Home Window Repair Quick Fixes

When a window pane breaks in your home, there are several quick fixes that you can use to keep your house secure until you have home window repair come out to replace the glass. While these fixes are not aesthetically pleasing, they will stop cold air from blowing into the house and help reduce any leaks in the meantime. First, clean up any shards of broken glass that may have fallen on the ground. Wearing heavy duty work gloves, pick up any large shards and use a shop vac to remove the rest. If any shards remain stuck in the frame, gently pull them out with pliers while still wearing gloves.

If the crack is not too deep, you can apply duct or masking tape over it to keep the wind and cold air from blowing in through the open space. Be sure to apply the tape on both sides of the crack, and extend it a few inches beyond either end of the crack to ensure complete adhesion. For deeper cracks, you can also place cardboard in the window to prevent air from getting into the house.

In older homes, the opening for the glass was held in the frame by metal triangles called glazing points. These are very sharp and you must be extremely careful when removing them. Wearing eye protection and a pair of thick work gloves, you can use a putty knife or pliers to pry them out. Once the glazing points are removed, you can sand down the l-shaped channels that were holding the glass in the frame and seal any bare wood with a clear varnish or linseed oil.

For small cracks from gravel or hail, you can use transparent shellac or nail polish to fill the crack and make it flush with the rest of the glass and wood frame. This is not a permanent fix as the shellac or nail polish will have to be reapplied periodically.

If you notice a section of the window frame has rot, you can use an epoxy wood filler to re-seal the rotten areas. Be sure to use a high-quality product and follow the mixing and application directions carefully. If the rot is extensive, you may need to replace the entire window frame.

If you want a more permanent solution to a cracked window, you can use a stronger glue to replace the adhesive that holds the glass to the wooden frame. If there are any exposed fasteners, they can be tightened with a wrench or screwdriver to make the window hang straight again. For any remaining shards of glass, you can use cardboard to cover the area and reduce any drafts until you have time to get a new window installed by a professional. This can be a costly and time-consuming project, but is much better than waiting for the weather to turn to freezing temperatures or snowy conditions before you get around to repairing your windows.