Timing is an essential part of planning a window and door replacement. Failing windows and doors can often make your favourite places less comfortable, but they can also decrease your quality of life and may have a negative impact on your health. It is important to spot the telltale signs of window and door failure, and here are a few tips on how to tell when it’s time for a replacement.

As time goes on, the performance of your windows and doors will diminish—from damaged weather stripping and failing seals to brittle components and cracked glass. There are some obvious signs, like higher energy bills, drafty rooms, or windows and doors becoming hard to open and close. So, here are a few things to keep an eye out for.

Higher Energy Bills

When windows and doors are underperforming, it only makes sense that your energy bills will be higher. As your old, single-pane windows reach the end of their cycle, leaks and fine cracks start to form, and once the air-tight seal is damaged, the only way to eliminate drafts in your house is to replace the windows. The small cracks and holes between the panes allow cold air to enter, and this causes your energy bills to increase each month, especially during the winter months as you try to stay warm.

Excessive Window Condensation Between the Glass Panes

Windows are among the most prevalent spots in your house for condensation to occur because window panes are generally the coldest surface. Due to direct contact with the outside cold in autumn or winter, the inner surface of the glass pane is usually as cold as the outside air. Glass panels are the most prone to condensation, but you can also find moisture on window frames and fixtures. Condensation can mean that the current glazing on the windows is losing its effectiveness, and if the seals are failing, it’s easy for moisture to find its way between the glass panels, which forms condensation. When that condensation dries, it can leave behind an irritating foggy film that can’t be clean, and it can negatively affect a window’s performance.

Musty Smells

If your windows have been installed poorly, they can lose their ability to prevent water from coming into your home. And, of course, where there is water, there is often mould. Mould can be a real health concern and often can’t be seen if it’s growing in your walls so, the only sign might be a musty smell. Using specialised tools like infrared cameras, a window and door expert can evaluate the situation in your house and let you know whether your windows and doors are causing a problem.

Water Damage on Window Frames

When the paint starts chipping off on window frames, it’s easy to give them a fresh coat of paint. However, if the frames are no longer holding the coat of paint, it might be time for an upgrade. When water finds its way past gaskets and seals and into the painted areas, it causes the paint to fail from the inside out.

They’re Old

If your windows and doors, and even the trim around them, were installed decades ago, it is probably a good idea to replace them. Old windows and doors can cause many problems. Old windows usually have single panes, which can cause a room to be too cold in the winter and too warm in the summer and can make your home quite uncomfortable.

Noise From Outside

Do you hear every car horn, dog barking, and other traffic noise in your home? If you want to know when is the best time to replace windows, too much noise indicates that your windows do not provide enough insulation. Double or triple glazed windows are not only warmer, but they prevent up to 90% of outside noise from entering your home.

Over the last decade or so, homeowners have moved toward upgrading to more energy-efficient homes. Homeowners should ask themselves these two questions: which upgrades will save the most money on energy costs, and which will add the most value to my home? For those starting out, we provide simple upgrade ideas that are energy-efficient, easy on the eyes, and cost-effective.

1. Energy-Efficient Ceiling Fans

Making the responsible decision to reduce your carbon footprint seems easy, but changing your lifestyle and the way you use energy can be more challenging. To start, ceiling fans can be an excellent way to improve your home energy usage. They come in an array of shapes and sizes and can have a significant impact on your heating and cooling costs.

2. Light Bulb Upgrades

Energy-efficient lighting helps lower electricity bills and carbon dioxide emissions, all without reducing the quality of light in our homes. If you replace all the bulbs in your home with energy-efficient bulbs, you could reduce your carbon emissions by up to 40kg a year. Additionally, replacing only one 60W incandescent light bulb with a CFL bulb—perhaps one of the most common energy-saving light bulbs around—can reduce your electricity bill by around £7 a year, so replacing 10 light bulbs with energy-savers could save you £70 a year.

3. Energy-Efficient Window Materials

Energy-efficient windows come in a range of frame materials and styles, and their energy performance depends on how well the materials work. From stopping heat from passing through to how much sunlight travels through the glass and how little air can leak around the window—there are a few things to consider. Energy-efficient windows are made of two or three glass panes sealed in a single unit, surrounded by a frame made from uPVC, wood, or another material. Double-glazed windows have two sheets of glass with a gap in between, usually about 16mm, while triple-glazed windows have three sheets of glass and two gaps—both of which are great insulators.

4. Energy-Efficient Doors

Like any other part of the home, doors can be insulated and draught-proofed to prevent heat escaping. Composite doors are one of the most energy-efficient home improvements you can choose. All aspects of the Supercraft Endurance doors are designed to give you total peace of mind—whether you’re looking for improved security, thermal efficiency, or style. When you invest in an energy-efficient composite door, you’re not only choosing one of the strongest and most secure designs but saving on energy costs throughout the year.