Maintenance tips for large windows

Did you know that neglecting your large windows can cost you hundreds of dollars a year in wasted energy? While those big, beautiful windows let in lots of natural light, they also allow heated or cooled air to escape if they aren’t properly maintained. Luckily, giving your large windows a little extra TLC is easier than you might think.

With some simple cleaning and maintenance steps, you can keep drafts at bay and ensure your windows are operating at peak energy efficiency. Not only will this save you money on utility bills, but it will also extend the lifespan of your windows. An investment of time now can pay dividends for years to come.

In this article, we’ll cover all the cleaning tips and maintenance musts for keeping large windows in tiptop shape. From safety precautions to cleaning recipes to detecting issues, you’ll have everything you need to preserve these home assets. Let’s get started!

Maintaining windows is important – here is why

Maintaining large windows isn’t just about keeping them sparkling clean – it’s crucial for extending their lifespan and preventing expensive repairs down the road. These oversized glass panes are a significant investment, so giving them some regular care is well worth the effort.

Large windows face unique maintenance challenges compared to their smaller counterparts. With more surface area, they’re more susceptible to dirt, dust, and grime build-up that can gradually wear down seals and gaskets. Their sheer size and weight also put added strain on operating mechanisms like cranks, hinges, and balancing systems.

If these components fail due to lack of maintenance, the cost of repairing or replacing a large window can easily run into the thousands. Fixing issues like broken seals, fogged glass, or damaged frames gets exponentially more expensive as the window’s dimensions increase.

On the other hand, keeping up with simple cleaning and lubrication can prevent these problems before they start. Getting ahead of weathering, dirt build-up, and material deterioration helps large windows operate smoothly for decades. A small investment of time and elbow grease ensures you get the maximum return on your window investment.

So while it’s tempting to think “out of sight, out of mind” with hard-to-reach large windows, ignoring maintenance is a pricey gamble. With the proper cleaning tips and schedule, keeping these large windows in perfect shape is completely manageable for most homeowners.

Elements requiring maintenance

The expansive glass of large windows is their crown jewel, bringing in bright, beautiful natural light. However, these majestic panes require vigilant upkeep to maintain their clarity and functionality.

Glass Surfaces

Routine cleaning of the interior and exterior surfaces is essential to keep the glass sparkling and unblemished. Regular cleaning prevents the build-up of grime, water streaks, dust, and debris, ensuring your windows continue to brighten your space.

Window Frames and Tracks

Inspect the window frames and tracks regularly, removing any caked-on gunk or debris that could impede smooth operation. Keeping these areas clean ensures effortless gliding of the hefty window sashes, reducing strain on the infrastructure.

Weatherstripping

Weatherstripping is vital for creating an airtight seal against drafts and energy loss. On large windows, even minor leaks can lead to significant efficiency issues. Regularly check for cracks or brittleness and replace any damaged strips immediately.

Hardware

The hardware—cranks, hinges, and locks—also requires attention. With the force needed to operate large windows, these components can start to stick and bind. Routinely lubricate them with a non-solvent cleaner to keep mechanisms moving smoothly.

Maintaining large windows takes effort, but it preserves their breathtaking beauty and functionality for decades. With regular cleaning and attentive maintenance, you’ll ensure these grand glass fixtures always make a striking statement.

The consequences of neglect

Without regular cleaning, the seals and gaskets around large window panes deteriorate rapidly from exposure to the elements. The lack of maintenance also causes operating components like cranks, rails, and balancing mechanisms to wear down prematurely. This allows drafts, moisture infiltration, and makes it harder to open and close the windows over time. Eventually, it leads to failures that require costly repairs or entire window replacements years earlier than expected – expenses that multiply dramatically with larger, more complex window units.

Energy bill increases

One of the primary roles of weatherstripping is to create an airtight seal that prevents drafts and air leaks around window frames. As this weatherstripping cracks, dries out, and fails due to neglect, it allows heated/cooled air to escape and outside air to infiltrate. Air leaks are exponentially worse on large glass expanses. The heating and cooling systems have to work overtime trying to compensate, causing energy bills to skyrocket from the losses through the unmaintained windows.

Jammed, inoperable windows

The combination of heavy, oversized window sashes and lack of lubrication is a recipe for disaster when operating mechanisms get stuck. Built-up grime, debris, and total lack of maintenance causes the cranks, sashes, and tracks to start binding and freezing-up over time. What starts as windows that are harder to open and close, progresses to totally jammed, inoperable windows if ignored long enough. This renders the windows effectively unusable until repaired or replaced.

Structural damage risks

When weatherstripping and seals fail completely on large window installations, it creates potential pathways for significant moisture intrusion during rain or storms. This water penetration can rot-out window frames and also cause damage to the surrounding walls and structures, especially with large windows. Left unchecked, the moisture-exposed framing becomes compromised, and repairs extend far beyond just replacing the window components. Avoiding this risk requires routine seal and frame inspections.

The case for professional maintenance

While basic cleaning is certainly a DIY-friendly task for most homeowners, there’s a strong argument for enlisting professional help for more involved large window maintenance.

These oversized glass expanses require intricate knowledge of the specific window system and components to properly inspect, service and make any repairs. With their increased complexity compared to standard window units, large windows from manufacturers like OKNOPLAST have unique framing, hardware, and balancing mechanisms that all need to be maintained correctly.

Trying to work on these systems without an in-depth understanding of how they operate can easily lead to damaging components or improperly addressing issues. This negates the maintenance benefits and can shorten the lifespan of what was an expensive, high-performance window installation.

Hiring experienced professionals who know the intricacies of large window systems, ensures your investment is properly cared for. They have the specialized tools and expertise to thoroughly clean, lubricate and make any minor adjustments or repairs as the manufacturer recommends. This preserves the entire window’s smooth operation, energy efficiency and integrity.

While professional maintenance requires more upfront costs than DIY, it pays off by extending the maximum lifespan of your large window investment. With such a significant expenditure, it’s worth bringing in the experts to ensure you get the most value and performance out of these windows for decades.