Drafts, foggy glass, cold rooms and damp window edges can all signal that your windows or doors need attention. As temperatures drop, small problems can become much harder to ignore. You may notice condensation on the inside of your glass, moisture between the panes, or one room feeling colder than the rest of the house.
These signs don’t necessarily mean you need to replace the entire window or door. They may be caused by high indoor humidity, worn weatherstripping, deteriorating caulking or hardware that needs adjustment.
Condensation: When Should You Be Concerned
A little condensation on the inside surface of your windows doesn’t necessarily mean the window has failed. During colder weather, warm, humid indoor air can create condensation when it meets cold glass. Indoor humidity is the most important factor to consider when managing condensation. Reducing humidity is often the best place to start, while outside temperature and window coverings can also affect how much moisture forms on the glass. Once humidity is under control, keeping air moving around your windows can help further. Use your kitchen and bathroom fans when cooking, showering or bathing, and raise blinds or open curtains to improve airflow around the glass.
Moisture or fogging between the panes of glass, however, is different. This is usually a sign that the seal on the insulated glass unit has failed, allowing moisture to enter between the panes. The good news? A failed sealed unit doesn’t always mean the entire window needs to be replaced. In many cases, the insulated glass can be replaced while keeping the existing window frame.
Feeling a Draft
Cold air around a window or door can have several causes. Weatherstripping may be worn, caulking may have deteriorated, hardware may need adjustment, or the window itself may no longer be performing as it should.
Before assuming you need new windows, it’s worth determining exactly where the problem is coming from. Sometimes a simple repair can improve comfort without the expense of replacing the entire window.
Don’t Forget Your Doors
Exterior doors are another common area to check before winter. Look around the perimeter for noticeable drafts and inspect the weatherstripping and door sweeps for wear or gaps. Even small openings can become much more noticeable once Okanagan temperatures fall below freezing.
Repair or Replace
Not every window problem requires brand new windows. Sometimes, replacing a sealed glass unit, adjusting hardware or replacing weatherstripping is all that’s required. Other times, an older window or door has reached the point where replacement makes more sense. The important thing is understanding the cause of the problem before deciding on the solution.
More Than 60 Years of Local Experience
Morgan’s Glass has been serving Vernon and the surrounding area since 1963. As a third generation, locally owned business, we’ve seen window and glass technology change considerably over the decades ~ but our approach remains simple: help customers find the solution that makes sense for their home. Before winter settles in, take a few minutes to check your windows and doors. They may be telling you more than you think.
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