Drafts, foggy glass, sticky sashes and rising energy bills are your windows asking for help. Here are seven signs it's time to replace them — and when a repair is enough.
Windows rarely fail all at once. They wear out quietly — a little draft here, a foggy pane there — until one day you realize the living room is never quite comfortable and the power bill keeps creeping up. Here in North Georgia, where we go from humid 90-degree summers to freezing winter nights, tired windows work against you all year long.
Not sure if yours are due? Here are seven signs it's time to replace them.
1. You can feel a draft
On a windy or cold day, hold your hand (or a lit candle) near the edges of a closed window. If you feel moving air or the flame flickers, outside air is getting in. Worn weatherstripping can sometimes be replaced, but if the frame itself has shifted or warped, the draft will keep coming back.
2. There's fog or moisture between the panes
Condensation on the inside of the glass is usually just indoor humidity. But fog or water droplets between the two panes means the seal has failed. The insulating gas has escaped, and the window no longer insulates the way it was designed to. This can't be wiped away — the glass unit or the whole window needs replacing.
3. Windows are hard to open, close or lock
A window that sticks, won't stay open or won't lock properly is more than an annoyance. It can be a safety issue in an emergency and a security issue the rest of the time. Sticking is often a sign the frame has swelled, warped or settled out of square.
4. Your energy bills keep going up
If your heating and cooling costs are rising and your HVAC system checks out fine, your windows may be the weak spot. Older single-pane or early double-pane windows let heat pour in during the summer and escape in the winter. Modern ENERGY STAR® certified windows with Low-E glass are built to keep that heat where it belongs.
5. You see rot, soft spots or peeling
Press gently on wooden frames and sills. Soft, spongy wood or paint that keeps peeling in the same spot means moisture is getting in. Left alone, that moisture can spread into the wall around the window — a much bigger repair than the window itself.
6. Outside noise comes right through
If you can hear every car, lawn mower and barking dog as if the window were open, your windows aren't sealing well. Well-made double-pane windows noticeably quiet a home — something many homeowners don't expect until after the install.
7. Furniture and floors near windows are fading
Sun-bleached rugs, hardwood and upholstery near your windows are a sign that UV light is coming straight through. Low-E coatings on modern glass block much of that UV while still letting daylight in.
Repair or replace?
One sign on one window — say, a worn seal or a broken lock — can often be repaired. But if you're checking off several of these signs across the house, or your windows are 20 or more years old, replacement usually makes more sense. You'll get better comfort, quieter rooms and lower energy use, instead of paying for repairs on windows that are near the end of their life.
Get an honest opinion
Not sure what your windows need? Crescent Windows and Doors serves homeowners in Johns Creek, Duluth, Alpharetta, Cumming, Suwanee and Lawrenceville. We'll take a look, tell you honestly whether a repair will do, and give you a free quote if replacement makes sense. Call 470-533-0777 or request a free quote online.