Cold winter air can contribute to lung and heart diseases. These can put human health in mild to severe danger. Therefore, cold winter air must be kept out of your Colorado Springs home. Properly preparing your windows for winter can make this happen. This can involve various forms of window repair and maintenance as well as other steps. Read on to learn more about these window winter preparation steps and how to perform them.
Remove Your Window Screens
If your windows have screens, consider removing them for the winter. As you’ll learn about below, there are a few benefits you can glean from this method.
Keep Your Screens Protected
Do you want to have to call the best window screen repair Colorado Springs has? If not, remove your window screens during the winter. Winter storms can pull and tear your screens and the debris they carry can cut holes in them.
Are your screens on the interior of the window? The winter can still hurt them. Cold temperatures can cause materials like metal to warp.
Clean Your Screens
Another way to prevent having to type “window screen repair near me” into a search engine is to clean and maintain your window screens. It’s easiest to do this during the winter when removing your screens won’t let bugs into your home.
You can also thoroughly inspect your screens during this time. If your screens seem too damaged, you may want to consider getting a window screen replacement.
Clean Your Windows
After you’ve removed the screen, take the opportunity to clean your windows as well. Built-up dust and debris can prevent your windows from sealing properly. This will let in a lot of cold air.
Seal Your Windows Properly
Your window panes don’t have to have cracks for cold air to get in. The small gaps between the pane and the frame can also contribute. Though they only let so much winter air in, this can still cause a relatively cold interior temperature.
There are plenty of methods that you can seal this gap. The one you should use depends on the type of window that you need to repair.
Add Caulk
The term ‘caulk’ refers to any type of sealing compound used to seal a gap that’s less than a quarter of an inch wide. The components on either side of the gap should remain stationary. If they move, such as is the case with doors and windows, weatherstripping is the better option.
You can use caulk to seal gaps between your window pane and frame. Just make sure that you follow the right steps when doing so.
Choose the Right Caulk
There are many different types of caulk with many different applications. Not all of them are appropriate for sealing window pane gaps. Do some research ahead of time and read the label carefully before you buy a type of caulk.
Apply Caulk at the Right Time
You should apply the caulk when the air is dry and warm. Dry air will prevent the caulk from cracking. Warm air will help the caulk stick to the surface.
Clean the Gap Beforehand
The targeted gap must be clean and dry for the caulk to properly stick. Remove all the old paint and caulk and dry the surface. This will ensure that nothing gets trapped beneath the caulk.
Add Weatherstripping
Like with caulk, people also use weatherstripping to seal gaps. The main difference is that the components on either side of the gap can move and the seal will still hold. This won’t happen if a homeowner applies caulk to a gap with moving neighbors.
Caulking and Weatherstripping Are Similar
Proper weatherstripping also involves choosing the right material and cleaning the target surface beforehand. The air should also be dry, but it can be fairly cold. Beyond that, there are some other things you need to keep in mind.
Measure Weatherstripping Properly
Make sure that you know your measurements are correct before you apply the weatherstripping to your window. It is not ideal to apply the weatherstripping in pieces. One continuous piece is best.
Fill All Necessary Spaces With Weatherstripping
Some more complex window models have several spaces that you need to fill with weatherstripping. Be sure to research the specific weatherstripping needs of each type of movable window.
Fix the Alignment
Window frames can sag, warp, and become misaligned over time. There will be gaps in the spaces where the window and the frame don’t meet. While you can caulk or weatherstrip these gaps, fixing the frame is usually the best course of action.
Unfortunately, doing this can get complicated.
Check the Frame Alignment
Bring a level tool with you when you go to check for window gaps. Check if the frame is level on all sides. If something is off, your frame might have degraded.
Get a Window Replacement
You’ll probably have to replace your window frame if it’s too degraded. This can mean getting a full window replacement.
You can DIY this task, but it’s highly complicated and a lot can go wrong. It’s best to just type in “window repair near me” and hire a window repair service. You’ll get the best results this way.
Get Other Windows
Some types of windows do a better job of keeping out the winter cold than others. Do you have the funds to get replacement windows or a window glass replacement? If so, you may want to consider getting this service.
There are a few different kinds of windows that you can choose from.
Get Double-Pane Windows
Single-pane windows are the most common type of window. The panes on these windows consist of a single sheet of glass. A double-pane window has two sheets of glass and, sometimes, a gas such as argon sandwiched between them.
People get double-pane windows for a few different reasons.
Better Cold Insulation
The extra layer of glass and the gas acts like extra barriers against the cold weather. A single-pane window won’t protect your home from the elements as much as a double-pane window will.
Other Protections
Double-pane windows won’t just protect you against the cold. They can also protect against sound, UV rays, and more. You can even get double-pane windows with treated glass to multiply this benefit.
Get Stormglass Windows
Stormglass windows are additional windows you can install over your existing windows. Similarly to double-pane windows, stormglass windows can also provide your home extra protection from the cold. However, that’s not their only benefit.
Storm Protection
Stormglass windows protect existing windows from the forces of storms. Their durability protects windows from heavy winds, flying debris, and so on. So they save you from having to type “window repair near me” every time there’s an intense storm in Colorado Springs.
Cost Less
When you get storm windows, you’re not necessarily getting a window replacement. Storm windows can just fit over your existing windows easily. There’s usually no complicated construction work involved in this process.
This cheapens the cost of protecting your home with a ‘new’ window. If you were thinking about getting new windows for winter but don’t have a large budget, storm windows may be your answer.
Get a Professional Window Replacement
You can replace a window yourself. However, like fixing the alignment, it’s also a very complicated task where a lot can go wrong. It’s probably best if you hire a professional window replacement company to install a new type of window.
Ask for Recommendations
Along with searching “window replacement near me”, consider talking to other locals. You can ask them about what window installation companies they’ve used. A few of them should have some great recommendations.
Check the Credentials
Your ideal window repair technician should have years of experience on the job. You can usually find this information on the company’s website. If you can’t, you can probably ask their customer service for the information.
Many companies will also have galleries of their previous work. You can look at these to determine if a company offers the level of quality that you need.
Consider Door Glass Replacement as Well
A window replacement company can also be a glass door replacement company and/or a glass door repair company. If you have any glass doors, you may want to get their panes replaced with new, stronger glass as well. This will save time and keep you extra warm during the winter.
We Offer Window Repair Services in Colorado Springs, CO
Your health and comfort are what keep you going. A few window maintenance steps can be all that it takes to keep them safe and sound this winter. A full window replacement, however, will keep them even safer.
If you find yourself needing window repair and/or replacement in Colorado Springs, we can help. We’re a family-owned and operated window company that offers multiple forms of door and window repair. We offer vinyl glass window repair, sliding glass door repair, and a whole lot more.
Fill out the form on this page to get a free estimate today.