There is nothing more perfect than a beautiful summer day. Warm temperatures and blue skies usually are accompanied with a bunch of lovely sunshine, so what is the downside? There might be something that you are forgetting to consider during a warm summer day, and that is the impact that that sunshine can have on your home and, more specifically, your windows.

Ultraviolet rays from the sun can actually pass through your windows and lead to sun damaged windows, which can then impact the energy efficiency in your home and cause a lot of damage to your furniture. If you have outdated or old single pane windows, take this as a sign that you might want to consider seeking out some window tinting or darker window treatments. For a more permanent solution, upgrading to energy efficient replacement windows will be a game changer for your sun damaged windows.  

How does sun damage happen

There are a lot of different types of window damage that can occur, but one that many forget about is sun damaged windows. Sun damage through windows occurs through UV rays, and many ask, “well, does window glass block UV rays?” It depends. 

UV rays are a type of radiation that comes directly from the sun, something that we are exposed to pretty much every day. This can be especially harmful to our homes and to our health if our windows do not have the proper protection. For example, you might have noticed that the color of the paint on your walls has changed or the color of your furniture isn’t the same shade as it was when you first got it. 

In some more serious cases, sun damage through windows can even lead to personal health problems like burns or even cancer. This is why it is so important to protect your home and your family from UV rays. 

Most UV rays come into your home through old windows like the outdated single pane type. Older, single pane windows usually have low quality glass and can let in almost 90% of UV rays. This ultimately provides zero protection from the sun and harmful radiation. 

One way you can tell if your windows are not offering the correct amount of protection and should be replaced is if your energy bills are oddly high during the summer months. If the heat from the sun can easily pass through your windows, your air conditioner will have to keep up, in which case it will use more energy and sky rocket your energy bill. 

What can you do to prevent UV rays?

The best course of action when you notice any type of sun damage to your home or your furniture is replacing your windows. More modern windows that can be used to replace your older, outdated single panel windows have a special coating that essentially reflects sunlight and any heat that comes from the sun. 

Replacement windows can also transform a home and elevate its look. There are so many options for replacement windows as they come in a variety of glass and styles, so you can choose the best option for your home and aesthetic while also getting the protection you need. 

Double pane windows UV protection is much stronger in deferring the UV rays than single pane windows and can further protect your home. These windows prevent letting the sun through windows and can then protect the furniture, your house and lower the energy cost. 

If you are looking for even more protection from your sun damaged windows, triple pane windows are arguably the best choice as they offer all the added benefits of the double pane window protection as well as an additional pane UV blocking glass window pane. Triple pane windows are recommended if you want to prevent paint from fading or protecting nice leather furniture. 

Checking your windows for damage

How can you check your windows for not just sun damage, but all damage? Here are a couple of things you can examine to determine if you should replace your windows. 

First, take a look at the inside and outside of every window in your home. Inspect the interior and exterior very closely for any rust, cracks, and stains. Then scour the frame and the glass, taking a look at the floors, walls, ceilings, and sills for any possible moisture leaks. Moisture leaks or sun damaged windows will usually show up in the form of discoloration. 

Next, try opening and closing your windows to check the window operation and see how well they glide when opened. A lot of times, some dirt, sand, or debris can get trapped in the pathway of the window, which is normal, but if you are having to forcefully push the sash open or closed, you probably want to look into getting it replaced. 

Review your energy bills next. As mentioned, if you notice that your energy bills have been slowly increasing every month, your windows can be letting in a draft or letting in too much heat from the sun. Your air conditioning system has to work harder to regulate the air, and that can be a key indicator that your windows should be replaced. 

Consider also testing your locks and latches as they secure the window, so if they are not in proper working order, you can risk someone breaking into your home.

Then, look for any water damage. If you have wooden frames, these can easily warp or rot when exposed to moisture or sun damaged windows. Any discoloration, peeling paint, spots, or warped fragments of wood can be indicators that there is water damage. You’ll also want to open your windows and check for any dirt or debris, as these can get in the way of your window sealing. 

Tight seals and weatherstripping also can improve the energy efficiency of your windows by keeping out all cold air and drafts. Examine the openings around the windows and replace any portions that are ripped or ruined. 

By checking your windows consistently and examining them for any type of damage, sun related or not, you can maintain solid protection for your home. Any other types of damage can make sun damaged windows that much more dangerous to the well-being of your home. 

Cleaning sun damaged windows 

If you are still hesitant to replace your sun damaged windows, there might be a couple of ways you can try to restore them with some commercial cleaning products. First, you’ll want to scrub the glass with a soft brush to remove any dust and oil. Then you can wash the glass with a sponge that is soft to not harm the glass in a water and vinegar solution. The best ratio is about 75 percent water and 25 percent vinegar. This will further remove any dirt and oil that is left on the sun damaged window. 

Leave this solution on overnight and then rinse with water. You can dry the window with a microfiber towel to not scratch the window. Then, you can try and apply petroleum jelly, which can help remove calcium build up. You will want to leave this on your windows for about 4-5 days.

You can also try removing water spots from your windows with vinegar and water. To do this, you will want to spray the window glass pane with equal parts of water to white distilled vinegar. Thoroughly and carefully saturate the parts of the window that have the heaviest buildup and let the solution sit for a couple of minutes, continually re-spraying it as it dries. 

Sun damaged windows should be attended to

Sun damaged windows have the potential to be slightly fixed depending on the severity of the damage, but if your windows are truly sun damaged, consider replacing them. Sun damaged windows can create a lot of issues for a home and the people living in it. 

By replacing your old windows with more modern ones, you can protect your home and your family from the dangerous UV rays.