Wash Windows Without Streaks

Posted on by Tim Carter

Wash Windows Without Streaks TIPS

You may think it's too cold to wash windows, but it's probably not. Professionals wash windows in the winter unless it's bitter cold outdoors. There's no reason why you can't be outside if you just dress for the weather.

You may not need to go outdoors if you have some modern windows that tilt inside for easy cleaning or are hinged so you can reach the outside glass with little effort.

While we're at it, it's time to dispel some of the many myths out there about how to get sparkling clean glass. You may swear on a stack of bibles that vinegar and water is the way to go. Or maybe you love using that blue liquid in a spray bottle. Or are you one who would bet their life on using newspapers to clean glass? If you use newspapers, you're leaving all sorts of ink behind on the glass.

Guess what? I reached out to the top management of huge companies that clean hundreds of thousands of square feet of glass in giant office buildings to see how the professionals do it. You're not going to believe how simple it is to get glass clean like the pros and you have just about everything you need in your kitchen right now!

Fast & Free BIDS

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local window cleaning contractors.

Degree of Difficulty: wash windows without streaks

Step One: You're going to need a bucket, some clean dry rags, a bottle of liquid dish soap, a sponge and a great squeegee. If you want to work fast like a pro, then you'll maybe want to invest in a lambs-wool cleaning tool that's shaped like a squeegee.

Step Two: Let's step back and understand the window cleaning process before you get to work. If you were to take a spray bottle of water and go out and spray it on your dirty car and then rub your car with some paper towels or a clean rag do you think it would be really clean? The answer is no. For the most part, you're just spreading the dirt around. Some dirt will come off the car on the paper towels or rags, but not all of it.

To get glass clean, you need to saturate the glass with a film of water that has a small amount of soap in it and swab the glass with a micro-fiber cleaning tool to remove the dirt. Most professionals use the lambs-wool cleaning pad tool for this part of the job.

microfiber window washing tool

The microfiber tool on the right is what you should use to clean your windows. CLICK or TAP HERE or the photo to order one and have it at your home in days.

Step Three: Fill your bucket with two gallons of water. Add ten drops of liquid dish soap to this water. The soap acts as a lubricant on the glass and helps to cut down on the surface tension of the water.

Step Four: Dip your sponge or lambs-wool tool into the cleaning water and get it wet. Squeeze some of the water from whatever you're using, but not all of it. You want enough water to be present that the glass surface will get wet and the dirt on the glass will easily transfer to your sponge or lambs-wool tool as it glides across the surface. This is the step where the glass gets clean.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local window cleaning contractors.

Step Five: Flip the sponge if necessary to the other side if the glass is exceptionally dirty. Your goal is to transfer all of the dirt from the glass to the sponge or lambs-wool tool in a matter of seconds by floating it across the glass. Professionals can swab a standard-sized house window in seconds and achieve this result.

Step Six: It's now time to use the squeegee. The purpose of the squeegee is to just remove the excess water beads that are on the glass. The squeegee is NOT cleaning the glass. You've already done this in steps four and five.

Step Seven: It's best to go sideways when using the squeegee starting at the top of the window. You may make clumsy strokes at first, so be patient. Hold the squeegee at a slight angle much like a snowplow so the excess water is pushed down the window and doesn't go beyond the tip of the squeegee that's pointing to the sky.

Step Eight: After you have squeegeed the entire pane of glass, you may have some water droplets where the glass meets the edge of the window frame. Use your dry rags to wipe this off never allowing the rag to drift back onto the main part of the glass.

Summary: The next time you see a professional window cleaner stop and watch how he works. You'll be amazed at the process and how fluid he is with his hand and arm motions. It will take you a while to get as good as they are, but that's okay, you're working on your dime.

Window Washing Videos

Watch these two videos to see how pros get glass perfectly clean. It's SUPER EASY.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local window cleaning contractors.

Column HT032

Hurricane Window Film

Posted on by Tim Carter
Hurricane Window Film

The glass was shattered an instant before this photo was taken. But the crystal-clear security window film is holding it in place. The film prevents any wind and water from entering a home. PHOTO CREDIT: Tim Carter

Hurricane Window Film

DEAR TIM: My parents own a home in Florida. As you know, that seems to be ground zero for hurricanes. What is the best and most cost-effective way for them to protect their home from hurricane damage?

