If you’re like us, one of the things you tell yourself to get through those late winter months when you’re practically crazy from lack of sunlight is that the rain is worth it. Worth the lush scenery and the awesome spring and summer seasons that the northwest does better than anywhere else in the country. But those aren’t the only things the rain helps. Unfortunately, the abundant moisture in the northwest sets a perfect stage for the quick growth of mold, and one of the areas in your home most vulnerable to this growth is its windows.
Since mold has long been a problem for homeowners in the northwest, there’s no shortage of literature on how to treat it once it’s entered your home. If you’re having problems with mold, you might have accepted the frantic wiping of window condensation and the concocting of ineffective bleach cocktails as an inevitability. Lost in the chaos is this crucial fact: Your windows are the problem. For many homeowners in the Vancouver and Portland areas, window replacement is the first and most important step in preventing mold.
What’s Wrong with My Windows?
In many cases, windows are simply old. Natural wear and tear takes its toll over the years, compromising the seal of the glass or the general integrity of the installation area. Windows with old aluminum or wood frames are highly prone to condensation, which is an ideal condition for mold growth. It’s also not uncommon to find homes in the northwest that are still outfitted with single pane windows that have been out of code for more than a decade—even if these windows were installed correctly by a window contractor originally, they’re incapable of keeping moisture from entering your home.
Health Risks
Although symptoms vary from person to person, the CDC claims that exposure to mold can cause nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing or wheezing, eye and skin irritation, and can worsen asthma and COPD-related symptoms. In the executive summary of a report on mold published in 2009 by the World Health Organization, researchers claim that “sufficient epidemiological evidence” has been compiled, in different countries and under different climatic conditions, to verify all of the above symptoms and more.
What Can I Do?
If you’ve noticed mold on or around your windows, or if you suspect they’re letting moisture into your home, contact a window replacement expert at Straight Line Exteriors for a free estimate. Our window contractor service offers vinyl, frame, composite, and fiberglass frame windows; and our vinyl windows have an unheard-of lifetime labor and part warranty. For more specific information on our materials and installation procedures, give us a call to talk 360-718-8694.