Tips
Why winterize windows?
Have you ever noticed when the weather turns, that your home starts feeling drafty? Or that your windows are simply colder at the touch? If so, it may be time to winterize them.
A little bit of window and door maintenance can go a long way toward helping keep your home cozy and your energy bills in check all through the winter. Not only that, but regular maintenance can also help keep your windows and doors operating properly in the long run.
We’ll explain a few simple steps that can help your windows weather the winter better, plus provide guidance on when to DIY and when to call on a pro for help. We’ll even give you a list of signs to look for if you’re concerned your windows might need to be replaced. Let’s get started!
Step 1: Inspect and clean windows
Fall is an ideal time to clean windows and patio doors. Not only does it give you a chance to remove the dirt, dust, and pollen that might have collected during the warmer months, but it will also help you make the most of your natural light during the winter months ahead. Just as importantly, cleaning will give you a chance to check that everything is in good working order.
Here’s what to look for when inspecting windows and glass doors:
- Check your window trim: The trim around your windows connects the frame and wall. Check both interior and exterior for gaps that will let through air, insects, and even lead to decay.
- Inspect weatherstripping: Weatherstripping is the material that creates a seal between window and frame to help prevent air leaks and improve energy efficiency. Look for tears, deterioration, loose areas, or missing pieces.
- Verify that your windows and doors close well and lock tightly: Closed and locked windows provide a tighter seal and greater energy efficiency. As you operate them, take note of any difficulty closing. Hard or uneven closing is a sign that adjustments may be needed; a window that isn't square won't seal properly. If your windows need attention, we can help you find a local service provider.
How to clean your windows
Here’s our recommended cleaning process:
- Remove and clean your insect screens.
- Clean your windows.
- Once they’ve dried, store your insect screens upright or flat in a clean, dry, and well-ventilated area. Taking your insect screens down before winter and storing them in this way can help protect and extend their use.
Step 2: Replace worn out weatherstripping
Replacing weatherstripping can be a DIY job, and it's one that pays off as it helps keep out drafts and lower your energy bills.
- Identify your product: Weatherstripping may be made of plastic, metal, foam, or felt (depending on the product), and different products will require different kinds of weatherstripping. So, the first step is to identify which Andersen® product you have.
- Order the correct replacement weatherstripping: We sell replacement weatherstripping in the Andersen Parts Store and can guide you in selecting the right option for your window or patio door.
- Install the new weatherstripping: The right method will depend on the type of weatherstripping, of course, but the most common application methods are simple. For example, vinyl-to-vinyl adhesives, pressure-fitting into place, or stapling/nailing. Identify the right method for your products among our technical documents.
Step 3: Check for moisture and condensation issues
Condensation forms when warm, moisture-laden air meets a cooler surface, causing water vapor to turn into liquid. When you see it on the outside of your windows, it’s dew. It’s simply a result of conditions outdoors and it’s not a problem. In fact, it’s an indication that your windows are energy efficient because the outside of the window is thoroughly insulated from the inside of the window.
So, when it comes to condensation, it’s important to pay attention to where it’s forming. Here’s what to know and how to respond:
- Condensation in between the panes: This signals a broken window seal. Unfortunately, your window will need to be replaced.
- Condensation on the inside of the glass: This indicates that humidity is too high in your home. Over time, excess interior condensation can cause damage like rot or mold. To reduce indoor humidity, vent all gas appliances, run exhaust fans in your kitchen, and, if you have a forced-air furnace, install a fresh air intake to help keep your home properly ventilated.
- Condensation rimming your window: This indicates there’s likely a metal component in your window transferring cold air to the glass. Keep observing your windows and make sure water doesn’t start to pool on the window sill where it could cause damage.
Want to understand more about window condensation?
Should you add window insulation?
There are various DIY window insulation options out there. Unfortunately, many of these are temporary, and some can actually damage your windows. Here’s why we don’t recommend these common insulating solutions:
- Thermal/insulating curtains: These curtains can add insulation, but they also trap cold air in between the curtain and the window or door glass, which can lead to interior condensation. Interior condensation, left unchecked, can cause damage like peeling paint, mildew, or mold. It can even cause seal failure.
- Insulating film: We don’t recommend using any window films on our windows. Certain films can cause excessive heat to build on the glass, which can interact with reflected heat from Low-E coatings and cold temperatures causing glass to break.
- Storm windows: Storm windows are most often a retrofit solution paired with single-pane windows in older homes. In this way, they create an insulated glass unit at a cost-effective price. However, they don’t offer the same efficiency as modern replacement windows. In some cases, they may lead to some of the same problems that thermal/insulating curtains and insulating film cause.
If you’re considering any of these insulating options, chances are your windows are older and no longer under warranty. Even so, it could still be useful to look at the window manufacturer's warranty to see if they warn against these options. If the manufacturer is noting that damage caused by one of these insulating options won’t be covered under their warranty, you’re probably better off avoiding it.
Could you convert instead of replacing a window?
Part of what makes adding window insulation tricky is that the most common solutions are retrofits, which means they’re not designed to work with the window as a complete system. For a solution that is designed to work with our windows and is less invasive than full replacement, you need to know about our Narroline® window conversion kits. These kits convert older windows into convenient, tilt-wash double-hung windows with high-performance Low-E4® glass that's 45% more energy efficient in winter months.* They’re a great option if your home has Narroline double-hung windows made between 1968 and 2013. To find out if your windows qualify, use the Identify Your Product tool.
*Winter values are based on comparison of Andersen® double-hung window conversion kit U-Factor values to the U-Factor values for clear dual pane glass non-metal frame default values from the 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015 and 2018 International Energy Conservation Code "Glazed Fenestration" Default Tables.
Which winter window improvements have the biggest impact?
Replacing inefficient windows will have the greatest impact on your home’s comfort and energy savings. For example, replacing single-hung windows reduces bills by an average of 13% nationwide.
Here’s what makes modern windows and doors better performing than any window film, thermal curtain, or storm window ever could be:
- Insulated glass units (IGU): Two panes of glass with an argon gas blend filling the air space help slow the transfer of energy.
- Low-E/Low-E4® coatings: These coatings help keep conditioned air in the home and outdoor air out of the home by reflecting energy in an efficient way.
- Insulating frames: A combination of the right materials and thermally broken designs help our frames to perform efficiently.
Of course, this is also a more expensive approach, so consider improvements in the following order:
- Identify the windows in worst condition and take a phased approach to replacement.
- Keep up with maintenance like replacing weatherstripping.
- Add a storm door at entryways.