They told me about hurricane window film, but I have never heard of it. What is it and is it a good product?

I also get bad storms where I live, so I often wonder if I should consider some of this window film for my own home. Is this a do-it-yourself product? Jennifer T., Joplin, MO

DEAR JENNIFER: Hurricanes are really front and center in the news lately, since our southern states have been pummeled by many serious storms in the very recent past.

Big Storms = Huge Damage

The damage to both lives and property is almost beyond comprehension. The fierce winds of a hurricane can pick up large objects with ease, and throw them like you or I might toss a tennis ball. But the difference is, the objects carried about in devastating hurricane winds are often traveling at 120 to 175 miles per hour (mph).

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local contractors who can install hurricane window film to protect you and your home.

Flying Missiles

When small objects, like pieces of wood, rocks or sea shells, get transported toward glass widows or large patio doors, they can break them with relative ease. Imagine what happens when a mailbox or patio table is hurtling toward a window or door at 175 mph.

Not only will regular glass and even tempered glass shatter, but anyone behind the glass could also be seriously injured or possibly killed.

Lashing Rain Enters Hole

But that is not all that can happen. The torrential rains that are part of hurricanes can then be driven indoors once the windows and patio doors have been breached. The inside of a home can be seriously damaged as furnishings, fixtures and building materials get saturated by water.

Blow Roofs Off

The winds from the storm can also wreak havoc with homes once they are allowed inside. In the event windows are broken and the glass has fallen from the frame, the howling winds can pressurize the inside of the house, and in some cases, blow the roof off a home. If this happens, the walls of the house lose a critical means of support and they can blow down with ease.

Clear Film Protection

The fantastic hurricane window films can prevent all of this from happening. These passive protection products are crystal-clear sheets of high-strength plastic that adhere to the inside of window and patio-door glass.

If an object strikes the glass, the glass will, in all likelihood, break. But the destruction stops at that point. The durable window film keeps the glass in place and does not allow the glass to pop out of the frame.

The horizontal sheets of rain stay outdoors, and the winds are not allowed to blast the inside of the home.

Filter & Block UV and IR Light

Some hurricane window films also offer other cost-savings benefits. They can block massive amounts of ultraviolet light that send rugs, fabric upholstery and drapes to any early grave. The best hurricane window films also block tremendous amounts of direct solar radiation that tries to stream into windows on sunny days.

The light enters the house, but the heat stays outdoors. This lowers air-conditioning bills.

Films Are Less Than Shutters

When your parents start to do comparative shopping for window protection, they are going to be pleasantly surprised when it comes to cost. The hurricane window films are not nearly as costly as many of the hurricane shutters and other exterior products that cover over the windows to keep objects from breaking the glass.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local contractors who can install hurricane window film to protect you and your home.

Many of these other protective products are thought, by some homeowners, to be unattractive. Some require work to secure them in place before the storm hits. Once a hurricane window film has been applied, the homeowner never has to do anything more to protect the windows before a hurricane arrives.

Film Is Not DIY

These films would be a smart choice for your own home, if you live in an area where you are worried about flying objects striking glass. But they are by no means a do-it-yourself project.

To achieve professional results, the hurricane window films must be installed by highly trained individuals. Anyone who tells you that the films are just peel-and-stick, is not telling you the entire story. Once you have been trained you might be able to get fantastic results, but I would suggest you simply have a professional installer take care of the job for you.

Special Wet-Anchor Caulk

A critical component of the hurricane window film is the wet-glaze anchoring system. These are highly-specialized caulks that bond the clear window film to the interior window sash frame. If this anchoring system is not used, the shattered glass can pop out of the frame along with the window film. If this happens, the rain and wind are allowed to damage the home.

The specialized caulks come in several different colors to match the interior look of just about any window, and any type of painted or stained wood trim one might find in a home. When installed by a professional, the anchoring systems look like a wide bead of caulk.

Do not call a hurricane window film company a week before a storm is expected to strike. Some of the window films and the wet-glaze anchoring caulks need a curing time of 30-90 days before they can offer full protection. Not only that, many of the installers have a significant backlog of work since the window films are so affordable.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local contractors who can install hurricane window film to protect you and your home.

