It’s troubling to see water stains anywhere in your home. Windows are an area of vulnerability where water intrusion can do damage to the wooden frame and surrounding plaster or drywall. Water stains can be an indication that your windows are leaking, or may be an indication that water is accumulating on the glass from the inside, and dribbling onto the sill over time. Left untreated, water stains around the windows can lead to a variety of problems, including mold and mildew and eventually rot of your windows and framing. It’s important to address any stains you see in a timely manner to protect your home and your family.
There may be many reasons that you’re seeing water stains around your windows, so you’ll have to do a little sleuthing to determine the cause. Sometimes water stains occur when the windows are left open over days, weeks or months, depending on the weather in your area. Water stains from precipitation are usually consistent in size from one side of the window sill to the other. You can prevent this from happening by leaving your windows shut. If you’ve left a window open for a long time without realizing, simply fix the sill and take care to shut your window in the future.
Water stains can also occur if the windows are leaking. If leaking windows are the cause of your problem, you’ll see water stains concentrated around the window frame corners. Sometimes this happens when the flashing around the windows is in poor condition. This could also be an indication that your windows were improperly installed.
Condensation may also be the cause of your problem. Condensation stains can be found on the sashes and on the sill. Condensation happens when humidity builds up inside the home and then gathers on windows when the glass is cold. This is most often a problem in homes with single pane windows or failed glass in insulated windows. If your home’s windows gather condensation regularly, this could be contributing to the deterioration of your window frames over time.
Once you’ve noticed water stains on your window frames, the next step is to get an inspection from a professional. If your windows are already several decades old, it’s time to consider getting new windows. Meet with a window dealer and installation professional who can assess your windows and provide a bid.
Good windows typically last about 20 years, so not all window problems are fixed by installing new windows. Some signs that you need new windows include:
Is it time to replace your windows? Contact Renewal by Andersen of New Jersey and New York Metro for a quote at 866-609-5033 or fill out the short form on this page to get started today.
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