When buying, remodeling or updating your home, we think about all kinds of problems that can arise afterward like; roofing issues, electrical work, piping. However, we never think about what could potentially happen to our windows. Windows are never factored into the equation. We don’t think about kids throwing a ball or a rock and cracking it, or the weather changing so drastically, and the window may crack. Whatever the reason, we need to pay attention to our windows more carefully because no matter the reason for any kind of cracks, it will need to be addressed immediately so the window isn’t damaged further. Check out this home improvement blog and let’s discuss the 3 common causes of cracked windows: Impact, pressure or stress?
- Impact
- Pressure
- Stress
IMPACT
Impact breaks are exactly that. A ball or a rock being thrown at a window. These types of break can be identified very easily as there is a starburst pattern that emits outward away from the impact point. Don’t try to fix this yourself as you can injure yourself. Make sure to clean up any glass surrounding the area so as not to cut yourself. Call a professional immediately.
PRESSURE
Pressure crack isn’t as common as other cracks. These types of crack always seem to just appear without knowing how the crack got there. These cracks are often seen in double-paned windows as well as insulated glass. Pressure cracks can be triggered by extreme changes in the weather and when the pressure changes. Also, if the windows are mounted at an elevation level that may be too high or too low. These types of cracks will most likely lead you to have your windows completely replaced. You can identify these cracks as they have a curve in them that sort of looks like an hourglass.
STRESS
A stress crack is a crack that starts small and it will often grow and spread across the glass. Have you ever saw a crack in your car windshield, and it got bigger and bigger as time passed and next thing you know, you needed a whole new windshield? Drastic changes and temperatures that aren’t stable are usually the culprits in these types of cracks. Change in the weather can always affect your windows. You can also get a stress crack from slamming doors, so be careful when entering or leaving your home.
Replacing the glass is always an option, but you’re really just sticking a band-aid on a wound. If you want to make sure this doesn’t happen again, you may want to look into replacing the entire window. While this may be a bit more expensive, in the long run, it will save you money, especially in your energy bills. Think about heat and cool air being able to seep in because the window hasn’t properly been replaced. If you take care of the issue immediately, you save yourself some time, some money and probably even a few headaches.
