your windows are quietly working against you.

How do you choose the right low-E package?

Not all low-E coatings are created equal. Different packages are tuned for different climates, different exposures, and different priorities — solar control, insulation, light transmission, or some blend of all three.

That's where it pays to work with a local installer who knows what actually performs in the Midwest.

At Modern Day Window & Door, we'll walk you through the specific low-E packages we carry and how each one performs in Central Indiana conditions:

• South- and west-facing exposures that take the most sun
• North-facing rooms that prioritize daylight
• Bedrooms where temperature consistency matters most
• Whole-home replacements where you want one balanced spec across the board

The specs are real. The performance numbers are documented. And the difference is something you'll notice on your first utility bill.

No guesswork. We'll show you the numbers.

Stop wondering. See the numbers.

Low-E glass isn't marketing. It's the single most impactful window upgrade for summer comfort and winter savings in Central Indiana.

If you're shopping replacement windows in Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, or anywhere in between, the low-E package is the spec to ask about first.

Here in Indianapolis, we talk a lot about windows and winter. Drafts. Cold spots. Ice on the glass.

But summer tells a different story — and it's one that costs you money every single month from June through September.

If you've been fighting your thermostat all summer long, your windows are worth a hard look.

Table of Contents

• Why do old windows make your house hotter in summer?
• What does outdated glass actually do to your home?
• Why is Central Indiana especially hard on windows?
• How do energy-efficient replacement windows fix it?
• Frequently Asked Questions

Why do old windows make your house hotter in summer?

Old single-pane windows and outdated double-pane units don't just let cold in during winter. In summer, they work against you in the opposite direction.

Solar heat comes right through the glass, heats up the air inside your home, and forces your air conditioner to work overtime to compensate.

The damage shows up in four predictable ways:

• Higher utility bills from June through September
• Hot spots near windows that your AC can't keep up with
• Rooms that never cool down, no matter what the thermostat says
• UV damage to your floors, furniture, and anything sitting near the glass

It's not your HVAC system failing. It's the glass.

What does outdated glass actually do to your home?

Think of an aging window as a one-way heat collector. Sunlight hits the glass, converts to heat inside the room, and your AC has to remove it faster than the sun adds it. Most of the time, it loses.

That's how you end up with:

• A bedroom that's three degrees warmer than the rest of the house
• Faded curtains and discolored hardwood
• Leather furniture that's too hot to sit on by mid-afternoon
• An AC that runs nonstop and still doesn't catch up

The thermostat reading isn't the whole story. Comfort lives at the window line.

Why is Central Indiana especially hard on windows?

In Central Indiana, July and August averages regularly hit the low 90s. That's not the South, but it's hot enough — and humid enough — that any weakness in your window system gets exposed fast.

Homes in Greenwood, Avon, Fishers, and Noblesville deal with it the same way: a cycle of heat gain that a struggling AC system just can't win.

It's a climate that punishes:

• Single-pane windows in older homes
• Tired double-pane units past their seal life
• Builder-grade glass with no solar coating

If you live in a neighborhood with mature trees and decades-old homes, the odds are good your windows are part of the problem — not the solution.

How do energy-efficient replacement windows fix it?

New replacement windows with low-E glass coatings are designed specifically to block solar heat while still letting in natural light.

You keep the brightness. You stop the heat transfer.

Here's what changes after the install:

• Your AC cycles less often because there's less heat to fight
• Hot rooms become usable rooms again
• Utility bills come down — and stay down
• Furniture, flooring, and art stop fading

At Modern Day Window & Door, we install energy-efficient replacement windows built for Indiana's climate — not some national average spec. We'll look at your home, your exposures, and your current windows, then tell you exactly what would move the needle.

Stop fighting your thermostat

If your AC has been losing the summer battle, the answer probably isn't a bigger unit. It's better glass.

Let's talk about what your home actually needs.

Why Communication Matters in Every Installation

In this episode, Andy Brown of Modern Day Window & Door discusses how clear communication transforms every installation—from simple doors to full window projects—into a smooth, stress-free experience for homeowners.

Whether it's a one-day door upgrade or a more involved, multi-room window replacement, Andy and his team ensure clients are informed and comfortable at every step of the process.

Door vs. Window Installations: What's the Difference?

