What to Do When a Window Breaks: 4 Steps for Peace of Mind - Acme Glass (2024)

Posted on Mar 31, 2020 // Windows // By acmeglassvt

The dreaded broken window—more than simply an inconvenience, a broken window can compromise your home’s security, comfort, and energy efficiency. Whether your window is cracked or the glass has been shattered, there are simple steps you can take to give yourself peace of mind that your home remains safe and efficient.

Step 1: Clear up the mess

If you’re dealing with shattered glass, you definitely do not want to leave it lying around. Put on some protective gloves and prepare to clear the area. Use your gloved hands to carefully pick up the biggest pieces and place them in either a paper or double-layered plastic bag. Then vacuum the tiniest pieces so that you’re in no danger of accidentally stepping on the smaller shards.

Is some of the glass still hanging onto the window frame? You may choose to remove it yourself. Place a protective drop cloth under the window to catch the broken glass as you loosen it by tapping it with the butt of a hammer.

Step 2: Secure the window opening

If your local window repair service cannot come immediately, the next step is to temporarily cover the hole. To keep your property secure, stop your heat or AC from escaping, and prevent any critters from making themselves at home, you’ll want to seal the opening. You can temporarily fix a broken window pane until a professional repair team arrives.

If your window is cracked, use clear packing tape or masking tape to keep the air from coming in or out. Be sure to very carefully clean the inside and outside of the window first.

If the window is shattered, you should start by clearing the window pane to avoid any further accidents (see step 1 above). You can then use heavy duty, double-layered plastic to cover the opening (trash bags work well). Fold the plastic to the size you need and tape or staple it for a temporary fix.

Step 3: File an insurance claim

Find out whether your broken window is covered by your homeowners insurance, especially if it was a result of an act of nature or a break-in. Your insurance provider may have certain requirements for what you need in order to file a claim, and which repair companies you are able to work with.

You may also need the assistance of your window repair professional in order to meet the requirements of your insurer. Before you try to repair the damage, contact your insurance rep to find out more about their policies.

Step 4: Call a window repair and replacement professional

Finally, make an appointment with a window contractor to help you assess and repair the damage. Using a professional company is the best way to ensure that your job is not only done neatly, but correctly. They will also be able to recommend the right replacement for your home.

A broken window brings all of your home’s windows and doors top of mind. Now might be the time to consider upgrading to more energy-efficient and/or durable replacement windows for your entire home. A professional will be able to size and install these replacement windows correctly.

Dealing with a broken window isn’t fun, but following these four steps will provide the peace of mind you need to get on with your life.

Need help repairing a broken window in your home? Contact Acme Glass to get it done right.

What to Do When a Window Breaks: 4 Steps for Peace of Mind - Acme Glass (1)

What to Do When a Window Breaks: 4 Steps for Peace of Mind - Acme Glass (2024)

FAQs

What to Do When a Window Breaks: 4 Steps for Peace of Mind - Acme Glass? ›

Temporary solutions Clear tape: Apply strong, weather-resistant tape such as duct tape or packing tape on both sides of the broken window to hold the glass together temporarily . Plastic sheeting: Cover the broken window with a heavy-duty plastic sheet and secure it in place with tape or nails.

What is the solution of broken window? ›

Temporary solutions Clear tape: Apply strong, weather-resistant tape such as duct tape or packing tape on both sides of the broken window to hold the glass together temporarily . Plastic sheeting: Cover the broken window with a heavy-duty plastic sheet and secure it in place with tape or nails.

What to do if someone breaks your house window? ›

Someone Broke In: Now What Do I Do?
  1. Call the Police. First things first; call the police and file a report. ...
  2. Call Your Insurance Company. Call your homeowner's or renter's insurance provider within 24 hours to begin the claims process as quickly as possible. ...
  3. Watch Security Footage. ...
  4. Clean Up. ...
  5. Improve Your Home's Security.

What is an example of broken windows theory in real life? ›

An example of broken windows theory can be seen in public restrooms. The inside of restroom stalls is a frequent target of graffiti and vandalism. When the managers of the restroom take action to remove graffiti, and repair damage within a day of it occurring, the social norm of not causing damage is maintained.

