Understanding Construction Work

3 Signs You Need to Replace Your Home's Windows

Your home's windows are a central source of light, fresh air, and a major aesthetic consideration for the interior of your home. However, like everything else that experiences weather exposure, your windows can begin to degrade over time, which can result in water damage on the interior of your home, higher energy bills, and all sorts of other related issues. Fortunately, you can spot early signs of wear on your windows before these problems manifest themselves and have your windows replaced to proactively prevent such issues from occurring.

Difficult Movement

One of the clearest signs that your windows are near the end of their lifespan is if the sashes of the windows that open and close have difficulty moving (or won't move at all). This can point to swelling and water damage to the wooden parts of the window, as well as actual damage to the tracks of the window sashes.

On the other end of the spectrum, if your window won't stay open and simply falls shut when you try to open it, replacement is likely necessary as well. This usually points to shrinking of the wood, which means that there are gaps in the window's frame that can allow heat transfer between the exterior and interior of your home.

Condensation and Moisture

Excessive amounts of condensation between your window's panes can point to a sealing issue, which can ruin the insulation value of the windows and make degradation of the frame much more likely. In addition, any sign of water damage around the window frame on the interior of your home can point to a leak somewhere in the frame, which should be addressed as soon as possible.

Physical Damage

Another fairly obvious sign that you need to replace your windows is if you notice that there is damage to any of the components of the window. Cracks to the glass are the most noticeable, but keep an eye on the frame for signs of damage, as well as the pieces of wood or plastic that run through your window panes. If these begin to crack or degrade, your entire window can run the risk of falling apart when placed under stress.  Finally, you should also inspect the trim around the window (the weather stripping or caulking that helps ensure that the entire window is sealed against the elements). While trim can be replaced individually, missing or damaged sections can point to wear on other parts of your window as well.

For more information about window replacement, contact companies like Leger Siding.


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