The windows in your home aren’t likely something that you give a lot of thought to. They’re excellent for looking outside and enjoying the incoming sunlight. However, any one of these four scenarios can result in shattered glass and the outdoor elements pouring in.
Direct Blow
While your home windows are built fairly strong, there’s always a possibility that a direct blow can shatter them. This could be from a golf ball, football, or even a hanging pot that a windstorm slammed into the window. When a direct blow happens, the window will start to shatter out from the point where the direct blow came into contact with the window.
Stress Cracks
The glass in home windows is susceptible to thermal stress cracks. While these don’t happen regularly, they can. A thermal stress crack happens as a result of two very different temperatures being placed on the glass pane. For example, if you have the inside heating blazing in your home and the outside is below freezing, this could result in stress fractures that can shatter your window. If this happens, you’ll need to get replacement windows.
Glass Defect
When you get your glass window installed, you may not notice little defects. This holds especially true when the defect is found on the edge of the glass. At first, the defect may not have a big impact on the window. However, when extraction and contraction happens due to fluctuations in the temperature, it can trigger the defect to spontaneously break.
Improper Installation
When your window installer doesn’t do their job appropriately, it can result in a shattered window over time. The spontaneous shattering of the glass is usually due to chipping of the glass during the installation process. This concept is somewhat similar to that of a glass defect. It may not do anything for the longest time. However, all it takes is a little expansion and contraction, and the glass pane can shatter instantly. In this case, you should talk with the window installer about the problem so that they can remedy it.
There are many things that can cause a residential window to shatter. From a direct blow of a hard baseball to a defect in the glass, there are many potential reasons that you may experience shattering of your window. If you’re unable to determine the cause of the shattering, it’s best to seek the assistance of an experienced window installer.
