Even though the sash windows in your property are hardly the most inconspicuous part of your home, and look through it on a daily basis, it can still be hard to spot when things are going wrong. How do you know when it’s the right time to replace your windows? It’s all about knowing what to look for, and in the following post we highlight 5 tell-tale signs that it’s to time to invest in replacement windows.
- Cold to Touch Double-Glazed Windows
If you touch the windowpane of your double-glazing and the glass feels cold to touch, it’s a sign that something’s not right. This is generally caused by any conditioned air you have flowing around your home being affected once it comes into contact with the windows and is a sign, they are not offering the right amount of insulation.
- Fogging Between The Glass In Double-Glazed Windows
Have you started to see what appears to be condensation or fogging between the panes of your double-glazed windows? Generally, this means there has been a failure with the seal around the windows and that moisture has been allowed to seep into the gap between the glazing. There is even a possibility of there being ice or frost building up in the gap on especially cold wintery days. Although high-end windows with this problem can be repaired, in most scenarios it is best to simply replace your windows completely.
- Issues Lowering and Raising the Windows
Have you recently had to prop up or force open your windows to get anywhere with them?? Does it seem to take a lot of sheer brute force to open them? This is an especially common problem with timber-built windows and suggests they need to be replaced.
- Draughts On Particularly Windy Days
Is there a strong draught coming from your windows on those exceptionally cold days? That is no small matter and actually an indication you’ve got serious leakage issues around the window. The simplest way to check if this is the case is by using a burning incense stick and having it close to the window. If the smoke coming from the stick starts to move, then you definitely have a leak.
Depending on serious a leak it is, you may even be able to see light passing through the window frame if you switch the lights off and flash a torch through the window. The best solution, unless the holes and gaps are easy to find and seal up, would be to have the windows completely replaced.
- Rising Costs of Heating
Probably the most significant sign you need to replace your windows is if you notice a noted increase in your heating bills. If your windows are quite old anyway, or even worse, just simple single glazing, they are not going to be as effective at insulation as modern windows.
If you’d like to look into the cost of replacements, our estimate tool will give you a good idea.