Challenge

At one point, everyone has probably seen a leaky window. There are a couple of tell tale signs; the draft you feel, the moisture in the glass, the mold growth, etc. Though some window leaks are minor, they can cause a lot of problems for you down the line, which is why it’s important to repair these issues ASAP and prevent them from occurring down the line.

When it comes to the problems caused by a leaky window, we need to first determine what caused the problem in the first place. Typically you can trace the problem back to shoddy installation, a product defect, or regular wear and tear.

Drafts Caused by Leaky Windows

Drafts are a common symptom of a leaky window. When the window’s seal is compromised, outside air has a means to escape, and inside air can escape as well.

This will mess with your home’s energy efficiency. If you have the heat on in the winter and your hot air escapes through a crack in your window and cold air gets inside. The only way to compensate is to turn the heat up, resulting in a more expensive energy bill. The same idea applies in the summer with your air conditioning.

The cause of window drafts could be a number of things. The window could have been installed poorly, something could have caused a crack to form for air to escape, or it could just be regular performance decline over time. Typically, since wood and vinyl windows are susceptible to cracking and warping, it’s not uncommon to see performance decline much faster than a fiberglass window.

Trapped Moisture

This issue is particularly expense when you have wood windows. If moisture has a way inside, it will promote mold growth and rot.

For those with wood windows who are facing severe water damage to their windows might face rotting. If this gets bad enough, a window replacement might not be enough. You’ll have replace all the woo damaged as well, this will significantly increase the cost of the replacement.

This can be caused when a window expands and contracts in the winters and summers, causing the window the crack and warp. This creates new passages from moisture to crawl into and spread.

Lost Insulation

Without the gas between the panes of your window, there would be virtually no insulation with that window. Heat would have no problem transferring through the glass and that room would have terrible energy efficiency.

Mold growth, weathering, age, lack of proper maintenance; all of these things could cause the insulating gas to escape your window. Putting off replacing this issue could put a dent in your heating and cooling costs.

Solution

Though temporary quick fixes like recaulking and heavy, thermal curtains might help covers some minor problems so you’ll last through the season, but a leaky window could lead to some serious, costly fixes down the line. Drafts, moisture problems, and lost insulation can ultimately lead to a need for a window replacement, so there’s only one real way to prevent this problem long term.

Marvin Infinity’s fiberglass window is resistant to cracking and warping from weathering and temperature fluctuations. It’s also much more energy efficient, and the strength of the frame won’t be compromised. This is really your best bet for fighting off leaky windows.

If you’re having issues with your existing windows, give us a call.