Column EM0031 - 624

Window Replacement

Posted on by Tim Carter
Window Replacement

Window replacement starts with taking out the old windows. PHOTO CREDIT: Kathy Carter

Window Replacement Project

DEAR TIM: I'm about to start a window-replacement project. My husband wants replacement vinyl windows because of the easy maintenance, but I'm not a big fan of those.

There seem to be many home-replacement windows, which is making it hard for me to decide which to install. What do you feel are the best replacement windows?

What should I know about how to replace windows? Laura B., Orlando, FL

DEAR LAURA: Window replacement is a huge industry.

Windows Steal Energy & Time

Not only do windows tend to be one of the largest energy thieves in the average home, but they also can be a time sink with respect to care and cleaning. New technology is available that can make you spend more time enjoying life than painting windows or caring for them.

It's easy to see why replacement vinyl windows are so popular. They never require painting, and with minimal care, they look like new for many years.

Many houses have white windows and trim, so a standard white-vinyl window replacement project can be completed with minimal work required to make the windows match the existing house. Installation costs can be kept to a minimum.

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local replacement window companies and contractors. Ask them about AAMA Gold Label windows.

Visit Local Lumberyard

Visit a local home show where businesses display their goods and services and you'll discover there are indeed many home-replacement windows. It's possible to get them in aluminum, wood, fiberglass and vinyl. What's more, you can get hybrid window replacements where different materials are used for the interior and exterior of your home. For example, you may want the warmth of wood for the inside of your home, but your husband desires vinyl outdoors. You can get those replacement windows with little effort.

AAMA Gold Label Are BEST

Regarding the best replacement windows, that question will most certainly cause lots of debate among replacement-window manufacturers. Years of my own research lead me to believe that windows that have been independently tested and certified are the best.

One of the top organizations that does this is the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA). They have a certification process where they test windows for air and water infiltration, structural integrity and how well windows resist forced entry by bad people.

A window-replacement manufacturer can have their windows tested to see if they meet these rigorous AAMA standards. If they do, they get to apply a special gold AAMA label to each window. This label tells you that the window is a top performer.

NFRC Next Step Down

You can also get windows that carry a different certification from the National Fennestration Rating Council (NFRC). This label tells you all about the energy characteristics of the window. The NFRC also tests for resistance to interior condensation.

The closer that number is to 100, the better job the window does at preventing condensation. In my personal opinion, the best replacement window you can get will have both labels on it.

Flashings & Water

When you or a pro gets ready to install replacement windows, there are certain things you should do. Water is one of the primary arch enemies of homes. Water leaks are common when installing replacement windows.

Pay attention to voids at the base of the window frame when the old window is removed. It may be a smart idea to fill any voids with caulk before the new window is installed. If the window frame happens to be wood, it's a great idea to paint any unsealed wood that was hidden by the old window.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local replacement window companies and contractors. Ask them about AAMA Gold Label windows.

Expanding Foam Insulation

Air leaks that happen as part of a window-replacement job are very common. Both homeowners and rookie installers think that just caulking the exterior will stop air infiltration. This is not always true. Air can be moving through the wall cavity behind siding, brick and stucco in many instances.

This air can be stopped from coming indoors by installing an expanding foam sealant around the window after it's been installed. Be sure to use a foam that's rated for use around windows. You want one that will stay flexible.

Touch-n-Foam

This is a brand-name foam that's meant to be sprayed around the frames of windows and doors. CLICK THE IMAGE NOW TO BUY IT.

Expensive Caulk

Excellent caulking should also be on your replacement windows how-to checklist. Caulking needs to be installed where the window touches up against the window frame both outside and inside your home. The exterior caulking is a mission-critical component to prevent water leaks. Be sure to use an approved caulk that's mentioned in the written instructions that come with the replacement windows.

Home window replacement doesn't have to be stressful. The most important part is to take your time and do the necessary research. If you plan on being in the house for a long time, it really pays to buy the best replacement windows. Windows are a major component in a home, and it's one of the last places you should try to cut corners.

