Looking for a repair?

It’s important to consider that many window repairs involve parts that may be difficult to come by, depending on the window manufacturer. In addition, it’s most common to have window parts break late in the window’s life cycle.

New vinyl windows can often feature at least 30 year lifespan, but older windows didn’t have the durability you’ll find common in windows today. If you’re in need of repair, it may be a good time to look at the cost of replacing the window with a newer efficient window. In fact, it may be a good time to consider several new windows or even replacing all those worn out money sponges throughout your home.

If new replacement windows aren’t a option, searching for your manufacturer’s website will yield your best chance of finding replacement parts. Many can be installed by a handy man or anyone handy with some tools and possibly directions that may come with the part.

There are now some windows manufactured that come with screens that have been dubbed “HD screens” or high definition screens.

The new screens are becoming more and more popular in today’s market place. A HD screen will have almost a completely see through appearance do to the fact that the screen mesh is much thinner. To compensate for a thinner/weaker screen mesh, the weave pattern is tightened.

Another interesting improvement is that the new screens offer greatly improve air flow because of less surface resistance. Since the weave is tighter the new screens are only slightly more likely to tear. With these screens popularity increasing it will be an option or even a standard feature with most windows produced in the near future.

 There are about four major types of window spacers used today. One is the standard aluminum spacer. The second is the intercept spacer. The third is the super spacer and lastly there is the Steele spacer.

 Standard aluminum spacers are very inexpensive to manufacture. They are the highest conducting spacers made today and are commonly used in lower end windows. This spacer has a  high seal failure rate.  The intercept spacer is a three sided spacer the is shaped like a U. Since there is only three sides to the spacer instead of four, like in the first standard spacer, the theory is that heat and cold will transfer slower through the window. One problem this spacer commonly has is that it has a higher failure rate because since it has only three sides it moves slightly easier than the standard four sided spacer. As the window goes through cold and hot weather changes the spacer will have a slight chance of separation from the glass. The seal failure rate is about sixteen percent. The Super Spacer system is commonly sold as a better spacer system, it is made out of a foam and in theory since the is no metal in the spacer, the window will have a much harder time transferring cold and heat. The down side is that the system is attached by a beutel (glue)  to the glass and if the window experiences very warm temperatures than the spacer can pull away from the glass. One large windows that have direct heat the Super Spacer might start to dip down in the middle between the glass. This spacer has about a eight percent failure rate. Lastly the Steele Spacer. The spacer is made from Steele. Steele conducts only 300 British Thermal Units (BTUs) per hour. Aluminum spacers conducts 1416 BTUs per hour. From the start, Steele is far superior to aluminum. The Steele spacers are coming used in most wood windows and high end vinyl lines.  The failure rate is about one percent.