Not all installations are created equal. Andy explains that the nature and scope of the project play a big role in how communication is handled:

• Door Installations: Typically completed in under six hours, with minimal disruption to your home.
• Window Installations: Often span one to two days, requiring room-to-room access—including private spaces like bedrooms and bathrooms.

Setting Expectations: The Foundation of Trust in Home Improvement

In this episode, Andy Brown, co-owner of Modern Day Window & Door, discusses a crucial aspect of creating exceptional customer experiences: setting and meeting realistic expectations. With honesty and dependability at the core of their approach, Andy and his team ensure that every home improvement project is handled with care and reliability.

"Proper expectations. That's one thing—setting real expectations for people and not painting a Candyland-ish type expectation. And then meeting those expectations. I think that's a really big part of it."

– Andy Brown, Co-Owner

Why Realistic Expectations Matter

One of the biggest mistakes in the home improvement industry is overpromising and underdelivering. Andy believes that transparency and clear communication from day one help establish trust and avoid disappointment. Whether it's about timelines, materials, or outcomes, Modern Day Window & Door stays grounded and honest with every client.

• Clear Timelines: Letting homeowners know what to expect each step of the way.
• Transparent Communication: No sugarcoating—just the facts.
• Daily Oversight: Andy and his team are on-site regularly, ensuring work is completed with precision.

Locally Owned. Personally Invested.

As a locally owned and operated business in Indianapolis, Modern Day Window & Door brings a personal touch to every project. Andy and his team are not just contractors—they're neighbors who care about doing the job right.

"We are there every day making sure our jobs are getting completed for our homeowners in a timely manner," Andy shares. This hands-on involvement ensures that clients get not only top-tier results but also peace of mind.

The Result: Projects Done Right, Trust Earned

By grounding each job in honesty and reliability, Modern Day Window & Door consistently delivers high-quality outcomes. The secret? Realistic promises, met with dependable execution.

"It’s not just about finishing the project—it’s about earning the homeowner’s trust along the way."

– Andy Brown

Ready to Work With a Team You Can Trust?

If you’re ready for a stress-free home improvement experience built on clear communication and dependable service, contact Modern Day Window & Door today.

What Makes a Great Customer Experience in Home Improvement?

In this episode, we sit down with Andy Brown, part-owner of Modern Day Window & Door, to dive deep into what defines an outstanding customer experience in the home improvement industry.

From the first consultation to the final walkthrough, Andy emphasizes that communication is the cornerstone of building trust and delivering high-quality service.

"Any good construction company starts with communication."

– Andy Brown, Modern Day Window & Door

Why Communication Matters

According to Andy, every great customer experience begins with clear, consistent communication. Whether it’s explaining product options or confirming installation times, staying in touch makes all the difference.

• Initial Consultation: Walk clients through tailored product and installation choices.
• Pre-Installation: Send text updates to confirm schedules and crew arrivals.
• Final Walkthrough: Ensure everything meets the client’s expectations.

The Modern Day Difference

Located in Indianapolis, Modern Day Window & Door stands out not just for quality craftsmanship but for how they treat their clients. As Andy puts it, their goal is to “guide you through every step with honesty and care.”

From the moment you schedule a consultation to the final handshake after installation, the team prioritizes making the process smooth and transparent.

Building Trust One Project at a Time

By keeping homeowners informed and involved, Modern Day Window & Door creates long-term relationships that lead to repeat business and word-of-mouth referrals. It’s not just about installing windows and doors—it’s about building trust and comfort in your home.

"We guide you, update you, and stay connected—because your home matters to us."

– Andy Brown

Ready to Improve Your Home Experience?

If you’re looking for a company that values communication and quality, Modern Day Window & Door is here for you. Schedule a consultation today and see the difference firsthand.

Your front door sets the tone for your entire home—it’s the first thing people see and one of the last details you interact with every day. In this conversation, Scott Dorrell shares why entry door projects are so unique, how homeowners can fully customize their door, and the technology that helps you visualize the perfect fit before you make a final decision.

Transcript:

Interviewer (Andrew Curtis)
Scott, thanks as always. I really appreciate it.

Interviewee (Scott Dorrell, Co-Founder of Modern Day Window & Door)
Glad to be here.

Interviewer (Andrew Curtis, FuelVM)
Let's talk a little bit about doors. How do I know that I'm going to love my door project?

