Few things are more disconcerting than an unexpected crack popping up in your home’s windows. Even small cracks can spread and threaten the integrity and safety of the rest of the window. While it’s impossible to completely prevent cracks from happening, there are a few things you can do to reduce the risk your home faces. The first step is to familiarize yourself with the most common causes of cracked windows around your home. Here are the most common reasons homeowners have to contact their residential window repair team to fix cracked windowpanes.
Impacts
The most common cause of cracked windows is impacts with foreign objects. Anytime something solid hits the window with enough force, it can cause the glass to crack. Even something lightweight like a bird or a ball can damage the glass if it hits the pane in the right spot hard enough.
The easiest way to prevent these types of cracks is to reduce the likelihood of impacts happening in the first place. If you have children, encourage them to play away from the windows, both indoors and out, and add decals to the glass to keep birds from crashing into the window. If your window does get damaged, get it repaired as quickly as possible. Damage from impacts weakens the integrity of the rest of the window and puts your home at risk for leaks, drafts, and other issues if left unrepaired.
Extreme Changes in Temperature
Windows act as a barrier between the temperatures outside your home and the climate-controlled conditions inside your home. When the temperatures outside are extremely hot or cold while the temperatures inside your home stay comfortable, the difference can put strain on the glass itself. If the temperature difference is extreme enough, the glass can crack. Often, this happens because there’s a weak spot in the glass or there’s existing damage like a chip in the pane.
The best way to prevent cracks like this is to pay attention to your windows. If you see any chips in the glass, get the chips fixed as soon as possible. This will reduce the risk of cracks developing in extreme weather.
Improper Installation
While you may be committed to hiring experienced professionals to handle all of your home repairs and upgrades, the previous owners—and in some cases, builders—of your home may not have been so responsible. Both older homes and some new construction properties can have windows that were improperly installed. That improper installation puts stress on the frame and can lead to cracks over time.
If you’re planning on replacing your windows, working with an experienced installation team will prevent cracks caused by poor installation from happening in the future.
Get Your Cracked Windows Fixed A.S.A.P.
By understanding the common causes of cracked windows, you’ll be better able to prevent those cracks from happening in the first place. If you’re worried about your windows or notice small cracks forming in the glass, don’t ignore them or wait for them to get worse. Contact the team at Reflection Windows and Doors today. Our experienced technicians will be able to quickly replace your windows so you can keep your home comfortable, no matter what the weather is like outside.
