If you own an older house or apartment, you may find that the windows keep causing you difficulty. It might vary from having trouble closing them once they’ve been opened, or feeling a light draft coming through on windy days. However, the signs are often subtle ones, so it can leave any homeowner unsure if they’re imagining it or if the windows are trying to tell you something…
To put any doubts to rest, here are the types of clues to pay attention to that indicate the windows should be replaced.
Window Frame Damage or Decay
The easiest thing to spot is an older window frame that’s facing the exterior and has seen better days. If it’s a wooden frame, perhaps termites have been eating away at the frame over the years until the glass pane wobbles a bit? Or, if it’s a metal one, it may have eventually succumbed to rust in spots.
Perhaps you’ve been dealing with those troublesome areas but now it’s happening too frequently and has you concerned? As indicated in this article from EZ Home Solutions, found at https://www.ezhomesolutions.com/window-replacement-signs/, a window frame might have become warped or sustained moisture damage too. Structural damage from a fallen limb of a tree during a storm could have damaged it too.
Also, don’t discount the interior side of the window. They too can suffer from a variety of similar problems.
Mystery Drafts
Older homes are notorious for suffering from drafts. The older the property, and the larger it is, the greater the issue often is unless tended to properly.
It’s not always windows that can cause drafts; doors are also common culprits too. They can have door jams that are no longer there or insufficient with poorly fitting doors.
Returning to windows, older frames may have cracks that let air drafts in. Also, some windowpanes may no longer seal properly and sit in the frame perfectly leading to air pockets too. These types of issues lead to paying too much for indoor heating.
Excessive Condensation
It is unusual to see much condensation on the windows in the chill of the morning. However, as windows get older and the insulation and fitting become weathered, moisture finds its way onto the panes and sits there. The condensation then runs off eventually as the window heats up either from indoor heating or the heat of the sun.
Condensation is often a sign of a real problem between the window and the frame. It’s generally a warning sign that other problems are or will be developing soon because once the seals begin to break down and moisture appears, the trouble starts.
Sticky Windows
Sticky windows – where they are difficult to open or close – is an indication of a warped window frame.
Windows that are designed to open easily should continue to do so without any issues. When they’re becoming an issue, then the shape of the window frame has materially altered causing it to rub in the wrong places. It then becomes a tight squeeze when opening or closing it.
Each of the indicators above suggests that a window replacement is necessary to fully resolve the issue. Leaving it as it is, the problem will likely become more severe with time.