New Old Wood Window Kits

Wood replacement windows are available that will allow you to match the look and feel of an historic home that could be over 100-years old. These amazing kits allow you to do window replacement without removing the interior casing trim or the exterior trim. Once you get the hang of installing these, you can install a new wood window set in less than an hour start to finish.

Need to shrinking a window opening to accommodate your new replacement window! CLICK HERE to my Shrinking a Window Opening column.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local replacement window companies and contractors. Ask them about AAMA Gold Label windows.

Related Column:

Window Glass Replacement

Column 761

Window Flashing Tape

Posted on by Tim Carter
Window Flashing Tape

See the white tape that says Flashing Tape? It’s installed incorrectly. Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

Window Flashing Tape Installation

DEAR TIM: I've been a subscriber of your free newsletter for years and am finally building a new home. I decided to follow your advice and stop by the job site as often as possible and take photos.

The contractor just installed my windows and has started to install the vinyl siding. It appears to me that any water or air that might get behind the siding will flow inside my home because of gaps between the window nailing flange and the wall sheathing.

What's the proper way to install windows and doors so that water will not rot my house? Loreli S., Hanover, PA

DEAR LORELI: Congratulations on your new home adventure.

Dreams Do Come True

It's so exciting to build a new home and watch your dreams become reality. Unfortunately, some new home projects become nightmares because of poor plans, workmanship and/or a combination of both. Let's hope you're following much of my advice and you're on the right track.

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local contractors who know the right way to install window flashing tape.

Take Thousands Of Photos

Capturing the entire building process with hundreds and thousands of photos is one of the best things you can do. Better yet, try to shoot some video with you talking in the background explaining what you're taping.

Modern digital cameras and smart phones take stunning photos and video footage. Storing the images has never been cheaper as hard drives, flash drives, and other memory chips continue to fall in price. You can store all the images in the cloud on distant servers as well.

You may not realize what's in the photo because you're not a building expert. That's okay. If there's a problem at a later date, an expert can look through your photos and often discover what's causing the problem. I've been able to do successful long-distance autopsies on severe problems with houses because folks like you took the time to take great photos and videos.

Nailing Fin Gap

That was a good catch of you to notice the gap between the nailing flange of the window and the wall sheathing. I see that sort of mistake on many jobs. There should be no gap and there are any number of ways to insure that air and water never leak behind or around a window or a door.

Time Tests New Products - Some Fail

As time marches on there are always new products and methods that attempt to improve quality and efficiency in building. Go back over one hundred years and builders used tar paper to cover the exterior wood walls of homes to help prevent wood rot from water that might get behind siding or stucco.

They didn't have magic tape so some became quite creative in how they overlapped the tar paper over the windows and doors to create an effective waterproof barrier.

Gravity and Overlap

You need to treat the side walls of a house much like you do a roof. Stop and think how simple roofing materials work. Standard shingles create a waterproof barrier because each row of shingles overlaps the row below it. Mother Nature perfected this methodology on animals and birds long ago. Study the overlapping nature of the fur on dogs, cats and any other mammal as well as feathers on a bird and you'll see why they can be out in the rain and stay fairly dry.

Waterproof Sheathing

First and foremost, your exterior wall sheathing must be waterproofed. Some newer products come from the factory with a plastic coating that repels liquid water but allows water vapor to pass through it. If you use the special tape made for this sheathing to waterproof the seams, you've accomplished step one.

If you use traditional oriented strand board (OSB) with no coating, then you'll have to install some other air and water barrier over the OSB.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local contractors who know the right way to install window flashing tape.

Nailing Fin Design

Almost all modern new windows and doors come with a nailing fin that's built into the window or door. These fins are part of a channel that collects and redirects water around the window or door. If you seal this fin correctly to the waterproof exterior surface covering the OSB, you can force any water or air that gets behind your siding down to the ground or stop it from infiltrating into your home.

Flashing Tape

The first step is to use a high-quality flashing tape. Read the instructions that come with the product. It's mission critical that these are applied to clean, dry and oil-free surfaces because you're counting on the bond of the tape to provide the long-term protection.

Since water is pulled down by gravity, you start installing the flashing tape on the bottom of the window or door. The first piece of flashing tape is applied across the bottom nailing fin and extends about 4 inches either side of the fins on the side of the window.

window tape

This is a bad photo, but it's a great tape. Why? Because the adhesive is butyl rubber. That's the BEST adhesive to have inside a wall. CLICK THE IMAGE NOW TO HAVE THIS DELIVERED TO YOUR HOME.

