7 Signs Your Windows Need Replacing

Are your current windows posing a home improvement conundrum? Do you find yourself wondering if it’s time for new ones, but aren’t sure? Maybe you’re asking yourself what the signs are you should be looking for.

The answer may be simpler than you’d imagine—it’s time to replace your windows if they aren’t doing their job! The right windows can increase ventilation, help insulate your home, enhance sound abatement, and help save on your utility bill. And you are, undoubtedly, looking for windows that are attractive, durable, and help keep your family safe and comfortable. So ask yourself, is that what you have right now?

Still unsure? Check for these seven red flags to gauge whether your existing windows are making the cut:

Are they damaged?

If a baseball came tearing through your window or the glass has otherwise been irreparably damaged and is not covered by warranty, chances are you should replace it. After a window is severely damaged, it is only a matter of time before exposure to the elements may cause additional damage to the frame or surrounding areas.

If you’ve been avoiding dealing with window damage, you could have compounding factors. If it’s recent, why not tackle the issue before it progresses! Our design consultants can do a complimentary in-home consultation at your convenience to diagnose the damage to your window and talk about replacement options that work best for you.

Are you feeling drafts or leaks?

Your window should bring all of the beauty of the outdoors into your home—not all of the pests, water, and uncomfortable temperatures. If the elements are creeping in instead of staying safely outside, you may want to consider replacement.

Do a quick inspection by checking all around the frames of your windows for damage or rot from insects and moisture. If they are soft to the touch, cracking, or showing other signs of wear, they will need to be replaced immediately. These minor annoyances may soon grow and multiply into truly expensive disasters to your home’s foundation if left unattended.

When you go to replace, make sure you invest in a window that will stand the test of time. Watch a recap of the 20-year durability study we just completed to see just how well our Fibrex® composite material holds up against Mother Nature. What did our battery of tests tell us? After two decades of extreme Minnesota weather, we found that the windows performed as well as the day they were installed.[1]

How is the temperature control?

Do you find that no matter what you set your air conditioning to in the summer or dial your heat to in the winter, the only thing that changes in your home is the utility bill climbing? If you’re feeling hot and muggy in the summer or freezing cold throughout the winter—while you’re inside the house!—your existing windows may very well be the source of your misery. Renewal by Andersen® replacement windows will help you save money on your energy bills. Our High-Performance Low-E4® SmartSun™ glass is 70% more energy efficient in the summer and 47% more energy efficient in the winter compared to ordinary dual pane glass[2]— helping keep you, your family, and your guests comfortable indoors throughout every season.

Renewal by Andersen shares Andersen Windows’ long-standing commitment to energy efficient products and environmental stewardship. After all, we were honored with a 2016 Energy Star® Partner of the Year award for protecting the environment through manufacturing products that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We’re working to help the planet…and your pocketbook.

Are they dated?

Sure, having the latest style is nice—and aesthetics are important. But “elderly” windows may be more than just a design concern—they could pose a safety hazard, as well. If you’re living in an older home, you may be in need of a larger window to comply with fire egress codes.

A larger window opening, means a valuable upgrade and a potential route for a swift, safe escape should the event of a fire ever happen (and, of course, an increase in light and curb appeal, doesn’t hurt). If you are in need of a bigger window, why not go for the view you’ve always been dreaming of? No job is too big for our Certified Master Installers to handle. In addition, thanks to our innovative Fibrex® material, we can build windows with narrower frames, giving you more glass area.

Are you seeing poor performance?

Is it difficult to open and close your windows? Is cleaning them such a Herculean ordeal that you just skip it altogether? Replace!

A window that doesn’t function correctly is a pain. Our operable windows have been engineered to allow for easy cleaning. And, if you go with a casement window, you’ll have the benefit of our easy-to-latch lever that securely locks the casement window at multiple points for a weathertight seal. Plus, our hardware options come in multiple colors to complement your home's existing color scheme and your new windows.

Have you done a sound check?

You may love your home, but is it the peaceful sanctuary you want it to be? Renewal by Andersen® replacement windows help increase sound abatement thanks to our industry-leading designs and glass options. So, whether it's pedestrians on the sidewalk, cars flying by at high speed on the highway, or the yappy dog next door that's giving you grief, replacing your windows can help you sit back and relax in some well-deserved peace and quiet.

Are they just plain worn out?

Windows that are chipping, worn, water stained, or simply have an undesirable design get the seal of approval to go.

Our design consultants work with you one-on-one to customize a window that complements the character of your home and performs the way you need it to. Whether it’s a bigger window opening, a specialty design, a window that opens in place of another that does not, or a style update, replacing your outdated or undesirable design will leave your home looking and feeling better.

If any one of these issues matched the profile of your windows or you’re still feeling unsure, the next step is easy: schedule a free consultation today to learn more about what we can do for you from one of our trained design consultants. They’ll meet with you in your home at your convenience to diagnose your windows and design a solution that works for you.