If It’s Not Broken…The most obvious signs that you need to repair or replace your windows is if they’re visibly, physically damaged: cracks in the glass, rotted or broken window frames, etc.; a simple sight check should be enough to verify whether or not this is the case. It is entirely possible, however, that your windows are no longer functioning properly despite visibly appearing to be no worse for wear.
It can be easy to convince yourself that you don’t really need to deal with windows that aren’t quite working the way they should, especially if they still look like they’re fine; the price tag for a full replacement of all the windows in your home can get pretty hefty. You should bear in mind, however, that malfunctioning windows, despite appearing to be fine, can represent a rather considerable safety hazard.
So how can you tell if your windows aren’t quite working the way they should? There are a number of things you can check:
Difficulty of operation: if your windows are difficult to open, such as when they’ve absorbed so much moisture that they’ve swollen shut, or require some sort of prop to keep them open, then this is a sure sign that the window needs to be replaced.
Increased noise levels: if you’re noticing that your windows no longer block out as much sound as they used to, then replacement might be in order. Older single-plane glass windows notoriously provide inadequate protection against outside noise; switching to more modern multi-pane windows can reduce or eliminate noise altogether.
Rot in the window frames: with wooden window frames, it can be difficult to tell just from looking when rot has set in. A simple test, with a flat-blade screwdriver (to minimize damage to the frame, or avoid it entirely) can help you determine this. Tap the frame of the window with the flat blade-end of the screwdriver; if you can push it into the wood, then decay has very likely set in and a full window replacement might be required.
Peeling exterior paint: if the paint on the window’s outside frame is peeling, this is an indication that the seals on your windows have deteriorated and that moisture is seeping in (and out) through the window, the accumulation of which can contribute to rot, mold, and/or mildew. While caulking or weatherstripping can address the issue, those are, at best, temporary solutions to the problem and do not address the actual cause of the issue.
Fading furniture or furnishings: if the colors on the furniture or furnishings, such as carpeting, drapes, or artwork, in the area immediately beside the window seems to be fading (either faster than that in the rest of the house, or at all, for that matter), this can indicate that your windows are not providing enough ultraviolet protection.
If You’re Paying Through The Nose A high energy bill is an almost-sure indication that your house isn’t quite as energy efficient as it should be. Windows contribute a lot to a house’s energy efficiency: studies have shown that making your windows more energy efficient or, for that matter, replacing your windows with more energy efficient models, can reduce your yearly energy bill by as much as 40%. If you think that you’re paying more for heating (in the winter) or cooling (in the summer) than you should be, then checking to see if your windows are wasting energy is something you should do sooner rather than later.
The best way to determine whether or not your home, and by extension your windows, is energy efficient is by means of a professional energy audit. The audit should be conducted by a certified auditor from either the Building Performance Institute or the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET). There are a couple of things you can do on your own to help you determine whether or not to contact an auditor, or even to go ahead and start the repair or replacement process:
Drafts: a sure sign that your windows are leaking air, increasing your cooling (in the summer) and heating (in the winter) expenditures, is if you can feel a draft in front of the closed, locked window. If you’re not quite certain whether or not there is a draft coming in, hold a lit candle at the edge of the window; if the flame flickers, then there is a draft coming in through the window.
Caulk or seal failure: if you’re not quite sure whether or not you need to reapply caulking or weatherstripping to your window, there’s an easy test to check for caulk or seal failure. You can shine a flashlight along the window frame from the outside; if the light is visible from the inside, then there are cracks or gaps in the caulk or seal, another source of energy loss.
Warm or cool spots on the window: If, on a hot or cold day, you can find hot or cool spots on the inside of the window, then your window isn’t providing sufficient insulation and may need replacing. A sure sign that this is the case is if condensation is actually forming in between the glass panes of the window: this indicates that the seal between the panes has failed, and that the glass is no longer providing an adequate barrier, if at all, to outside cold air.
If There’s Something Not Quite Right Aesthetics and convenience are often overlooked, downplayed in favor of more practical considerations, when it comes to situations requiring a substantive, if not substantial, monetary outlay. Nevertheless, look and feel and ease of use can be, and often are, important considerations, especially when you take into consideration how they interact with and affect your daily life:
Matching windows to the rest of your house can contribute greatly to the overall look and feel of your residence. It is not unreasonable to want to improve the look of your house, and this is a perfectly legitimate reason to consider replacing the windows on your home.
If you’re looking to reduce maintenance, then certain upgrades might be in order. Newer dual-hung windows have a sash (the part of the window that includes the pane and the inner frame that surrounds it, allowing it to slide along a rail) that can be tilted outwards, making it easier to wash and clean your windows.
If you dislike having to regularly peel off and repaint your wooden window frames, then you might want to look into replacing them with frames that incorporate aluminum or vinyl cladding, or frames made from fiberglass or composite materials, as these do not require painting.
If you’re already doing work on your house, or having work done on your house, then having the windows replaced might be in order. In particular, if you’re replacing siding, consider replacing the windows, too, and before you replace the siding. This way, you can fit the siding to the windows, resulting in a neater appearance and improved energy efficiency.
Lastly, if you’re planning to sell your house, then upgrading the windows can net you up to 80% of the investment in the form of a higher selling price, more if you can do the work yourself instead of hiring a contractor. Try to match the price range of the windows with the overall price range of your house, i.e., if it’s a high-end house, go for high-end windows; if it’s a rather more modest house, match it with middle-range windows. While someone looking to purchase your home may appreciate better windows, they might not be willing to pay for such an improvement if the price does not match that of the rest of the house.