The next pieces of tape start at the bottom of the first piece of tape, go up the sides and extend past the top nailing fin four inches. The last piece of tape goes across the top nailing fin extending over the side pieces. I'm sure you can see how this tape mimics roofing shingles in the way it overlaps.

Each building system has a weak link. In the case of the flashing tapes, it's the adhesive. I've remodeled old houses that had felt paper behind the siding and although it was brittle it still repelled water. The system was still in perfect working order after decades.

Will the flashing tapes, hidden behind the house siding, still be adhering well in the next century? As Kenny Chesney said in his hit song, "Only time will tell, but it ain't talkin'."

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local contractors who know the right way to install window flashing tape.

Column 1109

Window Glass

Posted on by Tim Carter

Window Glass Low-E

DEAR TIM: We're buying new windows for our home. My husband and I are getting confused about all of the different glass options.

There are different types of Low E glass, heat films, and gasses that are used in windows. What type of glass is the best to buy and will save money on heating and cooling costs? Paulene D., Plant City, FL

DEAR PAULENE: Low E glass was introduced in 1979.

Low-E Reflects Heat

The E stands for emissivity. Low E glass works by reflecting heat back to its source. It does this by utilizing an ultra thin metallic coating on or in the glass.

Among other things, sunlight contains visible light, UV light, and infrared (IR) light. Visible light enables us to see things.

UV light damages your skin, wood, fabrics, and causes colors to fade. Infrared light is simply heat energy. Low E glass has the ability to allow visible light to pass while blocking and reflecting certain amounts of UV light and IR light.

Free & Fast BIDS

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local window companies that can give you great advice.

Window Glass

Low-E glass allows the direct warming rays of the sun to enter your home. But once that heat energy is absorbed by other things, starts to radiate from them and tries to get back through the glass, it bounces back towards its source.

The infrared light in sunlight is powerful. When it strikes an object it heats it up. These objects can be your tile floors, furniture, sidewalks, patio furniture, etc. As these objects cool off, they emit a low powered form of IR light. Low E glass reflects this lower form of heat energy. In the summer this helps to keep your house cooler, as the heat from objects outside is kept outside. In the winter, all objects in your home are heated by sunlight or your heating system. As this heat is radiated by the objects towards the windows it is reflected back into your house by the low E glass.

Best Glass? Get AAMA Gold Label Windows

Ask your window contractor about the AAMA Gold-Label window program. These windows have the best ratings and BEST GLASS.

Click here to read another column of mine about the AAMA Gold-Label program.

There are two types of low E glass: hard coat and soft coat. Tin is applied directly to the molten glass to make hard coat low E glass. Hard coat low E glass has one minor flaw. During summer months, it has a tendency to trap heat that can come into your windows. This can actually drive up room temperatures which in turn increases the amount of air conditioning you must use to cool your home. This flaw turns into a positive during winter months if you happen to live in a cold climate where lots of direct sunlight streams through your windows.

The soft coat process commonly involves the application of a thin layer of silver while the glass is in a vacuum. This coating is delicate. Soft coat low E glass is always sandwiched with another piece of glass. It can oxidize if exposed to air. Argon or krypton gas is often used to prevent this oxidation. These gases also act as an additional insulator and sound deadening material.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local window companies that can give you great advice.

Soft coat low E glass performs much better during summer months. It does not trap heat inside your house as does hard coat low E glass. The soft coat low E glass actually performs slightly better than the hard coat low-E glass during winter months. Soft coat low-E glass is an absolute must if you live in a sunny, hot climate.

Some glass manufacturers have gone even further. They have suspended thin, low-E transparent films in between pieces of glass. This Low-E film has excellent performance characteristics. Some of these films can block 99.5 percent of UV light. It is a known fact that UV rays cause damage to carpets, furniture, wallpaper and window coverings. Some Low-E films boast an insulating value more than twice that of soft coat low-E glass. The heat films vastly increase the insulating properties of insulated glass. In fact, windows that contain the invisible heat films are among the most energy efficient you can buy.

