Can Your Windows Handle a Deep Freeze? -Michigan

As your windows grow older, they don’t always continue to protect your home the way they should. Aging windows may suffer damage when exposed to a cold snap, and they may perpetuate damage to the rest of your Michigan home, too! Read on to learn what can happen if old windows are exposed to cold, wintry temperatures, and how to tell if your windows aren’t equipped to handle a deep freeze.

Damage Caused by a Deep Freeze and Old Windows

Older wooden windows are especially prone to cold damage as they age. Wood contracts and expands as the temperature changes. If your wooden windows have already been weakened by years of wear, a deep freeze may cause them to split and crack even further.

Cold air can seep in through the cracks and splits in aged wooden windows, which is the last thing you want during a deep freeze. Not only will your energy bills increase, but you’ll feel a cold draft whenever you walk past the window in question. If the cracks are large, water and snow may also enter through them. This can cause further rot and decay to set into the window frames and sashes.

A deep freeze and the damage it causes to old wooden windows can also make the windows harder to open and close. As the frame contracts or bends as a result of cold damage, the sash may no longer slide up and down easily within the frame.

Signs Your Old Windows Won’t Survive a Deep Freeze

There are a couple of signs that the windows in your Michigan home will suffer considerable damage once temperatures fall.

• You notice cracks in the window frames and sashes.
• The glass wiggles and jostles when you push on it.
• You already have difficulty opening and closing your windows.
• The window frames and sill show signs of serious rot and mold growth.
• Ice and water are accumulating between the panes of glass.

Note that damage caused by deep freezes is cumulative. The next cold spell may only make your wooden windows a little worse, but each successive cold spell will cause further damage.

Replacing Your Windows

If you suspect that your windows may cause considerable trouble during the next cold spell, then it’s time to consider replacement windows for your Michigan home. The longer you continue to deal with aged, leaky windows, the higher your energy bills will climb. Your floors and walls may also suffer water damage as the aged windows allow moisture to seep in.

You don’t have to wait until spring to have replacement windows installed. Window installation professionals, like those at Renewal by Andersen, can install new windows even in the dead of winter, ensuring that when the next deep freeze arrives, your home is prepared to withstand its challenges.

Windows made from composite materials, such as Fibrex® by Renewal by Andersen, are better suited to the cold, Michigan winters than are wooden windows. Fibrex does not expand and contract as much in the cold as wood does. It does not require scraping and painting, and it has excellent insulating abilities, helping to keep your home warm and cozy.

If your windows are aging, contact Renewal by Andersen today to schedule a free, in-home consultation. We’ll help you choose the most attractive, functional windows for your Michigan home.