How Your Old Windows Are Compromising Your Safety

Although you may not think about them in this sense often, the truth is that your windows play an important role in keeping you and your family safe. Of course, they keep you safe from natural weather events like rain and snowstorms. They are especially useful during extreme weather events such as hurricanes and tornadoes! Plus, they keep dangerous animals that might otherwise make their way inside your home on the outside. However, older windows have a reduced ability to keep you protected. Not only that, but there are several, much less obvious ways in which your old windows are compromising your safety.

Consider the Possibility of Intruders

It only makes sense that windows that have accumulated a lot of wear and tear would be easier for things like dust and water to penetrate than newer replacement windows. This can negatively impact your home by causing issues like water damage to the inside of it. Small cracks they may have can be used by insects and anthropods, like spiders, to make their way into your home. This could cost you a lot of money down the line if you find yourself having to hire an exterminator to get rid of them.

Most importantly, older windows provide an easier entry point for possible intruders that may want to enter your home for various reasons. This includes larger animals that may be interested in your food supply. However, the most terrifying truth is that it includes other people who may want to get access to your home for nefarious reasons such as stealing from you or harming your family. If your window frames are still in good condition, it is possible that you may only need to retrofit windows in your home in order to increase its security.

Consider the Possibility of a Fire

It is never fun to consider the prospect of a life-threatening, emergency situation like a fire. However, considering such scenarios is how people can best prepare for them ahead of time. Of course, there will be several things that will be out of your control during such situations, but you can still try to prepare for them as best you can. Typically, most people are aware that this involves planning escape routes depending on the possible location of the fire and having a fire extinguisher at the ready in case it is small enough to try and subdue. However, what you might not realize is just what an important role newer, well-functioning windows can play in such a situation. This is because you may need to use one to escape from your burning home. If that is the case, you want to be able to open it easily and quickly and not waste time struggling to open an older one.

The safety of you and your family would improve with the addition of newer windows to your home. They would make it more difficult for intruders to enter your home yet easier for you to exit it during an emergency.