The best heat films also do a great job of noise reduction. The films can absorb vibrations that try to travel through the glass. If you choose windows that contain these invisible heat films your utility costs are guaranteed to drop. The efficiency of the windows is simply that good. These invisible suspended films are on the cutting edge of window technology.

Heat produced by the sun can travel through glass. If you air condition your home, this extra, unwanted heat has a negative effect on your bank balance. Manufacturers and different window associations test windows for this summer heat gain. The results of the test produce a number called the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). Low SHGC numbers mean the window glass blocks lots of the solar energy that is trying to enter your house during hot summer days. Look for stickers on the windows and compare these SHGC numbers when you comparison shop.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local window companies that can give you great advice.

Column 291

Window Condensation – Causes / Prevention

Posted on by Tim Carter

Window Glass Condensation - Causes / Prevention

Condensation is normal. When warm air that contains water vapor touches a cool surface, condensation happens.

The water in the air transforms into a liquid from the gas state. You should have paid attention in that high school physics class!

It's a visible example of thermodynamics. You can see the battle between cold things and warm things. Take a can of soda or beer. A room temperature can doesn't sweat. A cold can does. Until the cold can becomes warm, you will have condensation.

Free & Fast BIDS

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local replacement window companies if you're tired of your old wet windows.

Condensation occurs when warm, moist air comes into contact with a cold surface. As the temperature of the colder object gets colder, it takes less humidity in the air to produce condensation.

This is why you need to manually regulate your indoor humidifier during the winter. As the outside temperature drops you can mysteriously get frosted windows even though your humidifier is set at the same relative humidity.

Notice that you never get condensation on the inside of your house widows during the summer! Although I have been able to get my car windows to fog if I really crank the A/C down on a humid day.

Get AAMA Gold-Label Windows

If you're going to get new replacement windows, be sure to price out AAMA Gold-Label windows. They're the BEST ONES made.

Click here to read more about the AAMA Gold-Label program.

Prevention of Condensation

Once your new vinyl windows are installed, you can only stop condensation by watching your indoor humidity. The trace of a fog at the corner of a window is the signal that your indoor humidity is at the danger stage. There is very likely NOTHING wrong with your new windows.

If fogging persists, check for moisture sources. Do you have a crawl space? If so, does it have a high performance vapor barrier? Do you have lots of indoor plants? Do you have a high powered bath exhaust fan? Do you do lots of steamy cooking? How about an aquarium? The numbers on the humidistat are meaningless. Crank it down slightly once the fog develops.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local replacement window companies if you're tired of your old wet windows.

Column B196

Repair Broken Double Pane Window Glass

Posted on by Tim Carter

Repairing a Broken Double Pane Window Glass

Rich Sinclair who lives in Hainesport, New Jersey emailed me asking the following question:

"Can you replace only one broken pane of a double pane window?"

The answer is simply: No

Double pane, or insulated glass, is made by taking two pieces of glass and separating them with a special spacer that has an adhesive on it. The space between the two panes of glass is filled with argon gas at the factory.

It's virtually impossible to peel off the broken glass from the seal spacer and then install a new piece of glass.

Free & Fast BIDS

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local glass companies that can make a NEW insulated glass panel for your window.

You ruin the spacer in the process.

You can't apply a new piece of glass to the special spacer.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local glass companies that can make a NEW insulated glass panel for your window.

What is Smokey Film on Car Windshields and Windows

Posted on by Tim Carter

Smokey Film on Car Windows TIPS

You might think that smokey film on car glass comes from all the bacon and eggs you have in your house. Not true!

Vicki Mead, who resides in Jonesboro, Arkansas, asked me with a tinge of smoker's guilt this question:

"First of all:  I don't smoke, so that is not an issue.  But there is a film that develops on the INSIDE of the car window.

I live in the sunny south and when the sun strikes that film, it is blinding!  Do you have a solution for that? I don't think the ideas given in your window cleaning videos (which are great for outside windows) would be good for the inside of a car window."

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE  to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local window cleaning companies - seriously - that can get your car windows perfectly CLEAN!

Here's my response to Vicki:

Vicki, maybe someone is borrowing your car and they're smoking. Just kidding!

The film you see is created by all the plastic that's inside your car.

