Signs It's Time to Replace Your Windows

Drafts and uneven temperatures

If you can feel cold air near a closed window in winter, or a room stays noticeably colder or warmer than the rest of the house, the window may be part of the problem. Drafts usually come from worn weatherstripping, gaps between the sash and the frame, or gaps between the frame and the wall.

A simple test: on a windy day, hold your hand or a lit incense stick near the edges of the window and watch for movement. Some drafts can be handled with new weatherstripping or caulk. When air is coming through the frame itself, or the sash no longer closes tight, replacement is often the better fix.

Rooms that are hard to heat or cool tend to make heating and cooling equipment work harder. We will not promise a specific savings number, because results depend on the home, but better-sealed windows usually make a house more comfortable.

Condensation, fog and failed glass

Condensation on the inside surface of a window during cold weather is often a humidity issue in the house, not a window failure. Condensation or fog between two panes of glass is different. It usually means the seal on an insulated glass unit has failed and moisture has gotten inside.

A failed seal cannot really be fixed by cleaning. Sometimes the glass unit can be replaced on its own, but when several windows have failed seals, or the frames are also worn, replacing the windows tends to be more practical.

• Fog or haze between panes that does not wipe off.
• Water droplets or streaks trapped inside the glass.
• Frost forming heavily on the inside of single-pane windows in winter.

Windows that stick, will not stay open or will not lock

Windows should open, close and lock without a fight. When they do not, it can be a safety issue as well as an annoyance. Bedroom windows in particular should open easily in an emergency.

Common causes include swollen wood, broken balances or sash cords, paint sealing the sash shut, and frames that have shifted as the house settled. Older Pittsburgh homes often have original wood windows that have been painted many times over. Some can be restored, but if the hardware is broken and the wood is deteriorating, replacement is usually the more reliable choice.

Rot, water damage and leaks

Look at the sill, the frame and the trim outside, and the sill and walls inside. Warning signs include:

• Soft or crumbling wood on the sill or frame.
• Peeling paint that keeps coming back in the same spots.
• Water stains on the wall or ceiling below or beside a window.
• Gaps or cracked caulk where the window meets the siding or brick.
• Mold or mildew around the frame.

Water around a window is not always the window's fault. It can come from failed flashing, from siding problems, or even from an overflowing gutter above. If the walls around your windows also look worn, our guide to when to replace your siding may help. If stains are near the ceiling, it is worth ruling out a roof leak too, and our article on signs your roof needs replacement covers what to look for.

Noise, fading and other everyday clues

Not every sign is dramatic. Some are things homeowners notice gradually:

• Street noise that seems louder than it should be, especially on busy or narrow streets.
• Furniture, floors or curtains fading quickly near certain windows.
• Rattling sashes when trucks pass or the wind picks up.
• Single-pane glass or storm windows that have to be put up and taken down each season.
• Windows that simply look worn out and no longer fit the rest of the house after new siding or a new roof.

One of these alone may not justify replacement. A few of them together, across several windows, usually point in that direction.

When a repair may be enough

Not every problem window needs to come out. New weatherstripping, fresh caulk, a replaced sash cord or balance, or a single new glass unit can sometimes buy a window more good years. Repair usually makes sense when the frame is solid, the window operates reasonably well, and the issue is limited to one part. When the frame is rotting, several parts have failed, or you are fixing the same window every year, replacement is often the better use of your money.

Planning a window replacement

Before you replace windows, it helps to think about a few practical questions:

• Which windows are worst? Some homeowners replace everything at once, while others start with the rooms that bother them most.
• Do you want the look to match the original windows, or update the style of the house?
• Are you planning other exterior work? Replacing windows and siding together can make it easier to get trim and flashing right around each opening.
• How do the windows open, and does that suit each room?

Straight A Exterior Renovations installs and replaces windows for homeowners around Pittsburgh. We will look at your windows, the walls around them and any signs of water, and explain what we see. You choose the windows and finishes, and you get a detailed, line-by-line written quote before anything starts. Visit our windows page or contact us for a free estimate.