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When it comes to keeping your home safe and secure, it’s always beneficial to focus on your windows and doors. These are the weakest and most vulnerable entry points to your home. It’s important that you’re aware of the dangers that these areas of the home pose if they’re not well maintained and looked after.
What are the tell-tale signs that your windows and doors need replacing? There are plenty of visual signs that you should look out for as well as physical signs that you notice when living in the home.
Visible damage
This one is pretty obvious but it’s often one that sometimes gets ignored because you don’t think anyone else will notice. Whether that visible damage is internal or external on the windows and doors, it’s causing a vulnerability that you’ll want to get fixed as soon as possible.
The problem with visible damage is that it’s a weak point and therefore can be leveraged to break into your property. Even if it’s a window that’s high up or a door to a basement that you wouldn’t consider to be an entry point for the property, that’s exactly the type of entry point that a burglar would look to exploit.
With that in mind, it’s good to take a close look at the windows and doors around your property on a regular basis. Identifying where the damage might be will help you get these fixed sooner rather than later.
Persistent condensation that leads to mold and damp
The last thing you want on your property is signs of mold and dampness. There’s nothing worse than seeing these and having to deal with them in your home. Mold and dampness can cause health problems if the areas are not treated.
When you’ve got compromised windows and doors, you can do everything possible to get rid of mold and dampness. However, the problem will just come back. Persistent condensation that leads to mold and dampness will often tell you that there’s an issue with the windows or doors in question.
You don’t want to be spending your days constantly wiping down windows and doors as this is time-consuming and will eventually lead to more damage to your property. This is a good indicator that the windows or doors in question will need replacing with new ones.
High energy bills
Have you noticed your energy bills creeping up lately? This could be a clear indicator that there are compromises in your home when it comes to the windows and doors.
Higher energy bills are often linked to you turning up the heating and using more of your electricity in order to counter the chill that you might be feeling in the air within your home.
When you’re looking to improve the cost of your energy bills, you should be looking at energy efficient windows and doors. These are going to be your best solution to fixing the problem of rising energy costs. The last thing you want to be doing is spending all of your hard-earned money on bills.
Hard to open or close
Are the doors and windows hard to open or close? Just like anything, over time, there will likely be wear and tear to your windows and doors. Windows will typically last between twenty to twenty-five years on average. For doors, it’s usually around fifteen to twenty. However, it depends on how much you want to spend on them that makes a real difference.
It’s good to identify how old your windows and doors are because this might indicate why they are so hard to open or close. You might have noticed the hinges on the doors or windows are rusty or they’re about to snap. This should be a warning sign that you need to replace them as soon as possible.
Even if you don’t have the budget right now to replace them, it might be worth dipping into your savings or putting it into finance as it could severely compromise your property’s security.
Are you feeling a draft?
When you walk past a window or door, can you feel any cool air coming from them? Usually, this would indicate that there’s a problem with the door or window in question. However, it might also be a sealant issue that you need to fix.
A draft coming from a window or door can be a nuisance and it can also contribute to those rising energy bills you might be getting through the mail. Not only that, but it’s likely going to welcome a wealth of pests and bugs into your home that you don’t want coming in.
Be wary of this cool air because it’s a sign that you’ll want to replace your windows and doors, soon.
You can hear noise from outside
Noises from outside shouldn’t usually be heard or at least heard so loudly when you have insulated windows and doors.
However, as they get older, you might start to hear more of the outdoor noise on your street and in your area than normal. This could be a sign that your windows and doors are on their way out and need replacing.
The odd occasional sound that’s loud might seep through but if you’re hearing everything, then it might be worth calling in the professionals.
Choose energy-efficient windows and doors for your home
When picking new windows and doors for your home, you should always look at the ones that are energy-efficient. There are new advancements in windows and doors, including triple glazing, which is something that you should consider. Fire doors are heavier and therefore might be worth installing if you’re after more insulation.
Choosing energy-efficient windows and doors will save you money but will also be better in the long-run. They’re an investment worth making into your home for the purpose of comfort, saving on your bills, and increasing the value of your home. Make sure you’ve considered new windows and doors for your property if you’re in need of them soon.
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