The days are getting shorter, the air is turning crisp, and the leaves are beginning to change. It’s that wonderful time of year when we start to trade our shorts for sweaters and think about cozy nights in. But as the fall season ushers in, it’s also the perfect time to give your home a quick check-up to ensure it’s prepared for the colder, more blustery days ahead.
Your windows and doors are your home’s primary defense against the elements. A small draft in October can become a major source of heat loss (and a huge heating bill) in January. Taking a little time now to inspect them can save you a lot of hassle and money down the road.
Here is a simple checklist to help you make sure your home is ready for the beauty of fall and the chill of winter.
1. The Draft Test: A Simple Scent of Savings
Drafts are the silent energy thieves of your home. You can often feel them, but sometimes they’re not so obvious. A great way to find them is to use a simple “incense stick test” on a calm, non-windy day.
Walk around the inside of your home with a lit incense stick and hold it a few inches away from the frame and sash of each window and door. If the smoke from the incense stick wavers or is pulled inward, you have a draft. This is a clear sign that the seals or weather stripping may be compromised and need attention.
2. Inspecting the Seals and Weather Stripping
While you’re doing the draft test, take a moment to visually inspect the weather stripping around your windows and doors. This is the material—often foam, vinyl, or rubber—that creates a seal between the window or door and its frame.
- Look for cracks, gaps, or signs of wear. Old, brittle, or cracked weather stripping is not doing its job.
- Check the seals around the glass. On insulated glass units (the kind with two panes of glass), look for condensation or a foggy film between the panes. This indicates a broken seal, which means the window has lost its insulating gas and is no longer energy efficient.
If you find a broken seal, it’s not something you can easily repair. It means the entire window unit needs to be replaced to restore its insulating properties.
3. Clean and Clear the Tracks
For sliding windows and doors, a smooth operation is key to maintaining a tight seal. Over the course of a year, dirt, dust, and even dead leaves can accumulate in the tracks, making them difficult to open and close and preventing them from sealing properly.
Take a stiff brush or a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to clear out any debris. Afterward, you can wipe the tracks down with a damp cloth. A little bit of silicone spray or a dry lubricant can also help to ensure your windows and doors glide smoothly.
4. The Frame and Sash Inspection: More Than Just a Pretty Face
Don’t forget to look at the bones of your windows and doors. Examine the frames and sashes for any signs of rot, warping, or insect damage. Wooden frames are particularly susceptible to rot if they haven’t been properly maintained.
If you notice a soft, spongy feel when you press on the frame or if the paint is peeling or bubbling excessively, it could be a sign of underlying moisture damage. Not only can this compromise the integrity of the window, but it can also allow water to seep into your walls, potentially causing more serious problems.
Time for a Change?
This simple checklist should give you a good idea of the health of your home’s windows and doors. While some issues, like minor drafts, can be fixed with a quick DIY solution, other signs—like foggy glass, significant rot, or a noticeably high heating bill every winter—are strong indicators that it might be time to consider a replacement.
New, energy-efficient windows and doors are a smart investment. They not only protect your home from the elements and enhance its curb appeal, but they can also dramatically reduce your energy consumption and, as a result, your monthly utility bills.
Ready to discuss your home’s needs? Reach out to Graboyes Window and Door at (610) 279-3905 today! Our team of experts is here to help you find the perfect solutions to keep your home comfortable, beautiful, and energy-efficient all year long!