Des Moines Rental Window Checklist

In a Central Iowa winter, windows are where tenants feel the cold first. Nights below zero, spring hail and summer storms all test glass, frames and seals. This checklist helps tenants in Des Moines and the suburbs know what's normal, what to report and what they can do themselves to stay comfortable.

Normal in winter

• Some frost or condensation at the bottom corners of the glass on the coldest mornings
• Cold air near older single-pane windows
• Windows that are a little stiff when the frame is very cold

Report within a week

• Fog or haze between the panes that won't wipe away
• A window that won't lock, stay open or close fully
• Drafts you can feel around the frame
• Water running onto the sill every morning
• Torn screens before summer

Report right away

• Cracked or broken glass, especially after hail
• Water leaking in around a window during rain
• A basement bedroom window that can't be opened as an exit
• A window that has come loose in its frame

Simple things tenants can do

1. Lock windows in winter so the sashes press tight against the seals
2. Run bath and kitchen fans and lower humidifiers on subzero nights. See frost and drafts in Iowa winters
3. Open blinds during the day so warm air reaches the glass
4. Keep snow and leaves out of basement window wells

After a hailstorm

Check screens, glass and frames once it's safe outside, take photos and send them to the manager. More: hail and your windows.

For property managers

A fall walk-through of locks, weatherstripping and caulking prevents most winter complaints. For service, see foggy glass and window repair, hail-damaged windows and screens and basement egress windows.