Old windows rarely fail all at once. Here are six signs Chicago homeowners tell us about most, and what each one usually means.
A window that will not open, will not stay open, or has cracked or broken glass is a safety problem before it is a comfort problem. Bedrooms in particular need a window that opens easily in an emergency. If a window is painted shut, sagging, or holding broken glass, treat it as urgent.
If one room is always colder in January or warmer in July, the windows are a likely culprit. Hold your hand near the edges of the sash on a windy day. Air you can feel moving usually means the seals, the sash fit, or the surrounding frame has given up.
Sticking, grinding, or a sash that drops when you let go points to worn balances, swollen wood, or a frame that is no longer square. Small hardware issues can sometimes be repaired. Frames that have shifted usually cannot be brought back.
Moisture on the inside surface is often just humidity. Moisture trapped between two panes means the sealed glass unit has failed. That window is no longer performing the way it was built to, and the fog will not clear up on its own.
Stained drywall, peeling paint, soft wood, or a musty smell near a window means water is getting past it. This is worth acting on quickly, because the damage spreads into the framing and finishes around the opening.
Rotted sills, chalky vinyl, mismatched replacements from past owners, and paint that will not hold are legitimate reasons to replace. There is nothing wrong with replacing windows because the house should look better than it does.
You do not have to do the whole house at once. We will walk the home with you, look at each opening, and tell you which windows are worth replacing now and which ones can wait.
Tell us what you are seeing and we will tell you straight whether it needs replacing.
No forms, no waiting on email.