Most of us live in a relatively typical climate. We may experience seasons such as winter and summer, but they don't often go to extremes. Others live in areas that experience extreme heat, cold, or humidity, presenting seasons rougher on our homes' outdoor elements. Where you live can impact your screens in several different ways. Today, we'd like to look at how extreme weather in some regions of the world can affect your window screens, what damage to look for, and possible solutions.
Extreme Dryness and Heat
There are two hottest, driest places within the United States. One of them is Death Valley lying mostly in Inyo Country, California. The other is Winslow, Arizona. Both areas are near legendary for their extreme heat temperatures, with both holding records from different years. These are examples, but most of the hottest and driest places are in the Southwest.
What does that mean for your window screens? What sort of impact do continuous heat and sun do on them?
Sunlight
Have you ever noticed your favorite outdoor screens fading after being left in the sun? Extreme sunlight and heat can create issues with your home's window screens if not caught and treated quickly. UV rays, the same responsible for sunburns and skin cancer risk, damage many materials when exposed to them for prolonged periods. Your window screens will begin to break down in direct sunlight, eroding the structural integrity of your screens and making them weak, easier to damage, and prone to tearing.
Extreme heat can also severely impact your screens and screen frames. There's a possibility that it can warp both, letting in annoying and pesky insects and other debris due to ill-fitting screens.
What can you do if you're experiencing warping, weakened, or fading screens?
- Consider an exterior roll-up solar screen if it's not out of your budget. Exterior solar shades are UV-resistant, tough, rugged Textilene, meant to withstand harsh sunlight and protect your window screens.
- Planting trees that will grow to provide shade near your most exposed window screens will also protect them.
- Installing an awning can help as well.
Extreme Cold or Humidity
To the North, some of the coldest and worst winter storms in the United States frequently occur. Like extreme heat and sun, the frigid temperatures and strong winds of a bad snowstorm can negatively impact the life span of your window screens.
In the Southeast, the U.S. typically experiences high humidity.
In the case of high humidity, wooden window frames tend to be affected the most. With moisture comes condensation, which turns into water that can soak into your window frames. Warping and cracking are common side effects of excess moisture, which can lead to the warping of your window screens.
Condensation happens when the warm, wet air outside hits the cold surface of the glass of your windows. If you are seeing condensation outside your windows, the good news is that it strongly indicates that your home's windows and window screens are in good health and the insulation is doing its job correctly.
Condensation inside your windows indicates that the humidity inside your home is too high. This could signify that your windows or screens are damaged, allowing the humidity to build inside your home. Constant moisture on your windows can cause water damage, not just to the window but to the flooring, carpets, and even the walls of your house. Suppose you are experiencing high humidity within your home and condensation on your windows. In that case, your solution should be to consider a new and more efficient set of windows, check the weatherstripping, and ensure that your windows are adequately sealed.
Areas that experience extreme cold and you have wooden window frames are particularly vulnerable to weather changes. Wood window frames can shrink and warp, leading to the same happening to your screens. Should your window screens or frames begin twisting, that can allow ice to build up along your window spaces. These ice formations could cause the seals in your window, keeping out the worst of the cold and weather, to crack and break.
If you've begun to notice cold air leaks, ice build-ups that make opening your window impossible in winter, or warping, what can you do to winterize your window screens?
- The easiest way to ensure your window screens make it through the winter is to remove them entirely. If you live in an area where winter is ferocious, this is the best action to protect them.
- Inspect your windows after removing the screening to ensure they are expertly sealed to prevent drafts. Ensure your weatherstripping is intact.
Where you live can impact the lifespan of your window screens, especially in areas of extreme weather. Quality Window Screens will always have your back when it comes to an understanding how to protect your windows, their screens, and, ultimately, your home. Get everything you need to ensure your screens make it through the worst, no matter the season.
