Windows rarely fail all at once. They get a little drafty, a little harder to open, a little foggy between the panes, and one winter you notice you are wearing a sweater in the living room with the heat on. If your house still has its original windows from decades ago, there is a good chance some of these signs sound familiar.
Here are the signs we look for when New Jersey homeowners ask whether it is time for new windows, and when a repair is enough.
1. You can feel a draft
Hold your hand or a lit incense stick near the edges of a closed window on a windy day. If you feel air or the smoke moves, air is leaking around the sash or the frame. Worn weatherstripping can sometimes be replaced, but drafts through the frame itself usually mean replacement.
2. Fog or moisture between the glass
Double-pane windows have a sealed space between the panes. When the seal fails, moisture gets in and the glass fogs up from the inside. You cannot wipe it off, and the window has lost much of its insulating value.
3. Windows that stick, will not stay open, or will not lock
Warped frames, broken balances and worn hardware make windows hard to use and less secure. Some hardware can be repaired. Frames that have swelled or warped usually cannot.
4. Rot or soft wood
Press on the sill and the bottom of the frame, inside and out. Soft wood, peeling paint that keeps coming back and dark staining mean water is getting into the frame. Left alone, that damage spreads into the wall.
5. Condensation and frost inside
Some condensation on very cold mornings is normal. Heavy condensation or frost on the inside glass every winter usually points to single-pane or poorly insulated windows.
6. High energy bills and cold rooms
If one or two rooms are always colder than the rest of the house, or your heating bills keep climbing, old windows are often part of the problem. Attic insulation is the other big one; see how much attic insulation you need.
7. Outside noise
If you can hear every car on the street and every leaf blower next door, newer double-pane windows can make a noticeable difference.
8. Fading floors and furniture
Older glass lets more of the sun’s UV through. Newer windows with low-E coatings help protect floors, rugs and furniture from fading.
9. Older homes and lead paint
Homes built before 1978 may have lead paint on old window sashes and trim. Opening and closing those windows creates dust. Replacement should be done by a firm that follows lead-safe work practices. Herts is an EPA Lead-Safe certified firm.
Repair or replace?
Repair makes sense for a single broken pane, a worn lock or old weatherstripping on windows that are otherwise sound. Replacement makes sense when several of the signs above show up across the house, or when the frames are rotted.
Frequently asked questions
Can I replace just a few windows?
Yes. Many homeowners start with the worst windows or the coldest rooms and do the rest later.
What time of year is best to replace windows?
Windows can be replaced most of the year. Each window is usually opened and closed back up the same day, so the house is not left exposed.
Will new windows lower my heating bill?
Replacing drafty, single-pane or failed windows usually makes rooms more comfortable and helps with heating and cooling costs, especially combined with good attic insulation.
Thinking about new windows?
Herts installs energy-efficient replacement windows across New Jersey and the Lehigh Valley. Call 908-206-4240 or request a free estimate.