Get your home ready for fall by taking care of these simple tasks:

• Check your roof and gutters.

Shingles that are bent, cracked or missing should be replaced. Check for leaks in these areas as well as around chimneys and skylights. You’ll want to address any issues with your roof now rather than deal with water damage in winter. While you’re up there, clear the leaves and debris from your gutters while the weather is still good.

• Clear your yard.

Before the first frost, clean, cover and store all outdoor furniture that won’t react well to cold and snow. Also move barbeques, lawnmowers and other outdoor tools into a shed or garage. Disconnect and drain your outside hose and store it inside.

• Get your HVAC serviced.

It’s a good idea to have your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system inspected and serviced this time of year. You don’t want to be stuck with a dirty filter, which will let allergens into the air around your home during the cooler months. If you have ceiling fans, reverse direction to a clockwise motion to create an updraft that moves warm air down.

• Clean your dryer vent.

All throughout the year, your dryer vent hose has been collecting lint and other items since the last time you took it apart and cleaned it. This can be dangerous if left unattended.

• Clean and weatherproof outside surfaces.

As summer comes to an end, you may want to rent a power washer to clean your patio, driveway, deck, and home exterior. You should also renew weatherproofing on decks, fences, and other exterior structures as well as insulate any pipes in unheated locations.

• Check your home’s exterior for cracks.

To avoid water damage, seal cracks and gaps in your home’s exterior before winter comes. Openings in the structure can let water in where it will freeze, resulting in cracks and mold. Caulk around the areas where masonry meets siding and where pipes or wires enter the house. Don’t delay too long—caulking is best done before it gets too cold.

• Check window and door seals.

Check your windows and doors for drafts, and apply caulk around the frames to cut down on drafts. Make sure the seal between your garage door and the ground is tight, preventing drafts and keeping out small animals. While you’re at it, clean windows of summer grime before cold and rain set in.

Renewal by Andersen’s windows and doors can improve the look, feel, and functionality of your home. Helping you find the right windows to make your home comfortable and energy-efficient is what we do best. If you’d like to learn more, give us a call or fill out our contact form to schedule a free, no obligation consultation. We’re proud to serve Anchorage, the Mat-Su Valley, Fairbanks, the Kenai Peninsula, and Juno.

The post Get Your Home Fall Ready appeared first on Renewal by Andersen of Alaska.

When you see moisture on your windows, it isn’t necessarily a sign that something is wrong. While interior condensation can sometimes result from a failing windowpane seal, most often, it’s simply a result of humidity in the air. The water you see is condensation from the warm air meeting the cooler glass, like when a cold beverage sweats on a hot summer day.

In fact, condensation may be more noticeable on high-quality windows since they are so energy efficient, indicating that your windows have good tight seals. The things that make homes more energy efficient—weather stripping, high-quality insulation, vapor barriers, and windows and patio doors that reduce air leakage—also lock moisture inside your house.

Moisture is a part of everyday life. Anytime someone takes a shower or cooks, it increases indoor humidity. In Alaska, where the fall and winters are especially cold, it’s important to keep indoor humidity only as high as you need it. When you see interior window condensation, it’s a sign to lower the humidity.

A few quick and easy ways to do this include:

1. Opening the blinds and drapes to let moisture-laden air escape.
2. Raising the air temperature in your home (turning the heat on will decrease relative humidity).
3. Turning on ceiling fans to improve air circulation.
4. Running exhaust fans in the kitchen while cooking and in the bathroom while showering or bathing. Leave the fan running for 15 minutes after you’ve finished to clear out lingering moisture.

It’s important to manage humidity inside your home for its overall health, not just to manage condensation. Excess interior moisture can lead to swelling wood, mold or mildew, musty odors, discoloration, and cracking or blistering paint. Remember that wiping condensation off windows, especially wood or vinyl, is essential. Prolonged condensation can lead to mold, rot, or leaky seals. Use a towel, paper towel, microfiber cloth, or squeegee to wipe away excess moisture.

