Home Window Maintenance – Tips
Maintenance of windows should not be neglected; else they begin to give unwelcome looks to the whole of the house and start malfunctioning. Even the so called maintenance free windows made from vinyl, fiberglass and aluminum need periodic maintenance for an extended life and trouble free operation. Regular window upkeep goes to include cleaning and maintaining both the glass and the frame. Inadequate or improper maintenance leads to their malfunctioning and may need their frequent replacements.
Window Frame Maintenance
Thorough cleaning of window frames is required from the inside, as well the outside. Depending on the circumstances and the prevailing climatic conditions during the year they should be cleaned at least once a year or more often. If your windows are exposed to a lot of dust, dirt or moisture, more frequent cleaning may be required. It’s not difficult or very expensive to keep the windows clean. All you need is a good all purpose cleaner, cloth or sponge and a brush. If a window opens, give particular attention to the track of a sliding window, the crank and glide of a casement window and the locking mechanisms for all windows. Irregular cleaning leads to accumulation of dirt and dust that causes malfunctioning of the window and its opening and closing. It could also mean that the window is unable to provide effective sealing and allows the inside air to leave the room or the outside air is free to enter thru the gaps. That makes heating and cooling of the room ineffective. Moreover, imperfect locking or closing of the window could prove a security hazard.
Maintenance of Window Glass
Window glass needs periodic cleaning. In the absence of frequent cleaning of glass even the new replacement windows begin to give an awful look in a matter of days. You have to decide the frequency of cleaning, depending on the position of the room housing the windows and the kind of activities carried in there. For instance kitchen windows or windows of rooms where you might be smoking would need to be cleaned more frequently. You would realize that the exterior of glass gets dirtier due dirt gathering there. Then, the exteriors have to bear smog, acid rain and bird droppings and other such environmental elements.
Unless these contaminants are removed frequently it becomes all the more difficult to remove after they are allowed to remain on the glass for long. Changing weather and extremes of hot and cold may bind the contaminants to the glass and their chance of getting adhered permanently can’t be ruled out altogether. Efforts to remove such old deposits of contaminants may cause the glass to get scratched and present an unpleasant sight. For periodic cleaning one can employ commercially produced window cleaners. Otherwise, even the use of dish soap or elbow grease should give satisfactory results. However, a non-scratching scouring pad is necessarily required to get rid of more stubborn contaminants.
This is really useful advice. So often people will have new windows installed and will not maintain them, allowing outdoor elements to affect their appearance. With simple maintenance tips like these, this will reduce the need for early replacements.