When your car is out in the sun, the sun heats up the interior to 130-145F or so. This heat creates off-gassing of the plastic dashboard and all other components.

The plastic molecules get into the air and then settle on the glass surfaces.

It's easy to remove it with just a soap and water solution. I use any decent liquid dish soap and water.

It's important to wash the glass when it's cool and in the shade. I prefer to wash my truck glass in the morning when I know the glass is cool.

I wash it twice with soapy water made from Stain Solver and a regular liquid dish soap. Rinse out the sponge well in the soapy solution as you wash.

Stain Solver black background yellow scoop

Stain Solver is formulated to RAPIDLY CLEAN the smokey film on auto glass.  It's MADE in the USA with USA ingredients that are food-grade quality.

Then you need to rinse well with clear water. Rinse twice using fresh water each time.

Dry the glass with an old, but a decent, bath towel.

The glass will look like new. If you get streaks, that means you don't have all the plastic crap off the glass yet. Repeat the cleaning process.

IMPORTANT TIP:  NEVER get into your car if it's been sitting in the sun without opening both doors and allowing fresh outdoor air to replace the polluted air in the car. Inhaling that plastic could cause lung cancer or cause you to grow a tail, fins or something!!!!

CLICK HERE  to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local window cleaning companies - seriously - that can get your car windows perfectly CLEAN!

Replacing A Window Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

Replacing a Window

Before you start to take out an old window, be sure you have the correct new window ready to go. Double check the measurements to ensure it will fit. At the very least, have a piece of plywood or OSB to cover the opening in case something goes wrong.

1/2-Inch Gap

When a window is placed in a rough opening, it should sit level on the sill and there should be a 1/2-inch gap on the sides and top of the window frame. This gap is filled with a special expanding foam after the window has been fastened properly according to the written installation instructions.

Free & Fast BIDS

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local replacement window contractors. Be sure to ask about AAMA gold-label windows. They're the BEST.

AAMA Gold Label

Click here to read a past column I've written about the benefits of getting an AAMA-approved window.

Great Foam Sealant

After the window is installed, use this foam to stop air leaks around the new window.

Touch-n-Foam

This is a brand-name foam that's meant to be sprayed around the frames of windows and doors. CLICK THE IMAGE NOW TO BUY IT.

After removing that old window, you have to replace that opening with a new window. The new window with the glass in place will be very heavy. It is best to remove the windowpanes from the frame. This will make handling the frame a lot easier.

Take the frame and gently tilt it into place and stay the process of leveling and squaring it up. Using levels, get the frame level and plumb in the opening. Use shims to hold the frame in place. Put the window panes back in. This will help in squaring up the window frame. Once back in place, check along the bottom of the windows to be sure the reveal is the same. Now, start nailing the window in place.

Use 10 or 12 penny finish nails in the sides of the frame. Check the window manufacturer's recommendations for the number and placement of the nails. The next step is to place installation around the window frame and cover the outside with special tape to stop air infiltration. Replace the window trim and you are done.

Follow these steps, and take your time. The window replacement project will go quickly and easily.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local replacement window contractors. Be sure to ask about AAMA gold-label windows. They're the BEST.

Condensation on New Windows

Posted on by Tim Carter
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Installing new windows does not guarantee that your condensation problems will disappear. PHOTO CREDIT: Kathy Carter

Condensation on New Windows TIPS

  • New windows cause indoor humidity to go UP - SEE BELOW
  • AAMA gold-label windows are best and have least condensation
  • Trace cause of high indoor humidity - could be houseplants or cooking
  • Check humidity with high-quality hygrometer - see below link
  • CLICK HERE to Get Tim's FREE & FUNNY Newsletter!

DEAR TIM: I'm at my wits end. The new replacement windows in our home are fogging up and some have dripping water on the inside pane of glass.

I thought by buying new windows I would eliminate condensation forever. Are the windows defective?

What's happening and what, if anything, can be done to minimize the problem? Pamela S., Gatlinburg, TN

DEAR PAMELA: The condensation on your new windows is very unfortunate.

Multiple Moisture Sources

The source of the problem is not easy to trace and to make matters worse, there can be multiple things that are happening that can contribute to the problem. It's my opinion that you will solve the problem using old-fashioned detective work that employs the process of elimination.


