There are many homes in the Jacksonville, FL area that are built with what is known as older windows. These older windows share a lot of the same attributes. Many of them have poorly designed frames that have broken down over time. The majority are going to have glass that is far inferior to what is available today and many of them could also be damaged in some way. Older windows are quite risky when you live in a moisture-filled environment such as the state of Florida. This is due to a variety of factors that are not exclusive to the issues just listed pertaining to old windows.
So why exactly is it that it is so risky to have older windows when you live in a moisture-filled environment? There are a lot of different factors at play here. These include, but are not limited to, your exposure to the outside elements. The temperature regulation of your home has to also come into play, as does the risk that exists for mold growth when you have moisture creeping into the inside of your home. Let’s take a closer look at all of these factors to see how older windows pose a major risk when you live in a moisture-filled climate such as that of Jacksonville, FL.
Exposing Your Home to the Outside Elements
There is a lot of risk to your home when you allow the outside elements to make their way in. Think about when it is raining outside and the wind is blowing. If you had the windows of your home wide open chances are you just ran around the house trying to close them. Then you realize that water is still making its way into your home somehow. This could be due to a variety of reasons stemming from your older windows. It could be that the frames of the windows are cracked in a variety of places and the water is just seeping right through. It could also be that the windows and the glass from them are not sealed against the frames. Of course, cracked windows can also let water right in.
You want to protect your home from the moisture that is outside. If you have windows near electronic equipment, rugs, couches, like we all do, water getting into the home can do a lot of damage to these assets. The same can be said if water is able to make it through and onto hardwood floors in the home. That water can saturate into the wood and cause a lot of harm. New energy efficient replacement windows are better insulated to keep the moisture outside where it belongs.
Issues and Exposure to Mold
There is a lot more harm that can be done via moisture in your home than just doing damage to electronics, carpets, and couches. The biggest risk of all when you have water that is allowed to seep into your home an djust sit there is mold growth. Mold really thrives in moisture-rich environments that have a lot of humidity. This is exactly what you have when you live somewhere like Jacksonville, FL, especially in the humid months of July and August. Older windows that allow that moisture to get through are going to let water in and seep right into the wood frames of them. This water that gets into the wood could then trickle into your walls, onto the ceiling, among other areas. Once the water is allowed to get into these places it can begin to grow bacteria that can eventually turn into mold.
The best way to prevent mold is to simply keep the water out of your home. Once it makes its way in then it can begin to build up and do some real damage. Getting rid of mold is a lot harder than preventing it in the first place. When you have new energy efficient windows their double-pane design and vinyl frame will prevent water from ever getting in and posing the risk of mold growth from that area.
Living with older windows may not seem like a big deal to you, but it does expose your home to a variety of risks. This include risks related to mold growth from moisture that is able to make its way in. It also includes risk related to the damage that moisture can cause should it get into your home and onto your assets such as hardwood floors, couches, and electronics. This is all on top of the fact that a home with older windows is going to be far less energy efficient. When trying to work new energy efficient replacement windows into the budget of your Jacksonville, FL home, the risks of older windows may help justify the cost.