Fall Exterior Home Maintenance for Minneapolis Home Owners: Check Your Doors and Windows for Leaks

If you own a home here in the Minneapolis area, you’re likely getting started on exterior maintenance to get your house ready for winter. Something many people overlook is checking their doors and windows to make sure there are no drafts around the frames as well as other issues.  Now is the time to address it – not when it’s -20º and your rooms are uncomfortable and your heating bills are skyrocketing.

An easy way to check windows and doors is to pass a lit candle around the inside frame.  If the flame flickers, you’ve likely got an air leak.  There are a couple of other things you can do with exterior doors:

• Tuck a piece of paper in between the door and the frame.  Close the door and lock it (some doors don’t seal well unless the lock is engaged; same with windows).  Then try to pull the paper out.  If it slides out easily, your door isn’t sealing well.
• Another thing you can do to check is if your door is in an area that’s dark when the light is turned out, check it during the day.  Look around the frame – can you see any slivers of light outside?  If so, your door needs help.  If light gets in, so can air and moisture. Now, most gaps won’t be this obvious, but even the thinnest bit of light indicates there’s a sealing issue.

If you’re still not sure whether your doors and windows are ready to keep out winter’s chills, give us a call today or email us and we’ll schedule an appointment for one of our energy-efficient window experts to come out.  There’s no cost and there’s no obligation.  We can evaluate your current doors and windows and then make suggestions if we find there’s an issue.

Window Outfitters, Inc. is a licensed Minnesota home improvement contractor.  We specialize in the installation of energy-efficient exterior doors and replacement windows.  We’re based in Savage but we serve the greater Minneapolis and St. Paul metro area, including communities such as Apple Valley, Eden Prairie, Stillwater, and Anoka. 

 

Window Outfitters is a premier Window Replacement, doors, siding contractor and installer. As Contractor in the St Paul, Minneapolis, (Twin Cities) Minnesota (MN) metro, we proudly serve, but are not limited to, the following areas: Minneapolis Energy Efficient Vinyl Windows, Replacement Window Contractors Minnesota, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Savage, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eagan, St Paul, Hastings, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Farmington MN, Chaska, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Victoria, Mendota Heights Anderson Windows Minneapolis, Marvin Windows Minneapolis.