Have Your Window Seals Failed?

Do you know if your home’s window seals are working correctly? Well-functioning windows are a critical part of your home maintenance.

Your windows provide more than a good view of the outdoors. Windows provide your home with comfort, a shield to the exterior elements, and energy efficiency. 

What are window seals?

Windows can often have double or triple panes filled with argon gas in between each pane for insulation. The seals lock in the gas between the window panes to help create a barrier from exterior temperatures entering your home, keeping your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. 

Reasons why they fail

  1. Time
  2. Defects
  3. Installation
  4. Weather Elements

When the seal fails, what happens?

When your window seal starts or has already failed, you will begin to notice specific changes, such as:

  • Moisture/condensation build-up between the panes of glass that come and go with weather/temperature changes.
  • Water leaks, causing wood rot and mould and mildew growth.
  • Debris can get in between the panes, causing them to be dirty permanently.
  • Argon gas will leak from your windows, leaving them less efficient and with higher heating and cooling costs.

It's beneficial to check your windows throughout the year to ensure you're getting the best out of them.

Inspecting your windows for seal damage

Step 1: Clean your windows

You’d be amazed at how much dust and dirt can collect on a window! Give them a good cleaning (for best results, use a mixture of equal parts hot water and vinegar, with a few drops of dishwashing liquid), and that will help you determine between dirt and damage.

Step 2: Look for remaining dirt

After your windows are cleaned, is there some dirt still lingering around no matter how hard you clean? This is usually a sign that debris has gotten in between the window panes.

Step 3: Inspect the window frame

Is there mould and mildew on the frame? Does the frame look damaged or distorted? These are signs of an issue with your window that needs to be addressed.

Step 4: Is there condensation?

Does condensation form on your windows? Condensation happens when the air is warmer or more humid on one side of the glass than the other. If there’s condensation on the window’s exterior in warmer months – that’s normal and nothing to worry about. Condensation can be a problem if it doesn’t wipe away and remains. That indicates that the moisture is between panes and that the seal has failed.

Step 5: Look for insects

Insects can be tricky and burrow their way into the wood frame of your home/windows. If they make their way to your windows, they can cause damage.

After inspecting your windows, you may or may not notice seal damage or failure. If you do, one of the first steps to take is deciding if a replacement is necessary or if repairing the seal is an option. 

Repairing the window is a short-term fix and could lead to the same failures or worse in the future. It's better to replace your windows for the long-term, especially if they are older windows. Replacements will last longer and bring some life back into your home's exterior. 

Are you looking for windows and doors in the Kingston, North Bay or Owen Sound area? Check them out here on our website!