You may not pay attention to it as much as you should, but the windows in your home play a very important role in both form and function. First and foremost, these openings can help bring in more light into the room. Not only does this make for a cost-efficient, energy-saving solution, but it also helps to make the room look brighter and feel livelier.
Apart from the lighting, windows can also help control and improve indoor air circulation. This is beneficial for making the room feel comfortable and viable to stay in. Stuffy rooms can make it difficult to breathe, or at least affect the quality of indoor air. A closed room also tends to feel a lot smaller and claustrophobic. By having windows in the room, it gives the feel of expanded space.
Opening Up the Space
Speaking of which, having an expanded space, or at least an illusion of it, could serve you very well, not only in terms of the aesthetics, but also in terms of your own mental state. Tight spaces, as mentioned above, can be claustrophobic. Beyond this, however, it can also make it difficult for the person to expand one’s thinking out of the box, so to speak.
The physical walls surrounding you translates into a psychological one, too, and can thus impede your creative thought process. Also, it can lead to feeling exhausted a lot faster, because there is no space for a break or breather.
A window in the room may seem like such a simple solution for such a deep problem, but sometimes all it really needs to refresh is a visual break.
Room Functions
Having the right windows in strategic locations in the house is also a must. For example, double-hung window is ideal in the kitchen. The way this window is constructed allows for you to open up either end of the window. Improve the air ventilation in your kitchen by opening the top part to let the hot air out, especially when you’re cooking, while the lower portion can bring in fresh, cooler air from outside to balance the indoor air.
Meanwhile, bathroom windows can help remove the steam, which in turn can cause moisture buildup and damage non-tiled materials like wood and metal. It also serves as a natural exhaust vent to ensure that the room is kept cool and fresh.
In a nutshell, therefore, your windows do not just play an aesthetic part in your home, but actually have important functional attributes.
Window Maintenance
Keeping windows well-maintained does not really take much. Unless there are serious issues requiring repair, it would only need to be regularly cleaned. Simply spray a window cleaner on the glass panel and then proceed to wipe it off with a window cleaning tool. If you’re using a washcloth, make sure that it’s a soft, cotton one so that it doesn’t scratch the glass.
You don’t have to clean your windows every day, but including it in your regular weekend cleaning should be a good help for its maintenance. Dust and grime buildups will affect the clarity and visibility of the window, and also its overall appeal.
More importantly, however, not maintaining your window can lead to faster damage or deterioration. You may also miss out on telltale signs pointing to a need for repair, until the problems get so bad, there’s no other recourse left but to get a full replacement.
Signs You Need Window Replacement
Maintaining your windows is also about being alert as to when to repair or replace it. Window replacement cost will generally depend on how big the damage is, and also what kind of materials will be used for the replacement. If it’s simply unavoidable for you to get your windows replaced, then you should make sure to choose the right materials so you can get replacement that’s cost-efficient and long-lasting.
Here are some of the signs you should pay close attention to in order to determine if it’s time for you to replace your windows.
Drafty Inside
Unless you’ve deliberately left your windows open, there shouldn’t be any draft in the room. This is the simplest test you can do to check if there’s a leak or any problems with your windows. It may seem like a small problem for you at this point, especially if there are no visual signs pointing to the wear and tear of the window, but that’s actually what you should be worried about. If you don’t pay attention to it early enough, it’s only going to get worse until you cannot ignore it anymore.
A drafty room because of faulty windows can affect not just the quality of air circulation, but also your energy bills, because your appliances, like the HVAC, are going to be working doubly hard just to keep the room feeling comfortable.
Moisture and Condensation on Window Panes
There shouldn’t be any moisture in between the glass panes, ideally, so if you notice one forming, take it as a sign that there is a problem. The fogginess can be attributed to a broken seal, for example. If you’re in a place where the temperatures get extra low, you might even see frosts developing within your glass window panes, which can damage it.
Basically, a broken seal means the window’s insulating properties are compromised, and so soon, that condensation will spread and contributes to the draft sneaking into the room from outside.
External Noise
Another sign you should pay attention to is outside noise. Your windows also serve as a buffer against outside noise, so if it suddenly seems a bit more intrusive and louder than usual, even when you didn’t change anything with the room structure, it could be the windows failing to insulate the sound.
Jammed Windows
This is one of the most obvious signs that there’s a problem with your window. If you can’t open or close it as easily as it should, then look into either repairing or replacing it altogether. Constantly jamming windows not only cause an inconvenience, but also poses a serious security threat.
Windows are also a point of entry so you need to make sure it’s locked securely from inside. You won’t be able to do that if you can’t even shut it close properly. Forcing your window open can also cause damage to the frame of the window itself, which will also require replacement.
Window Installation
Once you’ve decided that you would opt to replace your window, the next issue you’re probably wondering is whether or not you should hire a professional for it or simply do it yourself. Ideally, you should leave the installation to professionals.
The main reason for that is that they are knowledgeable on how to install replacement windows, no matter the type. They have the skills and the proper techniques to complete the task in the most efficient manner possible. Also, they have the right set of tools to carry it out.
Leaving it in the hands of the professionals not only ensure proper installation, but also a guarantee that you won’t be encountering any issues with it anytime soon. In the event that you do, there should be a warranty included in their service. The bottom line is that you can rest assured that a professional service, such as Muller Exteriors Inc., can take care of your window replacement needs as efficiently as possible.
