It’s a homeowner’s nightmare. You wake up, grab a cup of coffee and look out the window — and then you see the crack in your window’s glass. Now you need to look for a quick, temporary fix for it before getting on with your day. Curious what led to this unfortunate turn of events? Let’s discuss the most common reasons windows can crack and what you can do to deal with them.
If the weather has been fluctuating between warm and cold, thermal stress cracks can form in your windows from the expanding and contracting of the glass. Stress cracks start small, usually on or near the edge of the window, and grow larger with exposure. Even if they’re fixed, over time, they can spread across the entire glass pane. We’d recommend a replacement window pane as soon as possible for this reason.
Thermal stress cracks can also occur if you use your heater or air conditioning to sharply counter outdoor temperatures. Pay attention to your windows in these conditions!
Whether it’s due to a rock or a baseball game gone wrong, projectiles can cause cracks and fractures in your windows. These cracks are tricky, since there’s usually some cleanup involved. Unlike stress cracks, windows can even break under the impact of whatever hits them. With this comes broken glass and no possibility of repair.
It’s best to leave cleanup to the professionals if there’s a significant amount of broken glass. You can, however, carefully sweep up large shards if you’re wearing proper footwear. Then, close the area off until professionals arrive if you have pets or children, to ensure they stay safe. You can also cover the affected window area with a trash bag to keep the outdoors at bay until a window specialist arrives.
This type of crack is most often found in insulated or double-paned windows. It doesn’t have as easily identifiable a reason for causing window breakage as the other types. Pressure cracks can occur due to weather pressure changes or window installations at very high or low elevations. If the window’s insulation does not match up to the elevation levels outside, a crack will quickly form.
Besides being less visible than impact-related cracks, you can’t fix most pressure cracks. You’ll want to go ahead and get in touch for a window replacement as soon as possible to minimize potential damage.
Even when cracks can get fixed or filled in, this may not offer the long-term results you need. If your windows are suffering from stress cracks, it’s time to consider high-quality replacement windows from Window World of Muscle Shoals. Made with durable double-paned glass and custom-built to fit your home’s specifications, they also come with quality service. Plus, Window World’s lifetime warranty ensures you’ll have help in the unlikely event they become damaged and need replacement. Contact us today for a free estimate on windows built to last!