Nine Things That Damage Impact Windows and Void Warranties
Most of these are common habits. Some are things people do intentionally thinking they are helping. All of them can damage your windows, void your manufacturer warranty, or both.
1. Using Ammonia-Based Cleaners on Low-E Glass
Windex and most standard household glass cleaners contain ammonia. If your windows have Low-E coated glass — which is standard on most ES Windows products and available on PGT WinGuard — ammonia degrades the coating over time. The performance loss is gradual and invisible until your energy bills and comfort tell you something changed. Use mild soap and water or an ammonia-free glass cleaner on all Low-E glass surfaces.
2. Power Washing the Frames
A pressure washer feels like the efficient choice for exterior cleaning day. For impact windows it is not. High-pressure water forces its way into seals, weep holes, and sash perimeters that are engineered to handle rain — not direct high-pressure spray at close range. The result is water intrusion, damaged weatherstripping, and potentially voided installation warranties. ES Windows maintenance guidance is explicit on this point: do not use a power washer or garden hose at pressure on impact window frames.
3. Applying Window Film or Tint After Installation
This is one of the most frequent accidental warranty violations in South Florida. Homeowners add aftermarket film for UV blocking, privacy, or heat reduction — without knowing it eliminates their warranty coverage. PGT's warranty documentation states directly that the warranty is null and void if any aftermarket products, including window films, are applied to the product. ES Windows has the same restriction. If you want additional solar or UV performance, specify an upgraded Low-E glass package before fabrication — not film applied after installation.
4. Painting or Coating the Frames After Installation
If you repaint your home's exterior and apply paint to the impact window frames in the process, you have voided your frame warranty. PGT's warranty is explicit: null and void if any portion of the product is painted or coated in any way after delivery. If you need frames in a specific color or finish, specify it at the time of order — not after the windows are installed.
5. Using WD-40 on Hardware
WD-40 is a water displacement solvent and degreaser — not a lubricant. Applying it to window rollers, tracks, hinges, and locking mechanisms strips existing lubrication, attracts dirt and debris, and in South Florida's salt air accelerates corrosion of the hardware it is meant to help.
Here is what to actually use: 3-IN-1 Dry Lubricant or equivalent dry silicone spray on sill tracks and roller assemblies — it goes on dry, leaves no residue, and does not attract debris. White lithium grease applied with a straw applicator on hinges and door hardware, worked directly into seams and cracks. A thin coat of household oil on roto operator metal surfaces, followed by white lithium grease on the gear seams. Dry silicone spray on latch mechanisms and locks.
These are the products specified in aluminum window and door manufacturer maintenance documentation. Using the wrong lubricant is one of the fastest ways to accelerate hardware failure on windows designed to last 25 years or more.
6. Ignoring Weep Holes
Weep holes are the small drainage slots at the bottom of impact window frames. They are the drainage system for water that enters the frame cavity. When they clog — with dirt, salt, insect debris, paint overspray, or landscaping material — water backs up inside the frame and forces its way into the home. Clear weep holes every time you clean your windows. Use a toothpick or soft brush. Never seal them, even partially.
7. Letting Construction Chemicals Sit on Frames
If any work is being done on or near your home — exterior painting, stucco repair, pressure washing an adjacent surface — chemicals used during construction can damage aluminum frames if allowed to sit. ES Windows' maintenance guidance specifically identifies this risk: clean aluminum frames carefully and immediately following any nearby construction activity. Salt water, concrete, stucco splatter, and paint residue should all be rinsed off the same day they make contact with the frame.
8. Allowing Aluminum Frames to Contact ACQ-Treated Lumber
Alkaline Copper Quaternary is the standard preservative treatment in pressure-treated deck lumber, exterior framing, and many landscaping timbers. It is highly corrosive to aluminum on contact. PGT's warranty documentation states directly that the warranty is null and void if any aluminum component has direct contact with ACQ-treated wood. If your installation involves treated lumber adjacent to aluminum frames, an isolating barrier is required. If you are unsure whether this was done at your installation, inspect those contact points — look for staining, white powder, or pitting on the aluminum near any wood contact.
9. Skipping the Perimeter Caulk
Caulking around the window perimeter is not covered by PGT's or ES Windows' product warranties. Both manufacturers treat it explicitly as a homeowner maintenance responsibility. In South Florida's heat and UV exposure, exterior caulk degrades faster than in most climates — it will crack, shrink, and pull away from the frame or wall surface. When it does, water intrusion follows. Inspect perimeter caulking once per year and before rainy season. If it is cracked, chalky, soft, or pulling away from any surface, replace it. Use an exterior paintable caulk rated for high-temperature climates. For most windows this is a straightforward DIY task — a tube of caulk, a caulk gun, and 20 minutes per window.