FEELING THE RAIN, LITERALLY?
Rainy days are perfect for reading, cozying up indoors, spending time with family; they can be enjoyable from inside the home.
Do your windows protect you and your home from the elements? Can you watch the rain from your windows without getting wet? If not, you may need to inspect them for leaks & seal failures! If you see water collecting at your sills or dripping down your panes, you may have a leak in your window.
Often with a seal failure, you will see condensation in between the panes of glass in a double- or triple-glazed window. Seal failures will let energy out of your home and require immediate attention. You may need to call your local window experts!
Condensation can also develop on the glass itself and may look like a leak, but it is actually due to cold weather on interior of the glass. Interior condensation is due to excess humidity in your home. Exterior condensation is a form of dew. Although this may be uneasy to witness, it is not a fault of the window and there is no real problem.
If condensation due to humidity is a bother, we have some tips to reduce the development of it in your home.
- Make sure all sources of ventilation to the outside are functional and use kitchen, bathroom and laundry room exhaust fans during and after humidity-producing activities to vent excess moisture.
- Air out your home periodically. Opening windows for just a few minutes a day lets the stale moist air escape and the fresh dry air enter without compromising your heating.
- Check your humidifier settings. Use the humidity comfort levels provided in the table to correctly set and balance the humidity level in your home.
- Be sure that all louvers in the attic or basement are open and large enough. You can even open your fireplace dampers to allow excess moisture to escape.
- If you have a large amount of house plants, try to concentrate them in one area and be careful not to over water.
- If troublesome condensation persists, see your heating contractor about an outside air intake for your furnace, venting of gas burning heaters and appliances, or installation of ventilating fan
WHAT TO DO
If the elements are finding ways to get into your home, you may need to replace your windows. New York Sash replacement windows can adapt to fit the style of your home, no matter how modern or traditional. If you want red sashes with a gray frame, we can do that. If you want simulated divided lights, brick mold casing and crown moulding, we can do that. If you’re unsure, our Design Consultants can work with you to fit the look that’s best for you by sharing photos of other projects we’ve done or showing you ideas in our Idea & Design Center Showroom.
