Signs of Poor Window Installation Quality
5 minute read
Of course, you’re being as careful as you can to not overlook any details in purchasing your home’s new high-performance, energy-efficient replacement windows. It’s a substantial investment, so you’ve researched and chosen a top-quality manufacturer. Your new windows are arriving today! You’re delighted to see that they’re as beautiful and high quality as you anticipated. But, as the windows are being carried into your home, it occurs to you that you should have gotten more information about the installation company.
How Can You Tell That Your Windows Are Installed Properly?
Fast forward to a few months after your window installation date. Your window choices for every room and every window were ideal in form, fit, and function. But something is not right. There are emerging issues with some of the windows. They seem to be due to window installation problems. You do recall wishing you had gotten more information about the installers, maybe from some customer reviews, etc. Now you may be noticing these and other common indicators of window installation problems:
Air Leaks Around Windows
Drafty windows force your HVAC system to work harder to cool or heat your home. When windows are not installed properly, electricity bills can soar, making it too difficult to regulate indoor temperatures. So, you should call the installation service if there are drafts around your new windows.
Poor Caulking Around Window Seams
Caulking helps hold the window frame in place, seal out air and moisture, and block heat transfer inside or outside your house. Unprofessional caulking indicates that the installer was either not careful enough or not skilled enough to deliver the first-quality job. Bad caulking can cause major air and water leaks that can increase your electricity bills, reduce your comfort level in your home, cause property damage, and promote mold growth in and on walls and structural supports in the walls.
Gaps Around Window Edges
Gaps around the frames are obvious signs of bad window installation. If you see gaps between the window sill and frame, that means that the installer did not make accurate measurements. This is a part of window installation that may seem simple enough but requires an experienced and skilled installer who is consistently meticulous in making and recording fine measurements for an ideal fit.
Windows Not Operating Properly
When a new window is not functioning properly, it may not open or close, or it may get stuck. That is most likely an indicator of an installation problem. Of course, you want your new windows to work, so you’ll need to contact the installation company and have them come out and correct the errors that are causing the window(s) to be inoperable.
Condensation Between Window Panes
Today’s energy-efficient replacement windows feature double or triple glass panes with inert gas fill between the panels as an insulator. If the seal between the glass panes of new window leaks, condensation may appear between the panels. This is likely due to rushed or inattentive installation that has not been done with the necessary care to make sure the seal is not damaged.
Water Damage Around Windows
Finding water damage is among the most serious evidence of poor window installation work. Water damage due to moisture leaking into a home around poorly sealed windows can lead to structural damage to your home and mold growth that is hazardous to your family’s health. If you find yellowish or brownish discoloration on the walls around or under your new windows or bubbled paint or wallpaper, this may be an indicator of mold caused by moisture due to poor-quality installation.
NOTE: Advanced windows are built with vents that deflect rainwater falling from above, but they do not prevent infiltration by water being forced up under them by a high-pressure hose during cleaning. Be careful to avoid this kind of incident, as it may cause a warranty issue.
Windows Not Level
If one or more of your newly installed replacement windows looks slightly crooked, it might be off-level. This can happen in poorly executed installations. It means that the installer neglected to perform the fundamental task of using a leveling tool to confirm that the window was level before securing it in place. You want your windows to work well and look great. That means they need to be level. Use a level to confirm that the window is not properly leveled, then contact the installer for a revisit to correct this grave mistake.
Choose A Top-Quality Window Installer
Buying top-quality energy-efficient replacement windows and then discovering one or more of the problems above after installation can cost you a lot of inconvenience, discomfort, and frustration. It can also cost a lot of money to repair damage resulting from badly installed windows. The solution is to prevent bad window installation work from happening in your home. You’ll need to do the same diligent research to select a professional, dependable, top-quality window installation service as you did when choosing the best window manufacturer.
Why Choose Advanced Window Products?
We have been a top manufacturer of energy-efficient replacement windows for western U.S. homeowners for more than 30 years. Our custom replacement window designers, engineers, manufacturing team, and certified installation experts are among the best and most dedicated to quality in our industry.