Want to know more? Take a look at this short video on understanding condensation.

Consider upgrading some of your older windows with new, energy-efficient ones. Give us a call or fill out our contact form to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. We proudly serve Anchorage, the Mat-Su Valley, Fairbanks, the Kenai Peninsula, and Juno.

The post Condensation Season is Coming appeared first on Renewal by Andersen of Alaska.

Here’s a quick checklist to get your house ready for fall:

• Clear your yard. Protect your backyard furniture from the cold and wet by cleaning and covering it and storing it in a dry place. Move outdoor tools such as lawn mowers, grills and barbeques to a shed or garage. Disconnect and drain your outside hose.
• Check your roof and gutters. Look for any shingles that are bent, cracked or missing and replace them. Check for leaks in these areas as well as around chimneys and skylights. While you’re up there, clear the leaves and debris from your gutters.
• Clean and weatherproof outside surfaces. If you want to clean your patio, driveway, deck and home exterior, this is your last chance to rent the power washer you’ll need. You should also renew weatherproofing on decks, fences and other exterior structures as well as insulate any pipes in unheated locations.
• Get your HVAC serviced. Before the cooler months set in, have your heating and air-conditioning system inspected and serviced. You don’t want to be stuck with a dirty filter that will let allergens into the air around your home during the wintertime. If you have ceiling fans, reverse direction to a clockwise motion to create an updraft to move warm air down.
• Check your home’s exterior for cracks. Before fall, winter and spring weather set in, protect your home’s exterior by caulking around areas where masonry meets siding and where pipes or wires enter the house. This will prevent water from getting in, resulting in cracks and mold.
• Check window and door seals. Save money on heating and cooling costs by checking for drafts around the windows and doors. Apply weather stripping or caulk to reduce drafts. While you’re at it, clean your windows of summer grime before the cold weather sets in.

Renewal by Andersen of Alaska provides premier window and patio door products and installation services. To discuss your window replacement options, give us a call or fill out our contact form to schedule a consultation. We’re proud to serve Anchorage, the Mat-Su Valley, Fairbanks, the Kenai Peninsula, and Juno.

The post How to Prepare Your Home for Fall appeared first on Renewal by Andersen of Alaska.

Think about how a glass of cold water feels on a hot summer day. It’s cool to the touch, but the air around it is warm and humid. When the two meet, your beverage sweats. That’s what’s happening to your windows! So, the water you’re seeing is not a reason to worry.

It may seem counter-intuitive, but it’s actually not bad that condensation shows up on the outside or inside of your window. Condensation will appear from time to time on even the best-performing windows—in fact, it may be more noticeable on high quality windows since they are so energy-efficient. Condensation can actually be a sign that your windows have good, tight seals. The very things that make homes more energy efficient—windows and patio doors that reduce air leakage, weather-stripping, high-quality insulation, vapor barriers—also lock moisture inside your house.

Moisture is a part of everyday life. Every time someone in your household takes a shower or cooks, it contributes to increased indoor humidity. Condensation is just a by-product of this humidity.

In Alaska, where the fall and winters are very cold, it’s important to keep indoor humidity only as high as you need it. When you see condensation on the inside of your window, it’s a sign to try and lower the humidity. Here are a few tips for accomplishing this goal:

1. Open the blinds and drapes to let moisture-laden air escape.
2. Raise the air temperature in your home (turning the heat on will decrease relative humidity).
3. Turn on ceiling fans to improve air circulation.
4. Run exhaust fans in the kitchen while cooking and in the bathroom while showering or bathing. Leave the fan running for 15 minutes after you’ve finished to clear out lingering moisture.
5. Ensure proper ventilation of appliances such as dryers to the outside, as well as attic and crawlspaces.

For more information on relative humidity and condensation in your home, check out this video:

Thinking of replacing some of your older windows with new energy efficient ones? Give us a call or fill out our contact form to schedule a consultation. We’re proud to serve Anchorage, the Mat-Su Valley, Fairbanks, the Kenai Peninsula, and Juno.

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