Having to stay at home due to the coronavirus pandemic has probably made us notice more and more of the few things that are wrong with the windows inside our homes. Since we are spending a lot of time at home, for our safety and that of our loved ones, we start spotting several things that could use improvements. Windows, in particular, could need a replacement due to a plethora of reasons that have become more obvious with the extra time provided by the current situation.
In this article, we will be talking about five things you can’t help but notice on your windows now that you have all that time available at home. It’s been well-documented in the past, but windows are usually a critical factor in reducing heating and cooling costs. Improving our home’s efficiency during these tough times could help reduce our bills and secure a more stable situation for our families.
Also, it’s worth mentioning that homeowners with properly installed and maintained windows will be able to enjoy a higher resale value should they decide to sell their properties later down the road. Even if you want to restore your home’s original charm or improve the general aesthetics of your house, a window replacement should be in consideration.
So, without further ado, here are five things you notice about your windows that you didn’t before coronavirus:
1. How Dirty They Are
The first thing we probably notice right away is how dirty our windows have become due to the prolonged exposure to nature’s elements. Unsightly windows with lots of dust, dirt, or even mold can negatively impact our homes’ appeal. For any prospective buyer, this is probably the number one thing they are going to look at when checking our property. Now, not all windows are made equal, in the sense that some can be easier to clean than others. Some windows can be more prone to acquire these dust particles and make them even more noticeable than others.
The condensation building on the surface of our windows can also have a nasty effect when we try to clean all that dust and dirt over them. Condensation can occur when the warm, moist air inside our homes meets with the surface of a window that is cold. Trying to wipe this unpleasant mix of condensation and dirt without the proper cleaning agents can result in scratches all over the glass panels of our windows. This moisture between the glass panels can also appear in old double-glazed windows with a cracked insulation seal. If the seal between the two glass panes is not reducing the heat transfer, we will get moisture on our glass.
Being hit by acid rain or hard water can also cause glass degradation over time. The prolonged effect of these liquids and the chemicals they contain can alter our windows’ structural integrity since they can deteriorate and get contaminated in the long run. A window will start showing light evidence of scratches or cracks first. After it has gone unattended for a long time, it could become prone to cracking at some point. Properly cleaning our windows can help in preventing this outcome.
Speaking a little bit more about mold formation in our windows and sills, this can lead to bigger problems over time. Not only can it cause bad air quality inside our homes, but long-term exposure to mold can aggravate existing health issues.. If you feel the air inside your home property feels stagnant for any reason, a proper window clean up may be in order.
2. They Are Hard To Open
Old windows tend to have more problems when we try to open or close them. The operation of our windows shouldn’t be a hassle. Poor window operation is something we can expect from windows that had issues during their installation, or from those that have been part of our homes for decades. Decaying or warped frames is one thing that we are bound to have to deal with at some point. No matter how much high-quality our windows are, there is no escaping from rot, decay, and warping.
If we notice our windows won’t budge when we try to move them, it could be that mold is preventing proper movement or other signs of decay have started to show.
Locks don’t guarantee an airtight seal of air escaping from our home, and this can
backfire on us in the long run. Moreso, unreliable windows can seriously jeopardize the security of our home and loved ones.
Superficial damages on a window can also give us tips about the current condition of our windows. Warped or broken windows are usually the first ones in line for replacement because a non-working window is not giving any benefit to our homes, but instead, it is adding an extra cost and worry to our day-to-day living.
3. Natural Light
Providing our homes with natural lighting is a guaranteed way to keep us healthy and happy. After all, a proper dose of vitamin D is necessary for our wellbeing. This vitamin is often received via sunlight and comes into our body by being absorbed through our skin. In particular, vitamin D is essential for the correct functioning of our nerve, muscle, and immune systems.
Needless to say that a house with windows that don’t help in providing this much-needed vitamin won’t help with preventing a vitamin deficiency. Not getting enough vitamin D can cause bone diseases like osteoporosis or rickets. Additionally, individuals that don’t have adequate exposure to sunlight tend to develop depression and sluggishness.