Related Links

Window Condensation is Common

Simple Science of Condensation

Free & Fast BIDS

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local window replacement contractors. Ask about AAMA windows. See below.

Water Vapor + Cool Glass = Condensation

Let's start the investigation by reviewing what causes condensation on windows, in crawlspaces, on air conditioning ducts and even in attics. The air inside your home contains moisture. It is invisible water vapor, but it is there.

You and all of the people in your family contribute to this moisture each time you exhale. Try fogging a mirror with your breath and you will see what I mean.

condensation new windows

This is condensation that's turned to frost on new windows. It's a piece of high quality insulated glass in my man cave. The outdoor temperature was minus 6 F and there's NO humidifier in this building! The same frost on nails could be happening in my attic! Copyright 2018 Tim Carter

Sources of Water Vapor

Lots of other things around your home also contribute to the addition of water vapor in the air. Uncovered ground in crawlspaces, indoor plants, laundry hung out to dry, cooking activities, aquariums, humidifiers, etc. all add water vapor to the air.

Add to this the natural humidity that Mother Nature contributes to the air all around us and you can see that humidity is a very common thing.

Warm Air Holds More Water

The amount of humidity in the air can rise and fall depending upon the temperature of the air. Warm or hot air has the ability to hold much more water vapor than cool or cold air.

So the humidity in air is relative. Relative humidity is defined as the percentage of water vapor in a given amount of air at a given temperature.

Dew Point

When this percentage gets to 100 percent, the water vapor, a gas, changes from a gas to a liquid. Meteorologists refer to this complete saturation as the dew point.

Cool Glass

Water is forming on your new windows because one of several things is happening. The temperature of the inner glass surface is at or below the dew point for the amount of humidity in your inside air.

New Windows Cause Humidity To RISE

The humidity of your indoor air is quite possibly much higher now with your new windows because the air leaks around your old windows were eliminated once the new windows were installed. Cold, drier air that leaks into homes from the outdoors lowers the relative humidity indoors.

This is one reason people have static electricity problems in drafty homes during the winter months. Dry air makes it very easy for the static sparks to transfer from your hands to grounded objects.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local window replacement contractors. Ask about AAMA windows. See below.

Test Humidity With Hygrometer

I suggest you purchase a decent hygrometer for under $50.00. This tool will allow you to get accurate readings of indoor humidity.

Start to take daily readings and then look around to see if you have things that add too much water to the air. Make sure crawlspace soil is covered with high-performance vapor retarders.

This is a fantastic high-quality hygrometer. It says Psychrometer on it, but that's the fancy name for hygrometer. CLICK THE IMAGE NOW TO HAVE THIS DELIVERED TO YOUR HOME.

Eliminate Humidity Sources

Minimize the number of indoor plants you might have. Run kitchen exhaust fans if you boil lots of water when you cook. If you have a vent-free fireplace, limit its use as it produces vast amounts of water vapor when it burns natural gas.

Be sure to operate bathroom exhaust fans during bathing activities and pipe this humid air directly to the outdoors.

Blow Air Across Windows

If you discover that your indoor humidity is not too high using your hygrometer, then you can minimize or eliminate the condensation by creating air movement around the windows. Just as blowing air dries say laundry things outdoors, air blowing over the interior glass will act just like the defroster does in your automobile.

Dangers Of Stopping Air Infiltration

Efforts to stop air leakage into homes can create all sorts of secondary effects. One of them is potential increases in indoor relative humidity levels. Indoor air pollution levels can also rise.

Tightly-constructed new homes or older homes where energy-savings measures are employed create situations where little fresh air enters a home to equalize humidity and freshness.

AAMA Windows Have Least Condensation

Not all windows are made to the same standards. Some new windows may use poor-quality parts and poor construction methods that allow the glass temperature of the inner pane of glass to be much cooler than a well-built window. The best windows are those that come with the AAMA Gold Label on the frame.

The cooler pane of glass will show condensation before a warmer pane of glass. This is why an empty drinking glass on a kitchen counter or a piece of glass in a picture frame has no condensation while a window two feet away is fogged up or dripping with water.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local window replacement contractors. Ask about AAMA windows.

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