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Identifying Window Water Damage

When it comes to the longevity of your home’s windows, excess moisture is the enemy. Window water damage can quickly cause the lifespan of the windows to dwindle, typically leading to a premature window replacement. Especially if it’s early on in the life of your windows, this is an unnecessary expense that can be largely avoided with proper window maintenance. 

To get water damage to your windows repaired, you’ll first need to identify it. Here, we’ll go over the main signs that your windows are becoming damaged due to excess moisture. If you notice any of these signs, you may need to call in the window experts for professional help. 

The Main Signs of Window Water Damage

Mold

Mold thrives in moist environments. If your windows are exposed to excess water or humidity for a prolonged period, mold spores may settle in and begin to grow. 

The window frame and the wall around your windows are susceptible to mold growth if excess moisture is present. The mold is often black and may appear in spots. Mold can also have a fuzzy texture. Unfortunately, as mold grows inside of your home, the mold spores will circulate in the air. Mold spores trigger allergic reactions in many children and adults. So, members of your household may start to experience respiratory symptoms as a result of mold growth on your windows. 

Battling Window Mold 

To preserve both the air quality in your home and the condition of your windows, it’s important to address mold as soon as you notice it. You can often effectively scrub the mold away with white vinegar or bleach. But, cleaning the mold away may only be a temporary fix. You’ll need to find the reason for the excess moisture that’s encouraging mold growth in your windows. Whether it’s high humidity levels in your home, which may be improved with a dehumidifier, or window condensation, which can be fixed with more insulative windows, finding the root of the mold issue will prevent further damage. 

Standing Water

If you notice standing water around your home’s windows and the windows are closed, you need to implement a prompt solution to avoid major water damage. The standing water may be caused by a window leak. Windows may leak due to poor installation or deteriorated materials. In either case, to prevent ongoing water damage, you’ll need window replacement services to fix the problem.

Paint Damage

Moisture can damage the paint on the walls around your windows. Peeling, bubbling, fading, or blistering paint indicate that water could be leaking through your windows, or that condensation is dripping down from the windowpane to the wall. In both cases, the paint damage is often only the tip of the iceberg; this sign of water damage can lead to mold growth. So, if you notice that the paint around a window is looking worse for wear, have a professional check for a window leak. 

Odors

Water damage to your windows can cause a musty odor in your home. It can often be difficult to identify the cause of an odor, making it tricky to identify this sign of window water damage. But, if you do smell something musty in your home, don’t forget to check the windows. If there’s excess moisture or other signs of water damage, the window could be leaking. 

Discoloration

If the appearance of a window frame is diminishing, you could be dealing with a leak. Specifically, water stains and discoloration are signs that water is seeping into the window frame. Left alone, the frame may start to rot because of the prolonged exposure to moisture. 

It’s worth noting that your window frame may become discolored because of rain coming in through an open window. Be sure to close all of the windows in your home when it rains to avoid water damage. 

Floor Damage

In severe cases of a leaky window, you may notice water damage on the floor. Wooden floors may warp when exposed to water because of a window leak. Floor tiles may become loose, and linoleum may start to peel. Any of these signs of water damage to your window need to be checked out by a professional ASAP. 

If you notice signs of water damage to your windows, contact Superior Windows today. One of our friendly Minneapolis window installation and repair experts will be in touch with you to schedule a free estimate. 

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Categories Blog

Three Easy Ways To Prevent Window Damage in Your Home

The windows are a key fixture in your home. Window damage can cause serious headaches for home and business owners, so it’s important to protect them and avoid the expense of a premature window replacement.

Proper installation and maintenance can help you avoid many types of window damage. However, since the exterior of your windows is directly exposed to the elements, some types of window damage can occur despite professional window installation and ongoing maintenance. Here, we’ll discuss the main types of window damage and what you can do to prevent them. 

Main Types of Window Damage

Condensation

While condensation may seem harmless, it can have a big, negative impact on your home’s windows. Condensation can form on your windows when water in the gas form reaches a surface at a lower temperature than the air around it. The lower surface temperature causes the water to change from the gas form into the liquid form. 

Window Damage From Condensation

Condensation can eventually cause drops of water to flow downward, reaching the window frame and even your home’s walls. This moisture creates the risk of water damage, including mold development, water stains, and rot. 

