How to Tell When Your Home’s Windows Were Made
Knowing when your home’s windows were made is very important, but unless you were the homeowner at the time they were installed, or were given that information when you bought your home how can you know for certain? Even then, can you trust that the information that was passed onto you is completely accurate?
Even if you don’t have a reason to believe that you were misinformed, there is no substitute for checking first hand and seeing for yourself – especially since it is so easy to tell when your home’s windows were made.
How to date your windows:
1) Open your window.
2) Inspect the inside of the frame. You should be regularly cleaning your windows but if not you may have to apply some elbow grease to clear away any dust.
3) The date should be etched into the inner metal frame of the window.
4) In addition to the date of manufacturing there should also be some additional information like the name of the manufacturer.
Unfortunately, it’s not always so easy to date your windows. All window manufacturers do things somewhat differently, and even then the same manufacturer may vary their dating process slightly between different models.
What to do when you can’t find a date on your window
If you can’t find the date on the inside of the window frame then you’re going to have to do a bit of detective work. If you manage to find the manufacturer’s name on the window then there is a good chance that if you keep searching you will eventually find the date as well. If not, then your next best bet is to visit the manufacturer’s website, find your window model, and look up the information online.
This still may not give you the date. The next step will be to call the window manufacturer with as much information about your window as possible. Once you’ve been able to find your window model, keep track of everything you know.
Know your window’s story
For example, if you’ve been living in the house for five years then you know the windows are older than that. If the windows weren’t brand new when you moved in, then it may be safe to guess they were at least seven years old. Call the manufacturer with all this information and a description of your window and they will usually do their best to help you.
If you choose to email the manufacturer, then consider attaching photos of your window. If they can’t provide you with the exact date then they should be able to tell you where to find it on the window.
Were contractors hired to install the windows? If so, then call the contractor and ask them for any information that they have. They should be able to provide you with a date, or at the very least with some manufacturer and warranty information.
The importance of knowing when your windows were made
Knowing when your windows were made will help you answer the following questions:
- Are they still under warranty? Most windows are under warranty for 10-30 years depending on the manufacturer, model, and materials. If you experience any damage or other issues then it is important to have the warranty information readily available in order to resolve the problem as quickly as possible.
- Do they need replaced? You shouldn’t wait until your windows are in obvious need of repair.
- Can I afford to replace them? Knowing how old your windows are means that you can plan ahead for major repairs or replacements instead of being stuck short on cash with a potentially pricey project on your hands.
When you uncover the date of your windows or have new windows installed be sure to ask for as much information as possible, and keep track of any paperwork relating to the windows. If you sell your home, then remember to pass this information on to the new buyers – they’ll appreciate it!
