Controlling Condensation & Humidity

Many homeowners who visit The Window Man worry about excess humidity and even condensation--particular problems in the DC metro area. Excess humidity can damage wallpaper and furnishings and even increase the risk of unhealthy molds developing in your home’s interior. Take the following simple steps to decrease the humidity in your home.

1. The first step to controlling condensation and humidity is to replace your old windows with newer windows that have insulated glass.

2. Next, make sure that the louvers in your attic or basement crawlspaces are open and that they are large enough to provide proper circulation.

3. Third, run any ventilating fans that you have in your home for much longer than you usually do. (Kitchen fans in particular should run for longer than you think!)

4. Fourth, turn off the furnace humidifier and or any other humidifier you have in your home. (This seems like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many people overlook this simple step.)

5. Fifth, make sure your fireplace damper is open so moisture can easily escape.

6. Sixth, consider buying a dehumidifier. If you don't have a dehumidifier and don’t wat to purchase one, try to air out the home for a few minutes every day if feasible.

If you'd like to talk to a representative from The Window Man about which windows and doors are best for moisture and condensation-prone homes, stop by one of our three Northern Virginia showrooms today.

Choosing Energy Efficient Windows

Choosing an energy efficient window for your home or office is easy with The Window Man. Currently, all our windows are certified by the National Fenestration Rating Council. (NFRC created a national rating system for energy performance of fenestration products, including windows, doors, skylights, and similar products.) But we're also a partner in the Department of Energy's Energy Star Program; as such, many of our windows & doors carry the Energy Star label. Visit our Northern Virginia showroom to learn which windows or doors can best help you conserve fossil fuels and save money: there's no need to lose valuable heat in winter or cold air in summer due to inefficient windows or doors ever again!

Soft-Lite Elements

The Window Man is Soft-Lite Elements’ exclusive dealer in Northern Virginia. As such, we offer the entire line of Soft-Lite replacement windows and accessories as well as products built specifically for the Metro DC climate. For more information about Soft-Lite click here or visit one of our three Northern Virginia showrooms in Chantilly, Alexandria, and Fairfax.

Pros and Cons of Wood-framed Windows

As you may imagine, there are pros and cons to every type of window material out there from steel to fiberglass. Wood, a popular choice, offers superior architectural detail, a plethora of color choices and great thermal performance. On the other hand, wood-framed windows require regular exterior maintenance.

For more information on different window materials and to find out which is right for your new home or commercial property, stop by one of The Window Man's three northern Virginia showrooms.

Low-E Glass & Energy Efficiency Windows

Low-E glass is glass with a special insulated glazing, usually on the interior face of the glass, that helps stop heat loss from your home. Many of these energy efficient windows are actually double-glazed windows with a high-transmission, low-E glass and argon gas fill. (Argon is an inert, non-toxic gas used to reduce heat transfer.)

For more information on energy efficient windows, stop by one of The Window Man's showrooms to discuss which is appropriate for your home or commercial property.

H-Windows: The Best Window For Your New Construction Or Renovation

At The Window Man we carry several window lines, including H Windows, Certainteed, Comfort Line, DeVac, Mon Ray, Optimum, Precision, Softlite, and Sugar Creek.

Here's why H-Windows are one of our favorites:

- The extruded aluminum exterior is maintenance free, comes in four anodized finishes and is much structurally stronger than cladding

- It has a wood interior that provides excellent thermal performance, offers a warm look, and comes in unfinished primed white or factory finished depending on your needs.

- The insulated glass has low e squared film and is argon-filled to add thermal performance. (The film also blocks 75% of ultraviolet rays!) H-Windows insulated glass also comes with warm edge Intercept spacer technology.

It has a Spilka Window Hinge with a 10 year guarantee. Because the weight is carried at the center balance point the window fully reverses so you can wash without disturbing window treatments.

The push bar operating hardware allows for one motion operation that has multiple venting positions and allows the window to have the highest security rating against forced entry.

The screen has an extruded aluminum frame with staked corner keys for strength and cam operators for easy screen removal.

For more reasons why we're fan of H-Windows here at The Window Man stop by one of our three Northern Virginia showrooms!

Steel Doors What Does Gauge Mean?

As you shop for new doors for your Virginia, Maryland or DC home, you may run across terms you're not familiar with, like the gauge measurement for steel doors. The gauge measurement is the thickness of the steel: steel doors are cut from large rolls.

For more information on other door and window materials, visit The Window Man's website, or stop by one of our three Northern Virginia showrooms. We're happy to talk to you about available materials and which are best suited for your residential or commercial property.