Preventing Damage From Condensation

To prevent condensation on your home’s windows, you’ll need to raise the temperature of the windows so that moisture in the air doesn’t solidify when it reaches the surface of your windows. To do this, you may need to open the curtains so that the warm air in your home raises the temperature of the window glass. Getting a dehumidifier in your home can also prevent high amounts of moisture in the air that can lead to condensation. 

If you do notice condensation on your windows, make sure to wipe it off with a soft cloth. This will stop the droplets of water from flowing downward and off of the glass. 

Warped Frames

If you own a home that’s on the older side, you may have windows with wooden frames. While wooden frames can be beautiful, they also present a unique set of challenges when it comes to window damage.

With fluctuating weather conditions, wood expands and contracts with the changes in temperatures. As time goes on, this will cause wooden window frames to warp. Warped frames not only look askew, but can also diminish the structure of your windows and may lead to further damage. 

Wood window frames may also become warped if water seeps into them and freezes. Water expands when it freezes, meaning that the wooded frame may crack. Cracked window frames create the risk of further water damage. 

Preventing Warped Window Frames

Unfortunately, wooden window frames are bound to expand and contract with changing temperatures outside. So, if you’re struggling with warped frames, you’re probably facing a window replacement. When you replace the window, you can choose a more durable frame material so that you don’t have to deal with warping in the future. 

Drafty Windows

Draft windows are not only a pain, but also a liability to the energy efficiency of your home. With drafty windows, your HVAC system will use more energy than is necessary to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. This will ultimately lead to higher utility bills each month.

Preventing Drafty Windows

Drafty windows are often caused by poor installation. When windows are installed properly, it can lead to gaps between the window frame and the window itself. Air can then leak in and out of your home through this gap. So, one of the best ways to prevent window damage is to hire a trusted company for your window installation. Keeping up with window maintenance can also ensure that gaps are identified and addressed early on. Caulking and sealing the windows is also a strategy for preventing air leakage through your windows. 

Window Damage Prevention Maintenance

For all types of window damage, proper maintenance is an excellent preventative tactic. Taking proper care of your windows through regular cleaning, lubricating the window tracks, inspecting for damage, and promptly repairing the damage will prolong the lifespan of your windows. 

To schedule a window replacement or installation, contact Superior Windows today. Our expert team will protect the lifespan of your home’s windows.

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Categories Blog

Emergency Window Damage Checklist – What You Need to Know

Your home’s windows may rarely cross your mind. But, when sudden damage strikes, you’ll realize that the windows are crucial to the safety and comfort of your entire home. Emergency window damage can pose a serious security risk to your home and needs to be addressed ASAP. 

For homeowners who find cracked panes, broken panes, broken locks, faulty seals, or other serious window issues, acting quickly is important. But, what exactly should you do to restore the condition of your windows promptly? This article will discuss emergency window damage and how you can secure window replacement services before further damage is done. 

Types of Urgent Damage

Broken Window Panes

Broken or cracked window panes may be caused by anything from a hailstorm to a poorly-aimed ball and expansion and contraction due to fluctuating outdoor temperatures. This type of window damage can expose the interior of your home and make it accessible to intruders. So, you’ll need to have it taken care of promptly. 

Immediately after a window pane breaks, safely clean up the broken glass and, if you can’t get a window repair team to your home immediately, board up the window. Then, make sure to have the window replaced as soon as possible. 

Broken Window Locks

Locking your windows is an important security measure. Window locks may break due to deterioration or poor installation. Luckily, broken window locks are fairly straightforward to fix. The lock may need to be replaced to restore the security of your window, but this task won’t be as large of an ordeal as a full window replacement. 

Damaged Window Casing

Window casings can become damaged. Whether due to gradual rotting over time or sudden impact damage, a broken window casing will likely require a full window replacement. Note that when the window is replaced, it’s crucial to check for mold damage and insect infestation so that those problems can be addressed, too. These issues can lead to further window casing damage. 

Window Maintenance To Avoid Damage

It’s worth noting that some types of emergency window damage can be avoided with proper window installation and maintenance. As far as installation goes, ensuring to enlist the help of a trusted, experienced window team will go a long way in preventing damage. Poorly installed windows are far more likely to break down, especially in harsh weather conditions. Maintenance, such as cleaning your windows and lubricating the hardware as needed, can also protect your windows against certain types of damage. Of course, a broken window due to a stray baseball or damage after a major hailstorm aren’t preventable. But, you’ll still benefit from taking great care of your windows throughout their lifespan. 

