Improper window maintenance is just as bad as not maintaining your windows at all, if not worse. Renewal by Andersen® of Central Illinois, your go-to company in the state for replacement windows, lists the worst window maintenance habits below.
Not Closing and Locking Your Windows
Something as simple as forgetting to close your windows can damage them. Windows are designed to be locked. When they’re left open, moisture can enter the interior through your windows, causing condensation to form on your windows and increasing the risk of rot and mold. Remember, damp conditions are conducive to the formation and propagation of fungi.
Neglecting to Clean Sliding Windows’ Tracks and Lubricate Their Rollers
A lot of homeowners forget to clean their sliding windows’ tracks. Left unattended, dirt and grime can accumulate in the tracks and stick to the rollers, making it harder to slide the windows open. It’d also be a good idea to check your manufacturer’s guide on the proper way to clean the tracks and rollers.
Sloppy Cleaning
You’ll also find general cleaning instructions in the manufacturer’s guide. In particular, you should look for the chemicals that can damage your window frame as well as whether or not you can use a pressure washer to clean your windows. We’ve noticed a lot of homeowners unintentionally damaged their windows while they were cleaning their brick exterior—most masonry cleaning solutions contain muriatic acid, which in their case, dripped onto their windows and damaged the weather sealing.
The sealing keeps argon gas, which prevents heat from entering your home, from leaking out. You’ll know there’s a window leak when the insides of the glass start to fog up or when it begins to warp. The leaks can be plugged, but there’s no way to refill the windows with gas or restore the window’s energy-efficiency. As such, it’d be better to install new replacement windows.
Just make sure to hire a qualified contractor—installation errors can also damage the sealing.
Renewal by Andersen of Central Illinois offers a wide variety of premium windows and doors. We customize each window according to our customers’ needs and preferences. To schedule a consultation with one of our design experts, call us at (866) 693-6707 or leave us a message here. We serve homeowners in Springfield and Decatur, IL.
