Windows have a relatively long useful life. However, the lack of proper maintenance may shorten their life span, determining you to replace them too early to be worth the expense. This article helps you to make your screens and windows last longer. Feel free to use the following maintenance tips to make your windows look like new and maintain their energy efficiency for a very long time.
To start with, you need to know that the windows are the most important surfaces of your building, as they are the ones that enable most part of the thermal transfer between indoor and outdoor air. This means that you have to ensure they are always clean and in perfect functioning condition. Any slight misalignment or disruption in the seal can make your windows less effective in keeping a stable indoor temperature. The best window maintenance tip we can offer you is to perform a detailed inspection of your windows at least twice a year. It is very important to find all problems and to address it while the weather is still warm. If you wait until the colder winter days to fix your windows, you may not be able to find someone to repair your windows fast enough. Besides, you may have a difficult time at finding a professional to come to help you.
As screens and windows are prone to accumulating a lot of dust, you should periodically clean them. Wipe them with a soft cloth and vacuum them thoroughly. You can use the small brush head of your vacuum cleaner to reach even in the narrower spaces. By removing all dust every few weeks or so, you make sure that no dirt and grime deposits will form. Grime is the main culprit for the poor insulation of windows, because it prevents the seals from adhering to the surface of the frame. By removing all dirt before it hardens, you help maintaining the insulating properties of your windows. In addition, consider replacing the rubber seal every five years or so. If needed, replace it even more often. It’s in your best interest to have good windows, as that’s going to help keep your energy bills at bay. Windows that are poorly sealed allow cold temperature inside your rooms, forcing you to pay more to maintain a stable and comfortable indoor temperature.
How to maintain your windows
When it comes to screens, by vacuuming them often, you remove all dirt particles that could clog the nets, preventing fresh air from entering your home. If your screens are removable, consider washing them at least once a year with soapy water. Make sure you rinse them well, in order to remove all soap residues.
In case you notice any problems with your window frames, address them sooner rather than later. If you overlook such minor issues, they will become big problems that will cost you more to fix. It’s always better to prevent such major problems by inspecting your window frames, hinges and seals every once in a while.
Always use mild cleaning agents when you clean your windows. Avoid rubbing the frames, as you may easily damage them. Once a year or so, consider hiring a professional windows cleaning company to come to clean your screens and windows. This is the best thing you can do in terms of maintenance. Expert cleaners have professional tools and effective cleaning agents, so they an do a much better job than you, with less effort and within a much shorter time. These professionals will also inspect all elements of your windows and will make you the best recommendations to preserve or even improve their energy efficiency.