Summer is the perfect time of year to maintain your home’s old windows — and older windows do sometimes need a lot of maintenance! Properly maintaining your windows can make them more energy efficient, easier to operate and simply look better. From cleaning to weatherstripping, installing new caulk and more, old windows need TLC to remain in good condition.
Homeowners in New Jersey and the New York metro area often find themselves struggling to maintain old windows in old houses, but these tips can help. Here’s what you should plan to do sometime this summer, and the sooner the better.
Older windows often lack the energy efficiency of modern windows, but weatherstripping can help you mimimize energy loss and the transfer of heat. Weatherstripping is easy to install, but old weatherstripping should replaced on a regular basis (every two or three years) in order to remain effective.
You can purchase weatherstripping from hardware stores and home improvement centers. Simply cut down the weatherstripping to the right size and apply it in the gaps between the window and frame. The weatherstripping should be thick enough that it fills gaps, but not so thick it prevents the window from opening or closing properly.
Caulk seals gaps around windows. Like weatherstripping, caulk can deteriorate with time. Inspect the caulking around your windows this summer. Look for signs of deterioration, like cracks and gaps.
If you find that the caulk on and around your windows needs replacement, take care of this as soon as possible. Caulking protects your windows, and your home, from moisture damage and helps maintain your window’s energy efficiency.
Single hung and double hung windows have springs (or in really old windows, weights) inside them. These mechanisms help hold the window sash open and prevent them from slamming shut. When these parts break, you could find yourself propping your windows open with books, rulers and other tools. If the parts inside your windows are broken and your windows are difficult to open or shut, get them repaired by a professional.
Summer is a time when sunlight can warm up your home dramatically, especially if you have older windows with inefficient glass and single pane design. This is a good time of year to install window treatments that block sunlight and help keep your home cool.
If you like gauzy, lightweight window treatments, save those curtains for times of year when it’s colder outside. You may welcome more sunlight in your home then!
Summer is a good time to clean your windows, if you can pick a day that’s relatively cool. Avoid cleaning your windows when the sun shines directly on the glass or when the heat is intense. This can lead to streaking.
Old windows can last a long time, especially if they’re properly maintained, but eventually windows do need to be replaced. If your windows are ready to be replaced, contact Renewal by Andersen of New Jersey and New York Metro to make an appointment for an initial consultation. Call today at (866) 609-5033 or fill out the short form on this page.
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