When you’ve lived in Michigan for a few winters, you develop a sense for when your home is working against you. You know that specific feeling when the furnace is humming along, but there’s a persistent chill in the room that just won’t go away. Often, we assume it’s just the nature of the season, but the reality is usually found right at your eye level.<\/p>\n
In an average Michigan home, outdated windows can account for up to 30% of your total heating loss. That’s a significant chunk of your monthly budget literally flying out the window. Identifying the problem early doesn’t just make your living room more comfortable. It protects your HVAC system from the burnout of constant overworking.<\/p>\n
If you’re wondering whether your windows are still doing their job, here are the four most reliable signs that they’ve reached their expiration date.<\/p>\n
The most obvious sign is often the hardest to see. A window doesn’t need a visible crack to be drafty. Over time, the sash and the frame can warp or pull apart by just a fraction of an inch due to Michigan’s extreme temperature swings. This creates micro-gaps that act like a permanent exhaust fan for your heated air.<\/p>\n
A quick way to test this is the paper test. On a windy day, try to slide a single piece of paper through the gap where the window meets the frame. If it slides through easily, or if you can feel the paper flutter, your seal is compromised.<\/p>\n
At D&W, we tackle this with our Innergy\u00ae Rigid Thermal Reinforcements<\/strong>, fiberglass inserts that provide structural strength and act as a thermal break, ensuring that the seal stays tight even when the temperature drops to single digits.<\/p>\n Condensation on the outside of your glass is usually just a sign of humidity and a job well done. However, if you see fog, moisture, or even frost trapped inside the two layers of glass, you have a serious problem.<\/p>\n Modern windows use an insulating gas, usually argon, sealed between the panes to block heat transfer. When that seal fails, the gas escapes and is replaced by moist air. Once this happens, the window loses nearly all of its insulating value. It is no longer a thermal shield. It is simply two pieces of glass with a pocket of cold air in between.<\/p>\n If your view is clouded from the inside, it is a clear signal that your window has retired from its job as an insulator.<\/p>\n Most people do not think of windows as soundproofing, but the same technology that keeps heat in also keeps noise out. If you’ve started to notice that traffic or the neighbor\u2019s snowblower sounds louder than it used to, your windows are likely the culprit.<\/p>\n When argon gas seals fail and frames begin to settle or warp, sound waves travel through the glass and gaps with much less resistance.<\/p>\n Upgrading to a high-performance system like The Michigan Window\u2122<\/strong> does not just lower your energy bills. It restores the quiet to your home. The foam-filled frames and precision seals we use in our Davison plant are specifically designed to provide an acoustic barrier that builder-grade windows simply cannot match.<\/p>\n If your utility bills are creeping up year after year, but you have not changed your thermostat habits or added a new appliance, your windows are the likely suspects. With Michigan homeowners seeing higher energy costs than ever before, efficiency is no longer a luxury. It is a necessity.<\/p>\n Take a look at your windows on a cold day. If the glass feels ice-cold to the touch, your furnace is essentially trying to heat the outdoors. You might even notice a visible cold halo around the frame where the interior wall feels cooler than the rest of the room.<\/p>\n We utilize Smart-Spacer\u2122 technology<\/strong>, which uses a non-metal, warm-edge system to prevent that cold-edge feeling common in older windows. By maintaining a warmer interior glass temperature, your home stays cozy and your furnace can finally take the breaks it deserves.<\/p>\n At D&W Windows and Sunrooms, we have been manufacturing our own windows right here in Michigan since 1955. We are not resellers. We are the only Earthwise manufacturer in the state. That matters because we build for the specific climate we all live in.<\/p>\n We are also proud to be the only window manufacturer in Michigan to earn the Good Housekeeping Seal. Our windows are designed to meet strict Northern Climate Zone Energy Star requirements and may qualify for local utility rebates through Consumers Energy or DTE.<\/p>\n If you have noticed any of these signs, it is time to stop paying for heat you are not keeping. Our team is here to walk you through the process from our factory floor to your front door.<\/p>\n Do not wait for the next cold snap to realize your windows have failed.<\/p>\n (800) 833-9831<\/a> or Click Here for Your Free Estimate<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Disclaimer: Our blog offers general information only; it isn’t an endorsement of specific actions. Please consult professionals and consider your situation before making decisions. D&W Windows is not responsible for any outcomes resulting from the advice provided.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When you’ve lived in Michigan for a few winters, you develop a sense for when your home is working against you. You know that specific feeling when the furnace is humming along, but there’s a persistent chill in the room that just won’t go away. Often, we assume it’s just the nature of the season, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1220","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-replacement-windows"],"yoast_head":"\n2. Condensation Between the Panes<\/h3>\n
3. The Sound of the Neighborhood<\/h3>\n
4. A Rising Heating Bill with No Explanation<\/h3>\n
The \u201cMade in Michigan\u201d Difference<\/h3>\n
Keep the Heat Where It Belongs<\/h3>\n