Interviewee (Scott Dorrell, Co-Founder of Modern Day Window & Door)
Well, for entry doors in particular, they're one of my favorite appointments to run. I do windows and patio doors all the time, but entry doors are special because they're never alike. I may do 2,000 doors in a year, and not one of them is the same as another. It’s really cool.

We come into your house, sit down with an iPad or a laptop, and use a visualizer tool. We go through photos of different doors we’ve installed, and you start by picking one you kind of like. I’ll click on that, and then we go into a custom building module where we can design that door any way you want. You’ll actually see the door change in real time on the iPad, along with the price.

You might love a certain glass style, but then decide it’s too expensive—and that’s okay. We can swap out hardware, glass, frame styles, even change how the bevels look on the door.

Once you land on a design you love, I can go outside and take a picture of your home. Then I’ll superimpose your selected door onto the photo so you can see exactly how it’ll look on your house before you buy it.

When it comes to replacement windows, it's not just about efficiency or fixing damage—it's also about design. In this conversation, Scott Dorrell shares real-world trends and creative ideas that homeowners are embracing to enhance both form and function. From maximizing views to upgrading curb appeal, window design has come a long way from the one-size-fits-all builder-grade options.

Transcript:

Interviewer (Andrew Curtis)
Let's talk about design trends, what's going on, what's actually happening in the real world?

Interviewee (Scott Dorrell, Co-Founder of Modern Day Window & Door)
Yeah, you know, it's pretty cool doing a replacement window project for a homeowner because when the house is built, they really don't get to pick their windows. They don't get to pick their view. The builders have a set of windows that they always work with. They have set sizes that they can use, and that's what you get in the home when it's built.

But when you go to do a replacement project, you can really do some cool stuff. Maybe you live on a lake and you have four casement windows all in a row, but you have this beautiful view. You never need those windows to open or shut, but you love to see that view. We'll replace that entire unit with a big picture window, and you'll be able to bring the outside in—and it's gorgeous.

What’s really cool is that one giant picture window is going to cost less than the four windows that were there before, if we replaced it as is. So you not only increase the look of your home and enjoy your view better, but you're also going to save a little money on the project. That’s a really popular option.

Another trend is going from double-hung windows to casements—I do that a lot in homes. Casements are generally associated with higher-value homes. So we'll go into a house that has double-hung windows on the front and replace them with casements, and it just looks a little bit different. You can see the upgrade right away. The screens are now on the inside instead of the outside, so the exterior of the home has a cleaner look.

We’ll also change the grid patterns around. Maybe take the grids off the back of the home. In my opinion, grids in a window are made to be looked at, not through. So on the front of the home, grids look great—but on the back, we’ll take them off so you can really enjoy your landscaping or the views that you have outside.

Window replacement can feel like a big investment, but knowing when it’s the right time makes the decision much easier. In this conversation, Scott Dorrell outlines the most common signs homeowners should watch for—ranging from comfort issues to visual damage—to determine if it’s time to consider replacing some or all of their windows.

Transcript starts here:

Interviewer (Andrew Curtis)
Scott, thanks again. Always appreciate the time. So let's actually think about the homeowner—what should they be looking for in their own home to consider a replacement window project?

Interviewee (Scott Dorrell, Co-Founder of Modern Day Window & Door)
Well, for replacement windows, there are a few different things you should consider. One is the comfort of your house. If your house is really cold all the time, or really hot in the summer, or you can't keep the rooms in your home the same temperature, that's generally because the windows are leaking.

That's something you feel. Then there are things you can see. You may have glass that is fogged up, which means the glass packs have begun to fail. That happens because the frame has warped. So if you replace the glass, it's very likely that the new glass pack will fail again. Instead of just replacing the glass, you probably have an issue with the window and should look at replacing the entire unit.

There's also wood rot, which is pretty obvious. If you go outside your home and the wood around your window is soft or rotted, it’s probably time to replace the windows.

Then there’s operability. If you lift your window and it doesn’t stay open and falls back down, or if you crank your window open but have to go outside to push it shut, it’s time to replace it.

The average life of a builder-grade window is generally about 7 to 10 years. So if your home is more than 10 to 15 years old, it's very likely that it's time to consider a window project. That doesn’t mean you have to do the whole home. Sometimes the windows on the second story or on the south side of the house are more damaged due to exposure. In that case, maybe you just start with a partial project and plan to do the rest down the road.