Windows serve a lot of other functions apart from accentuating your home’s façade. They give you instant view of the outdoors and let sunlight or breeze in when necessary. Depending on their type and design, windows may also function as an insulator, keeping summer heat or winter cool out, consequently lowering your electricity bills and prolonging the life of your HVAC system.
It is, therefore, only right to treat your windows well. You need to know when repair or replacement should be arranged to prevent any existing damage from growing or affecting your home’s comfort. Here are some of the signs that you should watch out for.
Rotting Frame and Sill
Over time and if not properly maintained, the wooden frame or sill of your windows will begin to decay. That happens to all organic materials. Unfortunately, rot is a chemical change that cannot be reversed unless you have the Fountain of Youth in your backyard. So when your windows are rotting, there’s not much you can do to restore them. You can remove the rotten part, but that could compromise your windows’ structural integrity and leaving opening for draft and moisture to seep through. So when it comes to rot, all you can do is prevent it from occurring for as long as you can, because when it’s already taken a toll on your windows, there’s no other choice but to replace.
Jammed Sashes
The last thing you need is a window that won’t open when you badly need fresh air to blow into your room. This may occur when the window has been painted shut or when the opening and closing mechanism is broken. Either way, it has to be checked at once to know if the issue can still be fixed through expert window repair or if replacement is in order.
If you find out that the window is indeed painted shut, you can fix it by putting a knife between the sashes and the frame and wiggling it until the two components are separated. If the cause of the jam is broken sash cords, the problem can be a little harder to fix. The idea is to replace the existing sash cords, but to remove it from the window, you’ll have to access it while adjusting the sashes. It’s much easier if the sash cords have already snapped from the sash weights, because all you have to do is to pull it out and cut it altogether. Don’t try to remove the sash cords by yourself. Have at least two people to help you hold and adjust the sashes while you try to remove the cords. Then wait for the window expert to install the new cords.
Draft and High Bills
The windows are the easiest way in for draft. So when you feel cool air despite having your home completely shut and the furnace is blazing, then it’s probably coming from the windows. This may simply be a case of poorly caulked trim, but sometimes the cause may be a little more serious. If it’s indeed insufficient caulk that’s causing the leak, you can fix it by simply replacing the old caulk and making sure all areas are filled out. If the source is the window, itself, such as when the frame is broken or the panes have gotten brittle, you have to start considering window replacement.
You might be surprised by how modern replacement windows can transform your home in terms of both aesthetics and efficiency. Not only do they look more elegant and sophisticated than classic windows but they also provide added protection against the elements. They may cost a little more than traditional windows but you can definitely save a lot in the long run.
If nothing more can be done to salvage your windows and you’ve made up your mind to finally replace them, make sure that you’ll have the replacement windows installed by one of the most trusted window companies in Chicago, Muller Exteriors. This way, you don’t have to worry about poor workmanship causing all the trouble you have to deal with down the road. They have the tools and the experience needed to install windows that last a lifetime so you’re absolutely going to get the most bang for your buck.
Sources:
Should You Repair or Replace Your Windows?, thespruce.com
5 Things to Know Before You Replace Windows, time.com
