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Replacement Window Maintenance and Care
When your home’s beauty is enhanced with new windows, you get to enjoy year-round indoor comfort, energy efficiency, an abundance of natural light indoors, and expansive views of the outdoors. New windows add value to your North Carolina home, and they’ll help attract buyers when it’s time to sell your home.
Proper installation and regular care will keep your windows looking and functioning fabulously for years to come.
Tips to Make Your Replacement Windows Last Longer
Your home’s windows are directly impacted by the weather. While you clean your windows, take a look at their components. Inspect their glass, frames, hardware, and function. If you spot any cracks around your window seams, or Low-E film degrading, have them inspected by a window installation professional like Kelly Window & Door so they can advise you how to avoid further damage.
Window Cleaning Tips
When dirt builds up on your window panes, it needs to be removed to give you unhindered views and to ensure there’s no build-up affecting the function of your windows.
- If your windows have Low-E film on them, check them to verify they’re not bubbling, discoloring, or peeling. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines on how to clean them to avoid damaging the film.
- Don’t forget to clean window tracks. Window tracks can be prone to dust and dirt buildup, so be sure to clean them in order to keep your windows functioning properly.
- If your window glass is cracked, have it replaced promptly to keep your home secure and all windows functioning at their optimal level. Avoid the heating and air-conditioning loss that occurs with even a small crack in the window by replacing it promptly.
- Inspect your screens for any minor rips or tears in them, and repair or replace them as needed. Window screens come into contact with weather elements 24/7 and can deteriorate over time. Dust and dirt can build up on screens and should be washed off to keep them looking and functioning well.
- Check window caulking. As you clean your windows, take a look at the area around the frame. If you spot any cracks or seams that need to be sealed, apply fresh caulking to ensure your home’s energy efficiency is maximized.
- Check the weather stripping that surrounds each window. If weather elements have caused stripping to deteriorate over time, replace it promptly in order to keep your home well sealed.
- Moving hardware on your windows should be lubricated according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
- While cleaning windows, if you see condensation between glass panes, have them repaired or replaced.
- Check the function of your sliding glass patio door screen. Use a screwdriver in its corners to adjust it as needed.
How to Clean Your Replacement Windows
In the past, hard-to-reach windows made window cleaning a tough chore. With today’s internal window grids, your window cleaning will be faster and easier.
Window Glass
- Simply use a glass cleaner (vinegar-based cleaner or mild soap and water) and a soft, clean cloth to clean both sides of your window glass.
- Never use a razor blade or anything abrasive to clean your glass.
- Don’t use a pressure washer to rinse windows.
- Decrease streaking by choosing not to wash your glass in direct sunlight.
Window Frames
- Vacuum dirt from your window sill and track.
- Rinse with clean water and then dry.
- Don’t use abrasive or acidic cleaners or solvents (they could damage your frames).
- Test a mild, nonabrasive soap in an inconspicuous spot before using it on the frame.
- Remove dirt and stains with gentle, nonabrasive soap and water.
- Ensure drainage or weep holes are clear of dirt or obstruction (inside and outside in the bottom of the frame).
Screens
- Gently vacuum with a brush attachment, or remove them and wash them on a flat surface with mild soap and water and a soft brush.
- Rinse, air dry, and reinstall.
Window Cleaning Safety Tips
Most replacement windows have easy-to-clean tilt-in features, saving you the potential danger that comes from climbing a ladder and washing windows from the outside. Here are some safety tips for window cleaning.
- Minimize your risk of falling off a ladder by cleaning as many windows as possible from inside your home.
- Don’t lean out your windows to clean the outside of your windows.
- Don’t depend on your screen for support. It’s not secure enough to keep you steady.
- Be aware that window accidents can occur on the first floor of a home as well as the second floor. Be extra cautious when you clean your windows.
- For safety purposes, consider hiring a professional window cleaner to clean your windows for you.
How to Know It’s Time to Replace Your Windows
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 48% of a home’s energy usage comes from heating and cooling the home. And window replacement can help you lower your energy usage, making it a smart investment. Here are some signs that it’s time to replace your windows.
- Indoor drafts—If you feel a draft inside your home near your windows, it’s time for replacement windows.
- Stuck windows—If it’s hard to open or close your windows, it’s time to replace them.
- High utilities bills—If your utilities costs have increased and you don’t know why, it could indicate you need replacement windows.
- Condensation—If condensation is visible between window panes, it’s time for replacement windows.
- Diminished natural light—Outdated windows decrees the amount of natural light that enters your home, indicating it’s time for replacement.
Kelly Window and Door—A Trustworthy Replacement Window Contractor
At Kelly Window and Door, we provide the highest level of service to homeowners, and we stand behind the products we offer. Our Quality Assurance Team follows up with you after your window installation to ensure your satisfaction.
Learn more about the beautiful windows we install.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
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