3 Tips for Keeping Your Windows in Tip-Top Shape During the Winter

There are few things more annoying than trying to enjoy a nice, hot cup of coffee at home one morning, only to find that your windows are frozen shut. Even worse is trying to get out of the house on time in the morning with the ice all over your car. Winter can be a particularly unpleasant season if you don’t prepare yourself ahead of time. Here are 5 tips for keeping your windows in tip-top shape during the winter.

1. Keep the temperature in your home above freezing

Always keep the temperature above freezing in your home. The lower the temperature, the more dangerous it is for your pipes and the more likely they’ll burst. The best way to avoid this is to keep the temperature above freezing. It might be a good idea to install a window sealer in the spring. This helps prevent the insulation from getting too thin when the temperature drops and the wind picks up. Or install a window weatherstriper. This old-fashioned device helps protect the insulation that insulates your windows. It also helps prevent overheating and a dripping window at the same time. You can also install one in your attic.

Test the wind and temperature inside your home on a regular basis. Check to see if your windows can open and close smoothly, and that the wind is coming from the right direction (the direction toward the source of the temperature-dependent energy).

Buy window coverings for both your interior and exterior windows. It’s a lot easier to clean coatings off your windows (even in cold weather) than it is to clean them with a cheap coat of paint. Also, window coverings are cheaper and last longer. Before you buy your next window cover, check the weatherstripper on the interior of the window for leaks and if the window needs a pitch adjustment. If it doesn’t, make yourself a new one. When you want to change your AC condensing water heater pump, remove the cover plate. The condensing water will contain trace amounts of copper. (The copper is the plate where water drips off the top of the heating coil as you turn it on and off.) The copper is harmful to sensitive species like birds, and you don’t want to expose those species to the copper if you can avoid it.

Schedule a yearly window checkup. Make sure that your AC is turning on without freezing up, and that the windows are sunlight-readable at all times. The same goes for your furnace and boiler—provide your furnace and boiler is functioning properly as well.

2. Consider double-pane windows for better insulation

Double-pane windows are a great way to save money on energy bills. The two panes of glass are separated by a small space filled with gas. The gas acts as an insulator to reduce heat transfer through the window. This means that less heat escapes through the window, which means you can turn down the thermostat during the winter months.

Now, that you have the basics down, we can move on to covering up your windows. Most of the time, keeping your windows reasonably clean keeps these windows running more efficiently for you. That means it’s a good idea to replace all of your old peeling or stained glass with a new, better quality one, especially if it’s more than a year old.

On that note, the best way to clean your windows is to purchase an energy efficient window screen. Instead of buying a set of tattered, dirty screens, save some money by purchasing energy efficient tin, & glass screens.

3. Use a de-icing spray on the outside of your house to keep ice from forming there

De-icing spray is an effective solution to prevent ice from forming on your exterior siding. Simply spray the de-icing solution on the outside of your house before a storm hits and it will prevent ice from forming on your exterior walls, which can cause damage that’s expensive to fix.
For interior siding, a more time-consuming and expensive method is to put down a coat of snow on the siding once it’s dropped below the freezing mark. The added heat from your home’s interior will melt the ice and allow the house to slowly warm. Depending on how much traffic your home receives on a regular basis, that could take up to 6 days, so it’s best to wait until the weather warms up before de-icing.

Expensive as it may be, an ice scraper is a necessary tool for getting to frozen or broken window seals. A plastic plumbing jug with a pre-mixed solution of baking soda and water is far cheaper than paying a Glidden repairman $200+ to come out to your house and detach the seal. To scrape some of the loose ice from beneath your standing or skylight seal, place a puddle of the baking soda solution at the base of the seal and run a continuous stream of hot water down the length of the window from above. Rub the solution into the broken area, ensuring that you scrimp no more than necessary to make sure all the ice is removed from the surface of the siding.

Windtek can wreak havoc on your windows and doors. So make sure you are ready for the cold 2021/2022 winter season. Contact Windtek for a free quote and window inspection today!