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Broken Windows: Common Causes and How to Prevent Them

In residential and commercial properties alike, broken windows can be highly inconvenient and often hazardous. Luckily, these issues can often be easily resolved, as well as prevented from happening in the first place. In this guide, you can discover everything you need to know about broken windows, including their causes and how to prevent them from happening.


The Problems Posed By Broken Windows


When a window breaks, it can cause more problems than simply looking unappealing. Broken windows are often hazardous and can have significant impacts on a household. Read on to discover just some of the problems that can be encountered as a result of a broken window.


Injuries


One of the most obvious and significant problems a broken window can pose is the risk of injury. Broken glass is typically sharp and painful to touch, and can break the skin and cause bleeding and internal damage.


Compromised Security


A broken window can be an easy target for criminals, as they’re able to gain access more easily to a property. Broken window panes can often be easily knocked through, allowing criminals to climb through the area or use the opening to reach the window’s handle. Compromised security is a significant worry for homeowners, making them feel unsafe sleeping inside or leaving for extended periods.


Damage


Left unchecked, a broken window can often lead to further damage to a property. Windows can protect against harsh weather conditions, so if a window breaks, therefore, it can leave the property exposed to rain and wind damage. These complications can be much more difficult to resolve than a simple broken window, making it imperative to resolve a broken window as soon as possible.


Energy Inefficiency


During the winter months especially, it’s important to make sure your home has a pleasant temperature. Putting energy into heating your home can often be expensive, making efficient use a must. Broken windows, unfortunately, allow heat to easily escape outside while letting the cooler air in. This can make your home an unpleasantly low temperature, which can harm your mood and overall happiness.


Common Causes of Broken Windows


Often, it’s helpful to know what might cause a broken window to prevent it from happening again. Broken windows can result from a variety of factors, ranging from accidental impacts to environmental conditions and deliberate acts. Find some common causes of broken windows below.


Accidental Damage


Accidents happen, and our homes are not immune to unexpected damage. Windows can be accidentally impacted by objects, such as footballs or garden tools, which can cause them to smash. Similarly, if a person or object falls or knocks into a window, they may cause the window to break. While many of these incidents are unintentional, they highlight the importance of being mindful of activities near windows and taking precautions against accidental damage.


Weather


Harsh weather can be dangerous, posing risks to local populations and the environment alike. Windy weather and storms, for example, can often carry branches or stones, which can damage windows if they knock into them. Similarly, hailstorms can lead to large hailstones cracking or shattering window panes, particularly if the glass is already weakened.



Criminal Activity


While most broken windows are the result of an accident, some are broken intentionally. Criminals may break windows as an act of vandalism, aiming to cause damage or distress without necessarily attempting to enter the property. On the other hand, thieves may break a window to gain entry to a property. These deliberate acts often occur in areas with limited surveillance or during times when properties are unoccupied.


Thermal Stress


Thermal stress occurs when there is a rapid shift between hot and cold temperatures, causing the glass in windows to expand and contract unevenly. This stress can lead to large cracks, which compromise the structural integrity of the window and reduce its insulating capabilities. Thermal stress is more likely to occur in windows exposed to direct heat followed by sudden cooling, such as when cold air-conditioning hits a sun-warmed pane.


Mechanical Stress


Slam your window hard enough, and it may just break the pane. Mechanical stress refers to the window’s mechanics being put under a great amount of strain, causing it to weaken over time or fail altogether. Over time, even high-quality windows can develop small cracks or weaknesses due to mechanical stress, making them more susceptible to further damage.


What to Do If a Window Breaks


Broken windows happen, making it more than likely that you will encounter at least one over your lifetime. Thankfully, broken windows aren’t difficult to address. Read on to discover the key steps of dealing with a broken window safely.


Clear the Area


The most important thing to do before addressing a broken window is to make sure the area is safe for you to work within. A broken window will typically litter shards of glass on one side of the window, making it a dangerous area to work in. Before you get started with the window, therefore, you should wear protective clothing while picking up the pieces. For small pieces, you should be able to sweep them up or use your vacuum to catch them.


Assess the Damage


Once the area is clear of hazards, you should be able to investigate the damage to your window. By looking over the area, you’re likely to learn more about what has caused the breakage, helping you to prevent it from happening again. Make sure to inspect each of the panes, as cracks in each area can often go unnoticed.


Secure the Window


After you have had a chance to learn what might have caused the breakage and to make sure no further damage has been caused, you should be able to secure your window. Temporarily protecting your window from the elements can help you prevent further damage from taking place. The material you use to cover the broken window doesn’t need to be fancy, either, as something as simple as a shower curtain or a tarp will do.


Contact a Professional


When it comes to repairing a broken window, it’s best to leave the work to the professional. The experts will be able to replace the damaged window pane or, for severe damage, install a new window entirely. Here at Spectrum Window & Door Maintenance, for example, our team can expertly carry out window repairs and new window installations, making sure your window is safe to use once more.

Preventing Windows from Breaking


Below, you can discover some top tips from our Spectrum Window & Door Maintenance team to help prevent your windows from breaking. From choosing the right materials to implementing preventive measures, our expert advice will help you maintain the integrity of your windows and reduce the likelihood of costly damage.


Protect Against Accidental Damage


One of the best things you can do to protect against accidental damage is to make sure you, your family and your friends maintain a safe distance from your home when playing outdoors. This should prevent stray balls or toys from accidentally hitting them. Similarly, keeping your furniture away from windows will also prevent breakages if you accidentally knock into them.


Prepare for Bad Weather


If you know a storm is on its way, it can often be worth taking steps to secure your windows from damage. Trim nearby trees, for example, as strong winds can often knock these off and potentially into the windows of your home. Additionally, installing impact-resistant glass can be a worthwhile choice, as it is not broken or damaged as easily as alternatives and can therefore withstand being hit during storms.


Improve Home Security


If criminal activity is frequent in your area or you have suffered from a previous break-in, a great way to prevent your window from being broken is to improve your level of home security. Keep your property safe by ensuring it’s kept well-lit at all times and installing security cameras. In extreme cases, you could also install bars over your windows, protecting the window from attacks.


Maintain Window Frames and Glass


Generally, older windows are more likely to break, especially if they have a single glazing. To reduce the chances of your windows breaking, the best thing to do is carry out regular maintenance and hire the services of window specialists. If your windows are outdated, it may be best to have them replaced entirely with a more modern and strong solution that can keep your property truly secure.


Window and Door Maintenance in Scotland


If you’re searching for a trustworthy business to repair and maintain your windows for years to come, look no further than Spectrum Window & Door Maintenance. As trusted window and door specialists, we can help you deal with any problems and prevent them from happening again in future.

 

To learn more about us and our services, please visit the Spectrum Window & Door Maintenance website. Here, you can discover everything you need to know, including the areas we serve. Alternatively, for more information and support, please get in touch with our friendly team directly.



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