Windows Learning Center

When cleaning a new window, it can be tempting to remove every sticker or label you see. Before removing a sticker that is hidden inside the window, check what it is. Many manufacturers place identification labels in areas that are not normally visible, such as along the side or top of the sash, inside the frame, or in another concealed location.

An egress window provides an emergency escape and rescue opening from a home. Egress requirements are especially important in sleeping rooms and basements.

Tempered glass is a type of safety glass that is specially treated to make it stronger and, more importantly, safer if it breaks.

The window frame is the main structure surrounding and supporting the sash and glass. Different frame materials offer different combinations of price, thermal performance, appearance, maintenance and available options.

Moisture or fog on a window does not automatically mean the window has failed. The first question is where the moisture is located: on the interior surface, exterior surface, or between the panes.

The sealed spaces in double- and triple-pane insulated glass can contain air or an insulating gas to reduce heat transfer.

A glass spacer separates the panes around the perimeter of an insulated glass unit and helps maintain the sealed space between the panes.

The glass package is a major part of a window's energy performance, but more panes or more coatings do not automatically make one window better than another.

Many windows use weep holes or internal drainage channels to direct incidental water from the sill or track back to the exterior.

Weatherstripping is the material around moving portions of a window that creates a seal when the window is closed. It helps reduce unwanted air and water infiltration while still allowing the sash to operate.

Window locks do more than provide security. On many windows, the lock also helps pull the sash into its proper position and compress the weatherstripping to create a tighter seal.

A tilt latch holds the top of a sash securely in the window frame while allowing the sash to tilt inward for cleaning or service.

A pivot bar is a small piece of hardware near the bottom of the sash on many single- and double-hung windows. It connects the sash to the balance system and helps the window operate.

A window balance is the mechanism inside a single- or double-hung window that supports the weight of the sash. It makes the sash easier to raise and helps hold it in position.

The window sash is the portion of the window that holds the glass. On an operable window, the sash is generally the moving component and consists of the sash frame and glass.