Reliable Design-Build-Remodel, the expert on window installation in Birmingham, AL, asks the question, “What Causes Drafty Windows?” Drafty windows cause your home’s climate-controlled air to leak out while allowing outside air inside. Pockets of hot or cold air in front of your windows or an unusual breeze might be a sign of a drafty window. More expensive energy bills might be another indicator of a faulty window as drafts push your heating and cooling system to work harder than it should.

Here are a few visible signs of leaky or drafty windows.

What Causes Drafty Windows?

1. The Seal Is Cracking or Damaged

The seals around the panes and casings should not be cracked or suffering from dry rot. Over time, older windows and wooden casings expand and contract causing the seals to break. This break in the windows seal is a common culprit for letting drafts into the home.

2. The Window Is Crooked

Crooked windows are often hard to close and latch. This creates additional space between the casings, which is another place for cold winter drafts to enter the home and increase your heating or cooling bills.

3. Condensation on the Windows or Between the Panes

Condensation is generally the result of the seal breaking on a multi-pane window. If moisture can get between the panes, then air is also leaking through. Replacement is the best course of action if you want to improve your energy savings.

4. The Curtains Move When the Window Is Closed

If your curtains are blowing in the breeze, but your windows are closed, it’s probably not a good sign. If a draft entering the home is strong enough that it is moving your curtains, there is a good chance that your windows are showing other visible signs of damage.

5. The Window Is Difficult to Open or Close

Windows should open smoothly, regardless of the temperature or relative humidity. Wood frames may swell slightly in wet weather, making them a bit stiffer to open, but they shouldn’t become fully stuck. If they are becoming stuck, either open or closed, the wood has absorbed moisture. 

Reliable Design-Build-Remodel can assist you with nearly every type of home improvement that you may need, including kitchen and bathroom remodeling and interior and exterior painting.  We offer flexible payment terms to ensure that you can get your project started as soon as you want. 

Reliable Design-Build-Remodel is a full service general construction firm and remodeling contractor operating in the Birmingham metro and Jefferson and Shelby County areas and surrounding communities, including Birmingham, Helena, Chelsea, Mountain Brook, Hoover, Homewood, Montevallo, Alabaster, Vestavia Hills, and Pelham, with over 30 years of servicing our valued clients. Offering full service suite of general remodeling, design and build services. Our specialties include bathroom remodeling, kitchen remodeling, exterior renovations, interior renovations, painting, and more!

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