Owning a home can be both a rewarding and tedious process. There are bills to pay, areas to clean, and things to maintain. Many people will tell you to check on your air filters, your heating/cooling systems, and your flooring. What they'll often fail to mention is, however, is to maintain your windows.
The glass for your residential establishment should be checked on a regular basis. Maintaining it is important, and improper maintenance can oftentimes be a safety concern. Properly maintaining your windows will also help cut down on your energy bills related to heating and cooling.
At Absolute Glass, we want to make sure your home is safe. Today, we are going to discuss signs to look out for to know if a window needs fixing and whether or not you should replace or repair it.
Deteriorating Wood
Humidity is synonymous with "Living in Houston". Due to the climate of the city that we live in, wood frames can easily rot. Rotting frames allows water and air to both leak and escape from your house. If it is a small patch of rotting wood, repairing would be the best option. However, if the entire windowsill is rotting, complete replacement is the only way to go. Whatever the situation is, at Absolute Glass, we have you covered.
Broken Panes
Window panes are very often the first thing that comes to mind whenever someone mentions a "broken window". Window panes can be broken in a variety of ways, but will most likely involve something that shouldn't be thrown against a window being thrown against it. Finding a way to replace the windows as soon as they're broken is considered "proper maintenance" for windows. For things such as vintage glass, multi-pane windows and aluminum-clad windows, repairing would be the best option. However, when it comes to things like vinyl, it would be more prudent to replace it instead.
Seals Are Broken
If you happen to notice a large amount of condensation and fog or in between the double or triple panes there are streaks, then most likely there is a seal that is broken and needs to be replaced. There are de-fogging solutions and valves you can use. Please be aware that these are not as effective as simply replacing it. You can also put in a new sash, which is a less expensive than replacing the entire window.
Hard To Open and Close Windows
Every person will, at one point in their life, come into contact with an excruciatingly stubborn window. That window will open when you're trying to close it, and stay shut when you're trying to open it. At Absolute Glass, we specialize in residential glass and have heard many homeowners complain about "that" window. Causes for the stubbornness of the window range from mundane to exotic, but more often than not, will be a direct result of dirt and junk collecting in the track of the window. Breaking the paint seal and cleaning out the gunk and grime will often fix this. This will oftentimes result in needing new parts.
Airy Windows
On an especially windy day, airy windows will blow cold air in. This problem will usually originate from the window not closing properly or cracked caulking on the windows. Another cause for this problem could be rotted wood or loose sashes. You can solve most of these problems by sealing the percieved gaps with painter's caulk, which by itself, is a very inexpensive material. Weather stripping can be found at hardware stores. The most expensive thing to replace is the window sash, which will often times range from $40 dollars to $250 dollars (all based on quality and brand name).
Doing this can save you over 15% on your energy bill. If you have a drafty window, please be sure to take care of it right away.
Need help with residential glass? Give us a call today and we can provide you with all solution to all your glass needs. Absolute Glass handles residential glass and commercial glass.
Call Absolute Glassworks 24/7 at (713) 666-1930.
