Windows are integral to maintaining (and improving) the look and feel of your home. For starters, they increase comfort in your living space by letting in natural light and ventilation. Windows also serve as one of your home’s most visible design elements, helping improve curb appeal with their style, design and color. Most importantly, they can allow for considerable energy savings depending on the framing material and glass included with them. 

Given their crucial role, it pays to make sure your windows are always in tip-top shape. This means observing proper, regular window maintenance–and avoiding bad habits that can shorten their service life and compromise their performance. Here Window World of Boston, one the area’s premier window and door installation companies, discusses what you shouldn’t do when it comes to window maintenance.

Closing the windows but not locking them. Windows usually come with a durable locking system that helps maintain safety and security in your home, but did you know that this same locking system can also improve window efficiency? Closing and locking your windows tightens the seal between the sash and the weatherstripping. By creating this insulating barrier, the potential for drafts and outdoor noise transfer is greatly reduced. 

However, if you continue the bad habit of closing your windows but not locking them, you’ll just be allowing moisture to transfer between the inside of your home and the outdoors. You’ll be able to tell this is happening due to the recurring appearance of condensation in the panes. Because the windows are constantly exposed to moisture, mold growth and mildew becomes a possibility.

Cleaning your windows carelessly. The keyword is ‘cleaning’, not ‘washing’. Actual window cleaning isn’t as messy or as extensive as, say, washing a car. Unless they have special maintenance requirements (which you can check with your window installation contractors about), all it takes is a spray bottle filled with a mild cleaning solution, a non-abrasive brush and a clean, lint-free cloth. Spray the windows liberally with the cleaning solution and use the cloth to wipe them down. Use the brush to remove persistent stains. If there’s mold, you can get rid of it with an appropriate mold removal product, or even just a mixture of bleach and water.

Cleaning the windows on a sunny day. It’s warm and bright outside, so it should be the perfect weather for window cleaning, right? Well, not exactly. Cleaning your windows on a sunny day causes the cleaning solution to dry much too quickly on the pane, leaving unsightly streaks. You’ll then have to clean the window again to remove them–which is a waste of time and effort. A better idea is to clean your windows when the day is cloudy and temperate. 

Being sloppy when cleaning your home’s exterior. Don’t let a power washer or high-pressure hose near your windows. Sure, they might keep your siding or brick exterior clean, but it will be at the expense of your windows. Using such equipment can wear down the window seal and even lead to fogginess between the panes. When the window units start failing due to sloppy exterior cleanup, the window manufacturers warranty may not cover their repair or replacement.  

Leaving the window coverings down. Condensation is a common window problem during colder months, but this can be mitigated by leaving window treatments such as blinds, curtains and shades down. This solution, however, has its own downsides. By leaving these coverings in place, it increases the chance of trapping moisture near the windows, while preventing smooth airflow. And where there’s moisture, mold and mildew will soon follow. You can deal with this by raising the window covering in such a way that its lowest section is at least a few inches above the base of the window sill.

Why You Should Choose Window World of Boston

Age and extensive damage can cause windows to fail–and no amount of repair or maintenance work will be able to save them. The wiser and more permanent solution here is a complete window replacement. This is a project that an untrained homeowner should never attempt to DIY, no matter how simple and straightforward it looks. Instead, you should work with trusted window installation contractors who can provide a quality experience. For Massachusetts homeowners, the name to call is Window World of Boston.

• We’re a qualified window and door company. Window World of Boston can ensure greater protection as a licensed, insured and locally-operated contractor. We’ve always been committed to providing Massachusetts communities with top-tier products that are professionally installed and provide excellent value for the money.

• We’re experienced. Whether you need garden windows or casements installed, Window World of Boston is sure to deliver superior workmanship backed by 25 years of combined industry experience. We don’t allow for mistakes or callbacks–it’s our duty to exceed your expectations through the exceptional results we provide.

• We offer industry-leading replacement windows. The choices offered by one of the leading window manufacturers, Window World of Boston, are designed for long-lasting performance, unmatched beauty and improved energy efficiency. Our framing material remains tough even when exposed to the harshest weather conditions–and since it’s available in a wide selection of styles, colors and hardware, matching our windows with your home’s style and exterior palette becomes simpler. Plus, our windows will help you maintain a thermally- comfortable home (sans the high energy costs) with their SolarZone™ insulating glass, Warm-Edge Spacer system and  argon gas fill In fact, they’re also ENERGY STAR®-qualified in each of the nation’s climate zones.

• We’re well-reviewed. Window World of Boston has received–and continues to receive–5-star reviews and ratings from our satisfied customers. We always live up to our promises–and the generous feedback of our customers is a testament of this. What’s more, our customer-centric approach and personalized window and door services also allow us to maintain a coveted A%20 Rating with the Better Business Bureau®. From the initial consultation to the final walkthrough, we seek to make your experience stress-free.

As one of the area’s top window and door installation companies, Window World of Boston delivers only the highest-quality service. You can expect your home upgrade to be completed perfectly the first time when you work with us. After all, your complete satisfaction is one of our top priorities. Call us today at (781) 262-3925 (Womburn, MA), (781) 343-7129 (Pembroke, MA), or (508) 845-6676  (Shrewsbury, MA). You can also fill out this contact form to schedule your consultation. We’d love to hear from you!