President’s Day Window Special! Buy 1, Get 1 Window or Door, 40% Off! Plus Special Financing.Call Us Today: (860) 341-4210

Renewal by Andersen® of Connecticut

Replacement Windows

You are here: Home / Archives for Alex Esler

Don’t Let Your Windows Freeze This Winter

By

Share

One of the many inconveniences that winter can bring to your home, apart from ice dams and the constant need to shovel snow, is a frozen window. This can make operating it hard, even impossible, which is especially annoying if you want to air your interior on days when the sun is shining.

But there’s no need to endure this. Here are a couple of suggestions on how to prevent and address this issue.
Insulating Your Windows
One of the best ways to beat window freezing in winter is to make sure it doesn’t leak heat. You can do this by investing in a window that’s insulated from the get-go, such as our High-Performance™ Low-E4® windows with Fibrex® material frames.
Otherwise, you can make do with weatherstripping and caulking for the interior and exterior parts of the window, respectively. Weatherstripping goes on the sash and the seams of the window while caulking is applied to gaps, cracks and holes of the window outside.
You can also use a plastic shrink wrap on the interior part of the windows. Plastic is a great insulator, and shrink wrap can be easily applied using double-sided tape and a little hair dryer. That said, this solution may somewhat obscure the view so use it only as a last resort.
Condensation Is the Enemy
Condensation makes your windows more prone to freezing because condensation means the presence of humidity. To reduce condensation, vent areas using fans or open your windows in areas that make the most humidity, such as the bathroom and the kitchen.
Renewal by Andersen® of Connecticut is considered one of the top window replacement experts in the state. Call us today at (860) 904-1931 to learn why. You can also fill out our contact form to request an estimate.

115-worldsgreatestwindow1.jpg

Combining Window Styles: An Introduction

By

Share

There are generally two categories of window styles: operable and fixed. The last is usually called a picture window, so-called because it frames a static, outside view just like a painting or a picture. And, when you’re combining window styles, the cornerstone should incorporate both categories for some semblance of cohesion.

Picture and Casement
A non-operable window can be paired with two casement windows on either side, which offers two benefits. One, you would have a great view as if you had three picture windows side by side, but also get the benefit of ventilation from the two casement windows.
One great way to use this arrangement is with a bay window. The picture window can act as a centerpiece while the two casement windows form the angled parts.
Picture and Double-Hung
How about more ventilation? For this purpose, you use place double-hung replacement windows instead of casement units for your bay window. While double-hung windows may give you slightly less natural light because of the way their sashes operate, you’ll have more ventilation, thanks to their ability to cycle air.
Picture and Sliding
Sliding windows can also take the place of the casement or double-hung windows. This lends an air of modernity to your window setup. In fact, some sliding windows can also be used as an alternative to the picture window for all three scenarios described above if you want to take the modern approach to the next level.
Renewal by Andersen® of Connecticut is the trusted manufacturer, supplier and installer of the highest quality replacement windows. Call us today at (860) 904-1931 to learn more. You can also fill out our contact form to request an estimate.

115-worldsgreatestwindow2.jpg

Patio Focus: How to Make Your Patio “Pop”

By

Share

A patio is already eye-catching in and of itself, and it needs little in the way of beautification to make it even more attractive. Still, making your patio look more appealing is always welcome. Not only will it draw guests and positive comments, but it can also make your resale value that much higher.

Patio Door Replacement
Patios often come with stock patio doors that, while certainly not ugly, are serviceable at best. Some contractors just work with what they have, after all. However, if you really want to make the most of your patio’s visual appeal, it pays to replace your patio door with a better one.
Renewal by Andersen® doesn’t just offer replacement windows – we are also in the business of replacing patio doors with handcrafted ones that are on the cutting-edge of design and materials science. You have the choice of hinged and sliding doors, though we also combine both in our Frenchwood® line. With our characteristic precision and approach to using only the most premium materials, our patio doors are stronger, more beautiful and more energy-efficient than any of our competitors’.
Rugs Can Act as Accent Pieces
Use rugs to highlight areas, break apart the sections of your patio visually or even round out your patio’s color palette. The uses for rugs are endless, apart from their most obvious role. You can even use it as a sitting area!
Central Fire Pits
The human eye is naturally drawn to fire. A controlled one in a firepit is thus a logical choice to draw the eye. Build around a fire pit with hardscapes. and you get an area perfect for nighttime talks and s’mores.
Renewal by Andersen of Connecticut is the top purveyor of quality replacement windows in the area. Call us today at (860) 904-1931, or fill out our contact form for your free windows inspection and diagnosis.

115-worldsgreatestwindow3.jpg

Sliding Patio Doors and Why They Fail: An Investigation

By

Share

Sliding patio doors, while they look exquisite, often fall prey to a lot of mechanical issues. At worst, your sliding patio door may actually get stuck, and you can spend days not being able to operate it until one day it suddenly springs back to its normal working state.

115-worldsgreatestwindow5.jpg

Why does this happen? And more importantly, is there a way to make it so that it never happens at all? Your patio door and windows expert, Renewal by Andersen® of Connecticut, investigates.

Misalignment

This is one of the chief culprits when it comes to sliding patio door problems. This happens either through normal wear and tear, physical damage to the track or the door itself, bad installation, or even loose screws. Contact us if you suspect that your patio door is not aligned; we will fix it in a jiffy.

Rollers

The sliding mechanism on a sliding door is usually thanks to rollers, which allow the door to slide through a track. Some rollers are made of plastic or some corrosion-prone alloy, which combined with the daily operation of a sliding door will wear it down.

Fortunately, our sliding patio doors will never have this problem. Our sliding patio doors (even our sliding windows) are often called “gliding” thanks to our patented dual ball-bearing rollers with self-contained leveling adjusters. Not only are our doors immune to roller corrosion but misalignment, too.

Lubricant Issues

Sliding doors, no matter how advanced, often need regular lubrication—but of the right type and specifications required by the door manufacturer. A depleted lubricant will make the ball bearings work harder, which may damage it and halt operation entirely.

When you need anything windows and patio doors in the area, the name of Renewal by Andersen of Connecticut comes to mind. Call us today at (860) 904-1931 or fill out our contact form to learn more. We serve CT residents.