What are the signs that home windows need replacement?

My friend had a blanket draped over her living room couch all year round. She said it was because sitting near the windows in winter was like walking into a convenience store that’s been set to arctic temperatures in order to keep the milk fresh. I’d grown so used to it by the time I was leaving for home that I no longer even noticed it. She’d forgotten it was there too.

So let’s start with the obvious and then move on to the subtle signs that will have the potential to cost a lot of money down the road. Some of these you will realize are problematic in no time; others will seemingly be fine until they suddenly stop functioning altogether and you have to figure out why.

The physical symptoms you can see and feel

Check for leakage. When cold weather is present, slowly bring your hands to the window frame. Check for any air leaking out from the window. Even the smallest amount of air infiltration can cost a lot of money to heat your home over the course of the seasons.

Signs of deterioration to look for: condensation between panes of glass, or inside the window. Normally, moisture from inside the house will be drawn to the glass surface outside the house, where it will evaporate in a short period of time. If there is a significant amount of condensation on the exterior of a window, it could be a sign of a problem with the window, but a little condensation on the exterior of a window is not typically a cause for concern. However, condensation between panes of glass in a double-pane window, or inside the window in a triple-pane window, can indicate serious problems. If the seal between the panes of glass fails, the insulating gas will escape from the window, leaving it to function as a single pane of glass. The moisture that escapes into the space between the two panes of glass will also remain trapped, causing the window to develop a hazy appearance. The hazy appearance of the condensation between the two panes of glass will not defog in the same way that normal condensation does and will remain until the window is repaired.

Other things worth a slow walk-around:

1. Paint peeling or wood rotting around the frame, which points to moisture infiltrating consistently enough to do structural damage
2. Windows that stick, won't lock properly, or have shifted so the sash no longer sits flush in its opening
3. Visible cracks in glass or framing (obvious, yes, but homeowners delay on these far longer than they should — myself included, once)
4. Soft or spongy wood when you press on the sill, which is arguably the most alarming sign of the bunch

One problem might be fixable. But multiple problems may indicate that it is time to replace your windows.

When your energy bills become the evidence

A single pane of glass can have as much as 25-30% of the heated or cooled air leak out through the glass. When you add in the air leakage through the frame of the window, this can be as high as 50% of the air you pay to heat and cool your home leaking out through your windows.

The amount of potential savings depends on several factors. The first is the type of window that is being replaced. This is because windows vary greatly in efficiency. Older single-pane windows and even some of the older double-pane models will not be able to offer the same type of savings as the newer models of low-E coated double and triple-pane windows. These newer models are filled with gases such as argon to help maximize efficiency. Another factor to take into consideration is the age of the current windows. Old inefficient windows are a great place to start when looking to make some smart financial changes to your home. Replacing old windows with newer, energy-efficient models can help provide immediate savings on your heating and cooling bills. While replacing windows can be an expensive project in the short term, the long-term savings can be very wise.

(As an aside, I use language similar to this to convince myself that many home improvement projects are good investments, even though they end up not being. And, as always, I am open to other perspectives.)

The repair-vs-replace calculation nobody explains clearly

Many people fail to realize that the climate of a home can affect the life of a window. Extreme climates such as those with very cold winters and hot summers can put a lot of stress on windows. As a window goes through cycles of heat and cold, it will expand and contract. This can cause a lot of wear on the frame of the window. In climates with cold winters, water that has gotten into the frame of a window can freeze and expand, causing severe damage to the frame. Homeowners in extreme climates, such as window replacement in Allentown, PA (window replacement in Allentown, PA), should be aware that their windows may fail earlier than normal due to the large amounts of temperature fluctuation.

I would caution that repairing windows as opposed to replacing them is generally a good idea unless the window is seriously damaged. Even if a window is good, as time goes on, parts will wear out. For example, the weatherstripping around a window will eventually deteriorate and need to be replaced. The hinges and other hardware can also need to be readjusted from time to time. In addition, a single pane of glass in a window can sometimes need to be re-glazed. In these cases, it is obviously better to repair the window rather than to replace it. However, as the frame of a window deteriorates, the cost of repairs can eventually equal the cost of an entirely new window. At this point, it is generally better to just replace the window rather than continuing to throw good money after bad.

I am saying that in the case of healthy windows with just one problem, repairs are the way to go. For instance, replacing weatherstripping or hardware on a window can cost anywhere from $50 to $200. For a single-pane window that needs to be reglazed, the cost would be $300 to $500. It would clearly be cost-effective to have the window repaired in this case.

A quick comparison: repair vs. replace

The mistake most people make

Many people are blind sided by the amount of time and money that properly installing windows will take. Thus, until a number of very obvious and serious problems develop, most homeowners are in denial and want to avoid getting a quote from a contractor for window replacement. It is normal for homeowners to wait until two or more of the serious problems listed above have developed. At that point, an entire overhaul of the windows is absolutely necessary.

"Absolutely necessary" is usually 2-3 years after we figure out that we probably should replace our windows. In the meantime, we throw our money on our heating systems trying to warm up our homes and end up suffering from water damage around the frames in hopes of getting a separate costly repair for that window.

Again, we’ve already touched on this earlier, but if two or more of these symptoms are present, then it is probably time to repair or replace the failing window. For now, it’s off to wrap yourself up in that soft blanket that’s been waiting for you on the couch and enjoy the warmth that it will bring you for a while longer. The warm air that is leaking from between the glass panes of your window, though, will be costing you hard-earned dollars for you while you’re off basking in the warmth of that blanket.