What precautions should you take when replacing a broken window? ›

Wear durable shoes and gloves.

As you begin the cleanup process, it's important to take some safety precautions for yourself. Wearing gloves to protect your hands and shoes that will cover your feet is an efficient way to avoid any cuts or injuries from the glass.

What to do when your window breaks? ›

What to Do When a Window Breaks: 4 Steps for Peace of Mind
  1. Step 1: Clear up the mess. If you're dealing with shattered glass, you definitely do not want to leave it lying around. ...
  2. Step 2: Secure the window opening. ...
  3. Step 3: File an insurance claim. ...
  4. Step 4: Call a window repair and replacement professional.
Mar 31, 2020

What is the rule of broken windows? ›

The broken windows theory states that visible signs of disorder and misbehavior in an environment encourage further disorder and misbehavior, leading to serious crimes. The principle was developed to explain the decay of neighborhoods, but it is often applied to work and educational environments.

Should I call the police if someone breaks my window? ›

A smashed car window is usually a sign that your car has been broken into. If that's the case, contact the police and take precautions with your personal information.

What is it called when someone breaks your window? ›

Having your car windows smashed by thieves looking for items to steal now feels like a frustrating rite of passage in the Bay Area. Car break-ins have become so prevalent that some residents refer to them by the unofficial term, 'bipping.' ( Illustration by Anna Vignet/KQED) Jump to: My car was just broken into.

What can I use to cover a broken window in my house? ›

Plastic is your best friend here. You can use tough garbage bags or any strong plastic that can handle a bit of roughness. Use duct tape or masking tape to cover and seal these gaps, preventing drafts and potential water infiltration.

How do you solve Broken Window Theory? ›

A successful strategy for preventing vandalism, according to the book's authors, is to address the problems when they are small. Repair the broken windows within a short time, say, a day or a week, and the tendency is that vandals are much less likely to break more windows or do further damage.

What is the Broken Window Theory in psychology? ›

broken windows theory, academic theory proposed by James Q. Wilson and George Kelling in 1982 that used broken windows as a metaphor for disorder within neighbourhoods. Their theory links disorder and incivility within a community to subsequent occurrences of serious crime.

What is the paradox of the broken window? ›

The broken window fallacy suggests that an event can have unforeseen negative ripple effects if money is redirected to repairing broken items rather than to new goods and services. The theory suggests that a boost to one part of the economy can cause losses to other sectors of the economy.

What happens if someone breaks your window? ›

Call the police and let them know what happened. There may be cameras in the parking lot that the police can access to see if they can locate a suspect. The authorities will also need to file an incident report, which you'll need when you file your insurance claim for auto glass replacement.

What type of hazard is a broken window? ›

Broken glass also has the potential to be a health hazard if it is contaminated with toxic chemicals, blood, or infectious substances which may enter the body through a cut or puncture.

What to do if glass shatters on you? ›

How to Treat Stepping on Glass at Home
  1. Clean the injured area. Germs can infect the wound if it's not clean enough. Use soap and warm water to wash the area. ...
  2. Use tools. You can use tweezers to pull out the glass splinter. ...
  3. Clean and protect the area after removal. Wash the area with soap and water again.
Jul 16, 2023

What is the solution to broken windows theory? ›

A successful strategy for preventing vandalism, according to the book's authors, is to address the problems when they are small. Repair the broken windows within a short time, say, a day or a week, and the tendency is that vandals are much less likely to break more windows or do further damage.

What's the best thing to put over a broken window? ›

You can use packing tape, masking tape, or duct tape. Put the tape over the cracks on both sides of the glass. This keeps the glass together and stops it from getting worse until you get a new window. If there are too many cracks to tape, you can use cardboard.

How to solve window problem? ›

Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters, or select the Find troubleshooters shortcut at the end of this topic, and then select Additional troubleshooters.

How to fix a broken window without replacing it? ›

Nail polish or super glue: Filling the crack with a few layers of clear nail polish or clear super glue can fix the issue. Wipe away any excess polish after each application for a cleaner finish. Let each layer dry before applying another. Plastic brace: This option is more temporary and less attractive.

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