Windows can be important for bringing some truly inspiring views to a home, but they are also points of vulnerability for a home. A stray baseball can only dent the siding of a home, but it can break a window. Even without the threat of physical damage, windows can still be weak points in the structural integrity of a home that leads to higher costs you didn’t even suspect you were paying for. Keep an eye out for these signs that it’s time for a window replacement.

Your Windows Are Drafty

There are two easy ways to test this, depending on the time of the year. If it’s winter and you stand by the windows and detect extreme amounts of cold air coming in, that’s a bad sign. If you touch the window frame and it feels icy cold, winter air is getting in.

In the same vein, if a strong wind is blowing outside, light a candle and bring it close to the window. Watch the flame, and if it flickers, or if you blow it out and you see the smoke wafting with air, that means your window is letting in severe drafts and is raising your HVAC bills in the winter.

Your Frames Are Moist

Windows are supposed to keep the elements out, and this includes moisture. If you notice after it rains that the area around your window is wet, this is a sign that whatever sealant or other physical barriers are in place for your windows is no longer working.

Even if it’s just a little water leaking in, always remember that the water coming in that you don’t see, where it is both dark and damp, may be laying the groundwork for a mold infestation. That’s even more expensive to address than window replacement.

Opening & Closing Has Become Difficult

Windows are, by design, supposed to open and close smoothly. If you find that you are fighting your windows more and more to open and close them, don’t just write this off as a consequence of age. Check your window frame carefully. You may find that one of the reasons why the window is becoming more difficult to manipulate is because the shape of the window itself is changing, and the frame is warping.

This is a problem that will only get worse with time, and it can lead to a rise in your heating and cooling bills.

Your Window Is Damaged

It could be because of a storm with an errant tree branch, an accident while playing sports, or even, if you live on the coast, the result of corrosion because of salt in the air. Whatever the case, different circumstances can damage your window, and if that happens, you should call in the professionals immediately.

A broken window is not just unattractive; it is unsafe, leaves your home vulnerable to theft as it is an easy entry point, and can lead to higher HVAC bills.

So if you think that it may be time to replace your windows, we’re here to help. Contact the Empire Construction Group, and we can replace your windows with new and improved models.