September in Pittsburgh is one of those months where you can still have the air conditioning running one afternoon and wake up to a chilly house a few mornings later. It’s also around this time that people start opening their windows again.
At Window Installation Specialists, we’ve found this is exactly when homeowners notice little problems they completely forgot about over the summer. A window sticks. A lock doesn’t line up quite right. Or that one room that was freezing last winter starts coming back to mind.
None of those things automatically mean you need replacement windows. But if your windows are getting older or gave you trouble last winter, fall is a great time to take another look before our Western PA winter hits.
Here are a few warning signs worth checking around your house this week:
- They are getting harder to open and close: Try opening a few windows around the house, especially ones in rooms you don’t use every day. They should move without a fight. If you’re pushing, pulling, or using both hands to get a window moving, something isn’t working right.
- You remember which rooms were freezing last winter: Most of us already know where the cold spots are. Maybe it’s the chair next to the front window or a specific bedroom. It’s easy to forget about all of that in July, but if you stand near those windows on a cool September morning and feel a draft, it’s worth finding out why.
- There’s fog or moisture between the glass: If you notice what looks like condensation and try to wipe it off, only to realize the moisture is trapped between the panes of glass, your window seal has likely failed.
- You see water stains or damp trim: Fall brings plenty of rain to Pittsburgh. After a heavier storm, take a quick walk around the house. Look for new water stains, peeling paint, or damp wood around the sills. (Keep in mind, water can come from surrounding flashing or building materials, not just the window itself).
- The locks don’t line up anymore: A lot of people ignore this because they get used to it—like having to lift the sash a little bit before the lock catches. You shouldn’t have to wrestle with it.
Do you need to replace every window?
Not necessarily! This is a question Bill and the team get all the time. You might have a house with 20 windows and only three of them are causing real problems. Depending on their age, taking care of those problem areas first makes perfect sense. We’d always rather look at what’s actually going on before recommending a fix.
We’ve worked on all kinds of homes throughout Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania over the years. Older brick houses, newer homes, unusual window openings, large picture windows and specialty shapes aren’t all going to need the same solution. We work with Andersen and Pella, giving homeowners different options depending on their home, budget and what they’re trying to accomplish.
If something doesn’t seem right with your windows this fall, you don’t have to guess whether they need a simple repair or a full replacement. Give Melissa a call at 724-446-0275 or visit www.windowinstallationpittsburgh.com We’ll come out, take a look, and talk through your options honestly.
