Let’s face it: Canadian winters are brutal. And as often as we might repeat this, people still tend to neglect the importance of maintaining strong windows. Keeping track of this isn’t really that difficult, as long as you familiarize yourself with the basics of maintenance and make a point of sticking to it on a regular basis. 

While maintaining windows might not be everyone’s idea of a good time, in doing it you will gain the satisfaction of knowing that your home is in good shape. And once it becomes a habit, it won’t feel like work at all but rather simply a part of your regular routine. Let’s take a look at some of the essentials of maintaining windows during winter.

Minimizing condensation

While people often associate condensation with summer, this is the wrong way to look at it. Condensation can be just as big of a problem in winter, if not a bigger one. The reason that condensation tends to build up in winter is because of the extreme differences in temperature that tend to build up between the inside and outside of your home. 

Because of this, water droplets build up and start collecting on your windows. This can eventually lead to damage from mold on your window frames, and damage to the windows themselves. Be sure to do the following:

• Wipe away condensation that you see so that it doesn’t accumulate
• Keep a humidifier in rooms that you heat up to prevent humidity from causing excessive amounts of condensation. Fans can also be helpful.
• Invest in quality windows with good insulative qualities so that you won’t have to spend as much time on them

Condensation can affect windows, walls, and doors, and lead you to need new windows and doors if damage gets too severe. It is best to take preventative measures so that this won’t be necessary.

Weatherstipping can do wonders

It would be worth your while to invest in good quality weatherstripping. What might seem like minute little cracks in summer can become monumental during the winter months. Furthermore, there may well be cracks so tiny that you don’t even notice them until your house suddenly becomes cold and draughty.

This is where weatherstripping comes in. You can use weatherstripping around both windows and doors, and it can make a major difference in their insulative quality. You can go about this process in stages:

1. Take a look at the non-moving parts of your windows. Look around the frame to check for cracks and gaps. If the area is significant enough to fill with weatherstripping, stick some in. If the cracks are very small, you can use a good-quality caulking material, instead.
2. Next, move on to the moving parts of your windows. You might want to use different kinds of weatherstripping for different parts, so it would be a good idea to familiarize yourself with what is out there. The most popular is plastic strips that are self-adhesive. 

Another thing that you can do is put in draught stoppers. These are small items that you can place at the bottom of windows and doors that prevent air from coming in. While you shouldn’t rely on stoppers alone, they can be a good temporary solution before you add weatherstripping.

Regular cleaning and ice removal

Cleaning your windows is something you should make a habit of, just as you make a regular effort to clean your home. Even if you do not have noticeable dirt buildup on them, there is likely subtle accumulation that you should address before it gets worse. And you should definitely remove any ice that starts to build.

To clean ice off your windows, take the following steps:

1. Make a solution of alcohol and water, and spray it onto the ice. This will help melt the ice even if it is very cold outside. Be sure not to use hot water as the difference between it and the temperature of the cold window could cause cracking.
2. Take a hairdryer to your window. As crazy as it might sound, this can actually work really well. Try it on a medium setting.
3. Once you have ice loosened, you can wipe it away with a washcloth. Be sure that it is sufficiently loose before you do this. 

You can also add layers

These are just a few of the things that you can do to maintain your windows during the winter. Of course, there are always additional components that you can buy to make it easier. Storm windows, for example, can make a big difference in providing you with an extra layer against the cold. You might also try window insulation film, which is thin and easy to add.

Whatever you do, the point is not to neglect the state of your windows as small problems can accumulate over time. Take the time to act preventatively, and you will have a warm, dry, and happy home all winter long.