Spring is here, the flowers are blooming, the air is finally warming up, and as we turn our attention to spring cleaning our homes, it’s important not to forget spring window maintenance. Much like many other aspects of our homes, windows tend to go uncared for during the cold winter months, especially since we typically try to avoid opening them or using them for anything other than looking outside and insulation.
However, as temperatures rise, we use our windows more, and it’s a great time to conduct some spring window maintenance in order to keep windows clean and functional for years to come. Here are some easy tips for spring window maintenance that you can use.
#1. Inspect Them Carefully
An essential part of keeping your windows in good condition is ensuring that you catch any problems that necessitate repairs or replacement. Your windows won’t be able to function as they should if there’s something wrong with them. As part of your spring window maintenance, take a walk around the inside and outside of your home and look for anything out of the ordinary.
Some common window problems that will need fixing include:
- Chipping paint
- Rotting wooden frames
- Termites in wooden frames
- Loose weatherstripping
- Broken locks
- Squeaky hinges
- Clogged door tracks
- And more
You may not always notice whether or not there’s something wrong with your windows. Sometimes, it takes a professional eye to notice issues. It’s always a good idea to have annual professional inspections done for this very reason, especially if you don’t want an unnoticed problem to escalate into a major repair job further down the line.
#2. Test The Locks And Hinges
Your windows should be able to open, close, and lock without a problem. Especially with the warmer weather, you want to ensure that you’re able to open up your windows and let the fresh air inside your home. You also want to ensure that you’ll be able to close and lock your windows with ease so that they are not stuck open and letting rain and bugs into your home and impacting the overall safety of your house.
As part of your spring window maintenance, test your windows’ locks and hinges. If your windows are difficult to open or close, there could be buildup on the tracks that you can clean away. If that doesn’t help or isn’t the case, it could very well be time to look into getting some replacement windows. If your windows aren’t locking properly, you’ll likely not only have to worry about the security of your home, but also its energy efficiency, as window locks help seal your windows.
#3. Check For Drafts
You’ll likely have noticed drafty windows during the winter months, from cold air seeping into your home and feeling colder when you pass by your windows. You’ll want to check for them in your spring window maintenance too, though. Drafty windows are a major culprit for energy loss in your home. If you feel one of those pleasant spring breezes through your windows and your windows are not open, it will likely be through the sash, the sill, or where the sash meets the sill.
If you have drafty windows, you’ll want to check on your weatherstripping. If your windows have cracked, droopy, or dried out weatherstripping, it isn’t sealing them properly and is letting drafts into your home.
#4. Clean Your Windows
You knew this was coming: an essential part of spring window maintenance is cleaning them. Regular cleaning is essential to keeping your windows in good condition, as dirt buildup can not only impact their aesthetic appeal, but also damage your windows over time. You can hire professionals to clean your windows, which ensures that the exteriors and all those hard to reach areas are safely and effectively cleaned.
You can also do some cleaning yourself on the windows you can easily reach. We don’t recommend pulling out a ladder to try to clean your windows – too many people fall off of them and hurt themselves. However, you can vacuum the sills and get out a glass cleaner and a cloth to clean the frames and the glass.
You’ll want to ensure that you clean your windows on a day that is either cloudy but warm, with no risk of rain, or on a sunny day that isn’t too warm. This is to ensure that your window cleaner doesn’t dry before you can wipe it away, as this would just leave streaks all over your windows.
These are but a few of the things you can do for your spring window maintenance. If you need any advice on how to care for your windows or if you would like a professional window inspection, Peak Windows is here to help. Contact us today!