7 Signs It's Time to Replace Your Windows Before Another DuPage County Winter

Photo courtesy of Midway Windows.

Winters in Wheaton and the rest of DuPage County are hard on windows. Cold wind, freezing nights and long stretches with the heat running show you quickly which windows are doing their job and which ones are not. If you have been wondering whether it is time for new windows, here are seven signs worth paying attention to.

1. You can feel a draft

Stand near the window on a windy day. If you can feel cold air on your hand, or a curtain moves when the window is closed, air is getting in around the sash or the frame. Weatherstripping can help for a while, but older windows often keep leaking no matter how much you patch them.

2. There is fog or moisture between the panes

Double-pane windows have two layers of glass with a sealed space in between. If you see fog, haze or droplets between the panes that you cannot wipe away, the seal has failed. You cannot clean it from either side, and it usually means the window is no longer doing its job.

3. The window is hard to open, close or lock

A window that sticks, will not stay up, or takes two hands to lock is more than an annoyance. Windows you cannot open easily are a problem for fresh air in spring and summer, and a window that does not close tightly lets cold air in all winter.

4. You hear more of the street than you used to

If traffic, lawn mowers or neighbors sound like they are in the room, your windows may not be sealing well. Newer double-pane windows help keep outside noise down along with the drafts.

5. The frames are soft, cracked or rotting

Look at the frames and sills, inside and out. Peeling paint, soft spots in wood, or cracks where water can get in all mean the window is wearing out. Vinyl replacement windows do not need painting, which is one reason so many homeowners choose them.

6. Rooms near the windows feel cold or hot

If the chair by the window is the one nobody wants in January, or one bedroom always feels warmer in July, the windows may be part of the reason. Replacing them is one of the ways to make those rooms more comfortable year-round.

7. You are already remodeling the kitchen

This one is not a problem, it is an opportunity. If you are planning a kitchen remodel, it is the easiest time to replace the window over the sink. The new window can be planned around the new cabinets and counter, so everything lines up. Plenty of homeowners in Wheaton and Glen Ellyn add a garden window over the sink for extra light and a sunny shelf for herbs.

Which window style should you choose?

We install six styles of vinyl replacement windows, plus sliding glass patio doors. Each style has its own page if you want the details:

• Double-hung windows: the classic style, where both sashes slide up and down.

• Casement windows: crank open like a door, with no rail across the view. A favorite over the kitchen sink.

• Sliding windows: glide side to side, a good fit for wide openings.

• Picture windows: large fixed windows for the biggest view and the most light.

• Bay and bow windows: push out from the wall for more light and a little extra space.

• Garden windows: a small window that projects past the wall, usually over the sink, with a shelf for plants.

What replacing your windows involves

It is simpler than most people expect. It starts with a free in-home visit, where Bill measures every window in person. You get itemized prices on the spot, with every window priced separately, and the prices stay good for one year, so you can decide on your own time.

When you are ready, our own crew installs the new windows and hauls the old ones away. Most windows take an hour or two to install, so a few windows often fit in one day, and most whole-house jobs take a day or two.

Get your windows looked at

If you noticed two or three of these signs, it is worth a visit. Call Bill at (630) 890-3379 to set up your free in-home window visit. We work in Wheaton and all of DuPage County, plus Aurora, Bartlett, Geneva and St. Charles, from our showroom on Hale Street in downtown Wheaton. You can read more on our window replacement page.