If you’ve been living in your home for a while, or even if you just moved into a home that’s supposed to be in great shape, it can be challenging to decide when you need to invest in renovations—particularly window replacement. 

Windows can drastically impact your home’s indoor temperature, noise levels, and natural lighting, so keeping them in tip-top shape is essential. Look for the following common window problems that indicate your windows may need to be replaced.

Common Signs You Need New Replacement Windows

1. Drafty Windows

Do you notice an uncomfortable chill when you walk past your windows in the winter? Or perhaps your home gets stiflingly humid in the summer? Often, drastic indoor temperature fluctuations can be attributed to drafty windows—either from poor installation, inefficient single-pane windows, or seal failure in double-pane or triple-pane systems.

Unfortunately, drafty windows can lead to other costly problems, like sky-high utility bills from overworking your heater or air conditioning unit and water damage to the windows and surrounding walls.

2. Your Windows Are Difficult to Operate

If you’ve been unknowingly dealing with deteriorating windows for a while, you may just assume that windows are generally complicated to open and close—but that’s not how it should be! 

Windows with sashes, like double-hung and sliding windows, should glide open with minimal effort. They become difficult to open when the frames become warped from water damage or when the windows aren’t installed correctly in the first place and are either too small or too large to fit the opening they’re placed in.  

Windows that are difficult to open and close are a safety hazard for you and your family since they can be difficult to escape from in the event of an emergency. Since they’re challenging to latch, they offer a more enticing entryway for intruders. Needless to say, if you can’t operate your windows, it’s time to replace them!

3. Fading Furniture

Have you noticed your furniture, flooring, or wallpaper that receives direct sunlight through your windows is fading? If so, it may be due to having outdated, inefficient windows. 

Modern windows have special coatings that reflect infrared light to keep your home well-insulated in all seasons. However, these coatings also reflect ultraviolet light, which helps to guard your interior furnishings against fading. Having new windows installed may be a worthwhile investment if you want to protect your furniture from the damaging rays of the sun.

4. Excessive Outdoor Noise In Your Home

If you’re tired of waking up to zooming traffic, your neighbor’s barking dog, or the landscaper’s leaf blower, you’ll likely benefit from brand-new windows. 

Older windows aren’t great at insulating your home against outdoor sounds, but modern windows have plenty of features to decrease noise transmission and sound performance. For example, triple-pane windows are made from glass panes of varying levels of thickness separated by gas-filled spacers to help dampen sounds at differing frequencies.

5. Poor Window Appearance

Windows can drastically impact your home’s curb appeal, so if your current windows are outdated, drab, or simply don’t match your property’s architecture or design, it may be worthwhile to invest in new windows. Replacement windows installed by an expert window installation company will boost your home’s resale value and create eye-catching appeal for potential buyers. 

Choose from unique styles to match your home’s appearance, like classic double-hung windows for traditional homes or modern picture windows for contemporary dwellings, in addition to dozens of colors, materials, and hardware to achieve the perfect façade for your home.  

6. Foggy Windows

If your windows are foggy, you may attribute the condensation to humidity from a recent rainstorm. While this is typically the case if the fogginess is on the outside of your window, if the condensation is between the panes of glass in your windows system, this is usually a sign your windows need to be replaced. 

Condensation between windowpanes usually signifies that your window seals have failed, allowing the dense gasses separating the panes to leak out and moisture to seep in. Unfortunately, there is little you can do to remedy this problem besides window replacement.

7. Damaged Glass

Visible window damage is perhaps the most obvious sign your windows need to be replaced. If you notice chips, cracks, or crevices in your glass, they can compromise your home’s energy efficiency, security, and weather protection. 

In addition to your windowpanes, look for warping, sagging, or broken edges on your frames. If your frames are made from wood, you may even notice frustrating problems, like rotting and pest infestations, due to your deteriorating windows.

Invest in Professional Window Replacement for Your Kansas City Home with StateLine Exteriors

If any (or all) of the signs of deteriorating windows listed above sound familiar—it’s time to invest in brand-new replacement windows.

If you’d like to boost your home’s curb appeal, lower your energy bills, and reduce sound pollution, it’s wise to invest in expert window replacement with a local contractor, like StateLine Exteriors. We install beautiful, durable windows from ProVia®—our brand of choice—to provide your Kansas City home with decades of long-lasting performance and picturesque views.

Learn more about the window materials, styles, and shades we offer to make your window replacement a customizable, hassle-free investment.