Good windows are essential in keeping a home cosy, which is why it’s important to care for your windows and occasionally carry out some maintenance. But how do you know if your windows need repairing? Natural causes such as the weather can have an effect on your home, but windows are more susceptible as they are the thinnest barriers between you and the outside world. How will you know when it is time to repair your wooden windows? Below is a list of six tell-tale signs…
BROKEN, CRACKED OR CHIPPED GLASS
This is probably the easiest sign to spot. If you notice scratches, chips, or cracks then these are usually due to storm damage, harsh cleaners or sometimes being hit by foreign objects. You should do a glass repair and maybe also replace the sash to bring it back to its original shape. If you don’t do this, the glass could end up shattering in the future. If you are unsure how to do window repair and installation, then you should enlist the help of a professional to do the work for you.
ROTTING OR RUNDOWN WOOD
If you are living in an older home with wooden window frames and the condition of your windows isn’t great, this may be a sign that your windows need to be repaired. Old windows with wooden frames may show signs of rot in the wood, or cracks and discoloured sections could occur due to inclement weather conditions. In many cases it may be easy to strip off the old paint and paint a fresh coat. But, if there are parts that are rotten, it is important that you replace the damage with new wood before repainting. Painting over rotten wood only hides the problem for a little while. In extreme cases you might need a complete replacement of the frame and hardware.
FOGGY GLASS
Condensation between the windowpanes builds up when the window seals are already broken. This occurs in newer windows that have many layers of glass but doesn’t affect older, single-pane windows. Heat is the most common cause of the destruction of seals, which will then lead to oxidation of the insulating gases between the glass. In this case, you’ll probably need to replace the entire window. This repair could cost several hundred pounds for each window but fixing it means you can see clearly out of your window again (and add value to your home too).
DRAFTS AND COLD AIR LEAKS
If you notice that there are cracks, peeling paint or rotten wood sections, these are mostly caused by air leaking through gaps between your window sashes, dividers and frames. If you seal these gaps with painter’s caulking, it won’t cost you much money but if your window needs stripping, or your sash needs to be replaced, you can expect to pay up to £200 on necessary materials, dependent the size and condition of the window.
HARD TO OPEN WINDOWS
Windows that aren’t easy to open may have painted shut sashes, hardware that is broken or dirty tracks. You should begin by cleaning out any dirt that has accumulated, or scrape away the old paint. If you notice that you need to replace hardware, then you should get help from a professional.
HIGH ENERGY BILLS
If you suddenly notice a change in your energy bills for no reason, your windows may be leaking. It’s easier to check this in colder weather by simply standing beside the window and noticing if it’s colder there than anywhere else in the room, That’s a sure sign that you probably need to repair the glass (but may not need to change the window frame). You could also try holding a candle near the window and determine the point where the flame begins to flicker, and you may be able to spot a crack or broken seal that is the root cause of the problem.
Doing your own home window repairs successfully generally depends on the type of windows you have and the severity of the damage to the window or its parts. If you are able to do the repair on your own, you can save money paying for a repair however, if you choose to completely replace the window then you’ll be reassured that the problem has been solved and the window will be good for many years to come. Let me know your own tips for spotting window problems in the comments below 🙂
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