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Your windows are meant to form a barrier between the indoors and outdoors while still allowing in natural sunlight and providing you with a view of the outdoors. If they’re letting in not only light, but also cold air, then they’re not doing their job properly.
Sadly, window leaks and drafts are common in Indianapolis homes. They appear when some types of windows start to age, causing your energy bills to creep up and your home to feel uncomfortably chilly. Luckily, you have several options for dealing with drafty, leaky windows.Here’s a look at a few temporary solutions along with one permanent window replacement solution that will ensure you never have to deal with leaks or drafts again.
If you need to correct leaky windows immediately, one option is to use rope caulk to seal the gap between the window and the frame. Rope caulk is available at most home improvement and hardware stores. You unroll it and press it into the gap, using your fingers.
The caulk will improve energy efficiency, but it will also prevent you from being able to open the windows. In the summer, this leaves you with a conundrum: you can either leave the caulk in place and be unable to open your windows, or you can remove it and allow warm air to flow in through the gaps, raising your cooling bills.
Another way to keep the cold out is to place a sheet of plastic over the entire window frame. The plastic sticks to the window frame, stopping any air that blows through the crevices from actually entering your Indianapolis home. Once again, you’ll need to remove the plastic sheets if you ever plan to open the windows. Applying plastic sheets to all of the windows in your home can be time-consuming, so most homeowners don’t want to repeat this process each and every winter.
At first glance, vinyl replacement windows may seem like a permanent solution to your window leaks and drafts. However, they will only offer, at most, a few years of protection. Vinyl is susceptible to cracking and warping as it is exposed to changes in temperature and humidity, such as those that occur throughout the year in the Indy area. So before long, your new vinyl windows will begin leaking as the vinyl separates from the glass.
If you never want to worry about window leaks and drafts again, consider replacing the windows in your Indianapolis home with Fibrex® windows. Fibrex is Renewal by Andersen’s proprietary material that is resistant to expansion, contraction, and cracking after temperature changes. Unlike vinyl, it won’t separate from the glass as it ages.
Fibrex is a wood composite material that is made from recycled wood fibers. It has a wood-like look and comes in an array of colors, from natural oak to white. So whether you’re hoping to create a modern look or a more traditional appeal, you can achieve it with weather-resistant, leak-proof, Fibrex windows.
Not only does Fibrex prevent drafts and leaks, but it is also a good insulator. This means you experience less direct heat loss through your windows than with other materials, like aluminum. Your home will stay much warmer and more comfortable.
If you’re ready to replace the leaky windows in your Indianapolis home, schedule a free, in-home consultation with Renewal by Andersen to learn more.