Finding The Source of The Damage

When window damage occurs, one of the first steps that you take should be to determine its cause. If it was an accident or a sudden storm, there aren’t really measures that you can take to prevent the same type of damage from happening again. But, if it was caused by water damage, poor installation, or other avoidable factors, you should take steps to prevent future damage. In the case of water damage, for example, there may be a leak somewhere in your home that should be repaired to preserve the condition of your windows. 

Contact the Window Damage Experts

If you have a damaged window, it poses the risk for weather problems, home intruders, and animals or insects infesting your home. These types of damage can quickly rack up repair expenses resulting from a single broken window. 

Reach out to your local Minneapolis window specialists as soon as you notice the damage. Professionals can advise you on the best next steps to take, whether it be to wait for technicians to arrive or have the window boarded up until it can be addressed. 

Insurance Claims For Window Damage

In addition to contacting your local window professionals, you should reach out to your insurance company after your window becomes damaged. Some types of window damage are covered under homeowners insurance. You’ll need to check with your insurance agent to find out whether or not the type of window damage at hand is covered under your policy. If it is, you can file a claim to receive compensation for the repair costs. 


Contact Superior Windows today for window replacement services across the Twin Cities.

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Categories Blog

What Are The Most Common Types of Window Damage?

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No one wants to have to deal with damaged windows in their home. But, whether due to time, the elements, or even poor installation, damage can affect all types of windows. Window damage is common and can often be repaired with ease. However, other types of damage may merit a full window replacement. 

Keep reading to learn about the three most common types of window damage. For any help with window damage or window replacement, remember to consult your local Minneapolis window experts. 

Six Common Types of Window Damage

Window Damage Culprit #1: Rot

Rotting windows are a dreaded issue for homeowners, as the rot will generally call for a full window replacement. Windows can start to rot when excess moisture sits on the window materials for a prolonged period. The moisture will start to break down the window materials and eventually lead to rotting. 

Window rot is often visible, making the issue easy to identify. But, if the rot isn’t visually evident, you may be able to tell by touching the window frame. If it’s soft to the touch, it has a rot issue. Discoloration is another telltale sign of rotting windows. 

Culprit #2: Shrinking or Expanding Window Frames

When your home’s windows are exposed to particularly high or low temperatures, it can cause them to expand or contract. Specifically, window frames may contract when the weather is cold and expand when it’s warm out. Unfortunately, while the weather is entirely out of your control, this issue can lead to serious problems for your home’s windows. 

The expanding or contracting of your home’s windows will put significant strain on every part of the windows, including the glass. Over time, the warping of your window frames will cause the glass to warp as well. This pressure can cause irreversible damage to your windows. 

The best, most reliable way to avoid shrinking and expanding window frames is to invest in high-quality window installation services. 

Culprit #3: Failed Seals

One of the main causes of draft windows is failed window seals. This occurs if a double or triple pane window’s seal becomes damaged. Once the seal is damaged, the argon gas in between the panes of glass can escape. A broken seal fully compromises the energy-efficiency of a window. 

The causes of a failed window seal can range from basic wear and tear to shipment damage. Improper installation, weather conditions, and mold growth can also cause a failed seal. 

Culprit #4: Cracked Window Caulk

Caulk is the material that lines your window frame at the point where it connects with the structure of your home. The main purpose of caulk is to keep drafts from reaching the interior of your home. When caulk starts to wear down over time, it can develop cracks. This mainly happens when windows expand and contract due to the changes in temperature, which we discussed above. 

Cracks in window caulk can be difficult to see. You may need to hold your hand over the caulk and move it across the perimeter to see where you feel air coming into your home. If the draft is coming into your home because of cracked window caulk, you’ll need to have the caulk replaced, which is also known as recaulking your windows. 

Culprit #5: Improper Window Installation

Reliable window installation services in Omaha are essential to prevent all types of window damage, including air leaks. Poor installation can lead to gaps between the window frame and the window, leading to draftiness. Window installation should be left to an experienced, professional team. Trying to complete the installation on your own or selecting less-than-dependable installation services can lead to heightened repair costs down the line. 

Culprit #6: The Window Is Past Its Prime

Windows don’t last forever. Eventually, all windows will fail and need replacement. If you feel a draft coming through your windows and the windows themselves are old, it’s probably time for window replacement services. 

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