For these reasons, just adding a few windows to a room, or by making sure that the windows we have can provide enough exposure to the sunlight, will help us obtain all the benefits natural daylight begets in our bodies. Some people say that there’s no such thing as having too many windows. Human beings naturally need to receive natural sunlight to survive. It’s essential to know how our bodies work. Sunlight helps our mood, boosts our productivity, and helps us maintain proper physical and mental health for each day.
4. Style Outdated
Windows remain intrinsically tied to the curb appeal of our homes. Therefore, if our windows look antiquated, then we can be sure that our house will look just as antiquated. Besides adding value, newer replacement windows help in creating an improved visual impact. Nowadays we can find many striking and modern designs that suit our needs. The shapes of our house and how the rooms are layered out will directly influence the positioning of our windows. One thing to also have in mind is that, depending on the style of our house, differently styled or shaped windows will be available for us to choose. For example, we shouldn’t expect to add large, narrow vertical windows to an old cottage. Each type of house has its own set of window styles that it can benefit the most from. Homeowners usually get a big cut from their replacement windows’ investment whenever they resell their houses.
Something that you want to keep in mind is matching the original look. What you want to do is to try and match the look of the original windows as close as possible. Concerns about the use of paint with lead in some historic homes might also lead to window replacement. It’s important to make sure the replacement windows fit in with the general aesthetic of our homes.
The style of our windows is probably the first thing people notice when they look at our home from the outside or when they step inside. Not only do our windows help in boosting the appeal of the facade of our house, but they’re also directly tied to maximizing the amount of light that enters our home and the amount of air circulating inside.
5. An Open Window Is Really Nice
There’s nothing more refreshing than opening our windows during a hot summer day to let the fresh breeze from outside cool our home and exchange the air within. Even though pollution is prevalent in many cities nowadays, there’s substantial evidence that the air inside a home that is always locked tight can contain more toxins than the air outside. Many homes are airtight to conserve as much energy and money as possible. However, unhealthy levels of air pollutants can also build up inside our homes if they were to remain always locked.
These pollutants can come from various sources: Cigarette smoke, chemical fumes from paints and solvents, fireplaces, water heaters, gas ovens, and so on. By having our windows shut tight at all times, the dilution rate of these pollutants is worse than if the windows
were open. What happens then is that they tend to build up when locked tight and can often result in our homes having a stuffy, stagnant, or funny smell inside. Prolonged exposure to them can harm our physical and mental health.
Various studies have corroborated that air quality has a profound effect on cognition. Proper ventilation is crucial for learning. Students are usually able to improve their grades substantially when studying in appropriately ventilated rooms.
Another thing to consider is that during the hot summer days, opening your windows at the right time of the day can help cool your home down effectively without relying on an air conditioning machine. Of course, depending on where you live, you will want to avoid opening your windows if the humidity outside is high.
Closing Thoughts
Guaranteeing a healthy living for our loved ones and ourselves during these particularly tough times should be at the forefront of our priorities. Figuratively speaking, we could see the windows of our home as the eyes through which we see the outside world. If we have sick eyes, if we don’t treat our eyes with care, we won’t be able to enjoy the beauty this world has to offer. If some of the issues mentioned during this article have become obvious during our persistent stay at home, we should consider a window replacement in the near future. The benefits of having properly working windows at home can’t be quantified. Not only do they provide healthier living conditions to our loved ones, but they also boost the value of our property and make sure that our homes remain aesthetically pleasing at the same time.
At US Window & Door, we know the importance of keeping our windows fully functional. Should the things mentioned above appear in your windows, that should be a clear indication that it is time to consider investing in window replacement. Homes are extensions of ourselves and our families because they are not only where we reside, but are also places that hold a close relation to who we are. Therefore, since we always want the best of the best when it comes to quality living standards, keeping a home’s charm and coziness should be the top most priority of any homeowner out there.
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