You’re likely focused on keeping your home’s windows sparkling clean and in great shape—but what about your window screens?
Window screens allow you to invite refreshing breezes into your home during the summer months while keeping pests outside. However, these screens also provide dozens of other lesser-known benefits.
Discover why keeping your window screens well-maintained is crucial for experiencing the benefits they offer and extending their lifespan.
Valuable Benefits of Maintaining Your Window Screens
Curb Appeal
Keeping your screens clean is a great (and easy!) way to boost your home’s curb appeal. Clean screens and windows will help your home look neat, tidy, and nicely put-together to guests, neighbors, and future buyers.
Plus, when it comes time to sell your home, clean screens add to your home’s overall beauty and can make a great impression on potential buyers. If you maintain your windows screens, buyers can be confident you’ve taken the time to keep up with the rest of your home too!
Fresh Circulation
Would you keep dust-infested air filters in your home without changing them every few months? Of course not! Similarly, dirty window screens can’t filter air as efficiently as clean screens. When your screens are clean, fresh breezes can enter your home, but when your screens are dirty, they carry dust, allergens, mold, and mildew into your house with them.
It’s essential to keep your screens clean, especially if your family has asthma or allergies, to maintain a pollutant-free environment in your home.
Heat Transfer
Certain types of screens are designed to provide extra shade for your home during the sunniest points of the day. Even though your double-pane and triple-pane windows will do the brunt of the work, these screens can help reduce heat transfer and keep your home cooler.
However, more importantly, regularly cleaning your screens will allow you to inspect them for damage, like holes or tears, which will most significantly (and rapidly) reduce their efficiency.
Storm Damage
Screens can deter water from collecting on your windowsills, so they’ll keep moisture damage at bay during summer rainstorms.
Additionally, screens provide an extra layer of protection during storms. If debris collides with your window, your screen will likely take the brunt of the damage, so the rest of your window system will stay in great shape.
Dirt Deterrent
Screens provide a barrier between your windows and the elements, so they can prevent your windows from collecting dust, dirt, and grime—but only when your screens are clean. If they are dirty, your windows will get splattered with grimy water during the next storm.
Pest Control
Windows screens are perhaps most beloved for their ability to keep pests, like mosquitoes, flies, and other insects, outside while your windows are open.
However, when your screens aren’t well maintained, they’re more likely to develop holes or tears that offer attractive entry for pests. Bigger holes can even provide an entryway for rodents, like mice or squirrels, which can wreak havoc in your home. It’s easy to see why it’s essential to keep your screens in great shape to protect your home from pest damage.
Better Views
While it may go without saying, it’s much nicer to look out a clean window than a dirty one.
If you’d like to enjoy unobstructed views from inside your home, you should keep your screens (and windows!) sparkling clean.
How to Maintain Your Window Screens
Fortunately, it’s not difficult to keep your window screens in great shape—all you need to do is wash them twice a year. You can use a damp cloth to wipe the screen and the frame, and if the screens have accumulated a considerable amount of dirt, you can remove the grime with a stiff-bristled brush.
Despite your best efforts, your screens will begin to deteriorate after 10 to 15 years. Damaged screens can become brittle from sun exposure, and they may even develop holes, tears, or rips from pests or weather. Once you notice these signs of damage, it’s usually time to replace your windows screens.
Enjoy a Fresh Perspective with New Windows and Window Screens
Perhaps your screens are due for a replacement, or your windows are outdated and deteriorating, and you’d like to boost your home’s curb appeal.
If so, Kelly Window & Door can help. We offer dozens of brands, styles, and options for your windows, so you can find the perfect match for your home. Learn more about the window services we offer to homeowners across the greater Cary & Raleigh area!