7 Signs of Badly Installed Replacement Windows

Windows are an important feature in the home and an expensive investment. And when you pay to upgrade your home with replacement windows in Carlsbad, CA you expect the job to be done right. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen. DIY installation or using the wrong contractor could result in badly installed replacement windows. How do you tell? Here are some of the main things to watch out for:

1. Noises and Squeaks

New windows should not make any noise when they open and close. If you start to notice scratching, scraping, or squeaks when you open and close your window it could indicate poor installation.

2. Gaps and Leaks

New windows should fit snug inside the window opening. And if the fit isn’t perfect, then professional installers will know how to use shims and expanding foam to fill in the gaps. But if a gap is too large, even shims and foam cannot save it. And, you guessed it, if you see any gaps where the window frame meets the wall, then that is not a good sign.

3. Lack of Warmth

Gaps because of installation may not be totally obvious, but a drafty room will be. If a certain room in the house never seems to get warm enough, it could be from a drafty window. A way to test for drafts is running all the exhaust fans in the house and passing an incense stick around the window frame.

4. Signs of Water Damage

Leaks often start small and go unnoticed until it is too late. Things to really watch out for include discoloration, bubbling, or peeling paint. If any of these start to occur around your newly installed windows you want to call the installer back right away, because something is clearly wrong. And you don’t want the leak to get worse.

5. Difficult Window Operation

New windows should open and close with very little effort. If you have to muscle your window open it could mean something has gone wrong with the sizing or placement. The problems will only get worse.

6. Fogging Between the Panes

Some people think fogging between the panes of a window is simply an inconvenience. What they may not realize is that condensation is a sign of seal failure. And a seal failure on new windows should not happen. It could simply be from a faulty product or damage during transport. But still, you will want that window replaced as soon as possible.

7. Sloppy Caulking

Caulk is more than just the finishing touch on replacement windows. It helps with leaks and insulation. If caulking is sloppy it will not serve the right purpose. And if the installer was sloppy or lazy with this part of the job, who knows how many other things might be wrong.

You want to make sure your replacement windows in Carlsbad, CA are installed by a certified professional who gets training directly from the manufacture. For a window company, you can trust, contact Pelican Replacement Windows.