If you are a home or business owner, you might have realized that you have some windows you think are not looking or working their best. You might be wondering how do you know when your windows need to be replaced? You might also wonder how long do windows last in a home or how often do windows need to be replaced? These are all fair questions and they are not things that many people think about asking when they have a home or business location built.
Signs of leaks, cold drafts of air, or condensation between the window panes can be signs that your windows need to be replaced. Windows last on average for 15-20 years, but some brands of windows might not offer this set lifespan.
If you have purchased an existing home or business, you might not even have access to all of the information that you need to answer some of these questions about the age or condition of your windows. This is where getting help from a professional can make all the difference to your home upkeep and care process.
How to Know When it’s Time to Replace Your Windows
There are some key ways that you can determine if your windows are going to need to be replaced soon. Some of these signs of wear and tear are more obvious than others, but you might find that all of them are present in your windows when you start looking at them more carefully. If you have purchased a new property, it is a good idea to find out when the windows were last replaced so that you are sure about the level of care that they are going to need in the near future.
Windows will come with a warranty that you can use to address issues that crop up before the set end date of the expected lifespan of the window. These warranties can vary and you will need to know what they are for your home and business care needs.
Here are some indicators that its time to replace your windows:
1. Not Opening and Closing
If your windows have stopped opening and closing smoothly, you will need to replace them. This is a sign that the window itself is failing and leaks and other issues are likely just around the corner. In some instances, the window can be repaired, but often with older windows, this is just an early warning sign that failure is just around the corner.
If you have a window that has stopped functioning properly, make sure that you start thinking about replacing it before tough weather damages the interior of your home.
2. Cold Drafts
Windows that are installed correctly should not allow drafts of cold air to come into your home. If you think that you are feeling cold drafts of air around or near your windows, they are probably about to fail and start to break down. The casement around the windows and the frames of the windows can also wear out over time, so even if the window itself looks fine, the cold air you are feeling is a sign that your window is starting to fail.
Older windows that are not double-paned or up to energy efficiency standards can also cause these issues without having truly failed. You will still want to replace these windows as they will greatly impact the comfort of your home and your heating and cooling bills each month.
3. Water Leaks
This is the sign of a window that has already failed. If you have water running in around the windows or leaking through the panes, you need to replace this window immediately. This is a sign that the window or the window frame has failed and the damage to your home’s walls or interior can be significant. This is one of the things that you cannot wait to fix and you will need to get someone out to replace a leaking window as soon as possible.
If you are worried that your windows might be leaking but you are only seeing some condensation on the frame or the window ledge, you should make sure that you contact a professional to come and take a look at it.
4. Rattling in the Frame
If your windows make noise and rattle when the wind is blowing hard, this is a sign that your windows have worn out and need to be replaced. These windows are likely letting in lots of drafts of air and there is a risk that they could shatter. Rattling windows are a few storms from complete failure and you should take this sign of problems very seriously.
Rattling windows can be doing this due to age, a flaw in how they were made, or due to issues with the way that they were installed. All of these problems can lead to a significant issue with your windows that you should avoid at all costs.
5. Condensation Between the Panes
If you are seeing condensation between the panes of your windows, you should consider this window just about through its useful lifespan. This is one of the signs that your window has started to experience issues that cannot be resolved and this can lead to issues with costs of heating and cooling as well as blocking the view out your window.
How Long Do Windows Last?
Most windows for residential or business use are made to last for 15-20 years. This can be varied somewhat based on the brand and there should be a warranty in place for issues that crop up ahead of this expected lifespan. You might need to look at the information for your windows if you are not sure how long they were supposed to last.
It is a good rule of thumb to consider any window that is 15 years or older to be past its most usable lifespan. If you have purchased a home recently that has windows that are partially through their normal lifespan, it can be a good idea to start budgeting for window replacements in case they start to turn up after a few years.
Window replacements can be expensive, so you should make sure that you are prepared to take care of this necessary part of the process of caring for your home. People who are not aware of the average lifespan of these parts of their home might be surprised when window repairs or replacement needs crop up. Consider this 15-20 year lifespan to be the average lifespan of this important feature of your home or business.
Work With a Skilled Team For Your Window Replacement Needs
If you have been looking for a team of caring and qualified experts to take care of your window replacement needs, you don’t need to look any further. Our qualified team of window installation and repair experts has the skills and knowledge to take care of the windows in your home or business with ease. You will be able to get advice and care from our team for jobs big and small.For those located in the Northern Colorado/ Southern Wyoming area, you should give us a call today at 970-663-2868. You can also visit our window services page and fill out the contact form. We will help you to make an appointment to discuss what is needed to make your next home improvement project a big success!
