Windows

Do You Have Drafty Windows in Your Michigan Home? You are at the Right Place!

Snow is all around us here in Michigan and the cold weather will be here to stay for some time. Having a home that is fully insulated from the cold can help with energy costs as well as keeping your family nice and warm when the temperature outside drops to freezing cold. One of the biggest problems with homes during this cold weather is having drafty windows that allow that cold air into the home. Learning how to detect and repair these drafty windows can not only keep you warmer this winter but it can also cut down on your energy bill significantly. 

Do You Have Drafty Windows in Your Michigan Home? You are at the Right Place!

During the winter cold it can be a bit easier to determine if your windows are allowing air to enter your home. This cold air that enters can make your furnace work much harder costing your energy bill to go up. And the more drafty windows you have the more problems you’ll be facing and the bigger your energy bill will be. Finding these problem windows and repairing or replacing them is key to keeping your energy costs low and affordable. Drafty windows are usually more of a problem in the winter although they can also cause the same energy costs in the summer as well.

Checking Your Windows For Drafts

If you suspect your home has drafty windows you’ll need to do some checks to make sure they are in fact, leaking air. Sometimes the draft is actually so big that you can feel the air coming through the window. Remember, the air doesn’t necessarily come through at the glass of the window or sash. But it can enter around the window frame, the track of the window, and also where the sash meets the frame. All these are common areas for the window to leak air. One of the best ways we’ve found to determine if a window is drafty or not here at frame 2 finish is to use a match test. Strike a match then blow it out. As the smoke rises from the match you’ll be able to determine if air is pushing or pulling it away from the window. Be careful not to catch anything on fire and you’ll likely need to turn off any ceiling fans, vents, or fans to ensure they don’t affect the smoke. If the smoke reveals that the windows are drafty you’ll want to get them repaired or replaced.

One of the best ways we’ve found to determine if a window is drafty or not here at frame 2 finish is to use a match test. Strike a match then blow it out. As the smoke rises from the match you’ll be able to determine if air is pushing or pulling it away from the window.

 

Is the Window Blown or Cracked?

The glass in most windows today are pressurized and when the seal is broken on that window the window is known as being ‘blown’. When the seal around the sash looses compression it allows the pressurized gas to escape making the window much less energy efficient. The glass itself may not be broken when this occurs. Typically, when a sash is blown it does allow condensation to start appearing between the glass which can be very frustrating as you can’t remove it. If you see condensation like this inside the glass it’s a high probability that the sash is blown and needs to be replaced. If there is a crack in the glass it will have the same effect and will need to be replaced. Most windows today require a completely new sash to be installed rather than just the glass like older windows.When you do need to get the windows or sash replaced during a home improvement michigan project you certainly should not do this yourself as it could be more problematic if not done correctly.

Hire a Professional Contractor for Window Installation in Michigan

In order to ensure your windows are properly installed if needed you’ll need to make sure you use a qualified home improvement contractor to do so. For a limited time, Home Pros Plymouth is offering a discount on window installation and replacement. Contact them today for more information and to get a free estimate on replacing your home’s windows.


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