Is It Time to Upgrade Your Windows?

Homes need high-quality windows in Iowa City, Iowato ensure that they are durable and resistant to a variety of issues. Unfortunately, window replacement is often a necessity for many homes when a multitude of problems affect their frames and glass. These problems can develop at just about any time and will put a severe strain on your home's aesthetics and efficiency.

The following scenarios are the most common times that you'll need to replace these items on your home. Most will require either the total replacement of the window or a few simple repairs that enhances the strength of the frame and the pane. Please note, however, there are other times in which this type of replacement will be necessary. So keep your window repair expert's phone number handy for these situations.

Difficulty Opening and Shutting

Good windowsshould move up and down without difficulty smoothly and efficiently. However, just about every home has a window or two that needs a lot of work to open and close. Unfortunately, this situation typically occurs when the frames of the windows have swollen with water or temperature changes that cause excess pressure on the structure that forces them shut.

This problem can affect all frames but is more likely to occur with wood frames. Simply put, the wood material will absorb water more efficiently and expand and contract more heavily with temperature changes. However, you may even notice this problem with vinyl or metal window frames, particularly those that are a little bit older or which haven't been upgraded in several decades.

Check for this problem by walking through your home opening and closing each window. Notice which ones are hard to operate and then run your finger along the frame materials. Do you notice any bulges or indentations in the material? Pay special attention to these spots and make sure that you upgrade your frames to ensure that your home has the high-quality window design that it deserves.

Increasingly High Energy Bills

Most of the time, your energy bill should be reasonably consistent from one month to the next. While you might pay a little bit more or less in some months than you do in others, your power usage should be similar enough to avoid strangely high energy bills. However, you may find that your bills are getting higher and higher lately, and you can't figure out what is going on in this situation.

In almost every scenario like this one, your windowsare to blame. As these essential parts of your home start to get old or fail, they'll let in and out more cold and hot air from your home. For example, you may find one room is very cold compared to the rest of your house in winter or warm during the summer. This temperature change is the clue that this room needs some upgrades.

Perform this simple test to see which need to be placed: light a candle and hold it near the glass. If you see the candle flicker or notice the smoke moving without you causing it to sway, the frames are likely getting old and drafty and need to be replaced. So focus on the rooms that have the worst problems – such as visible light around the edges of the frames – to get the best results.

Cracked or Broken Glass

As your window ages, movement pressure will continually be put on the glass as you open and close the pane. While most shouldn't have a hard time resisting this kind of pressure for years without a crack, some panes will eventually crack. This issue is one that must be addressed immediately. A broken glass pane affects temperature and moisture levels and makes your home less comfortable.

Thankfully, you have a few options that you can consider when fixing this problem. First of all, you can replace the glass in the frame and leave the structure intact. This step is a good idea if the rest of the window is durable and doesn't need to be replaced. However, some issues with window frames – such as excess swelling – could trigger these cracks and ruin your future panes.

In this situation, total window replacement is a wise choice. You'll not only replace the broken glass but also eliminate the problematic frame at the same time. Even better, you can add high-efficiency windowsthat will decrease your utility bills and improve the green quality of your home as well. Note: spot repairs of cracked glass aren't wise unless the crack is tiny and surface-level.

High Levels of Condensation

Good windowsseal out water condensation from the outside and keep your home's temperature and moisture levels balanced and even. However, leaks around the frames – particularly those that are decaying – may cause subtle temperature changes that lead to condensation on your glass. This condensation is likely to be on the inside but may also be on the outside.

If this problem gets bad enough, you're likely to notice leaking water coming in around the frames of a window. This problem is dangerous because the leak is likely large enough to not only affect a home's temperature but also let in insects and other pests. If you see a pool of water at the foot of your window, the time has more than come for an upgrade.

If you spot mold growing around the window or through your home, you need to take immediate action to prevent this problem from getting worse. Mold growth is fueled by high moisture levels, and letting it spread through your home is never a good idea. Instead, you should replace any frame or window that is suffering from leaks and get a mold remediation expert to your home ASAP.

Get Professional Help Today

As you can see, a large number of issues can indicate that it is time for you to replace your windows. Each of these concerns can occur at any time in your home and will typically require the help of a professional to manage appropriately. And DIY window replacement is seldom a good idea because the process is fraught with opportunities for mistakes, such as placing the window in the hole improperly.

So if your windows in Iowa City, Iowaneed replacement, you should talk to a professional construction firm right away to get the help that you need. These professionals will sit down with you, assess the situation, and work hard to get your window frames and panes repaired, replaced, or upgraded as soon as possible.