Fillable checklist

Window Inspection Checklist: Operation, Glass, and Bedroom Egress (Free Printable PDF)

Fillable form for window operation, fogged glass, frames, flashing, locks, bedroom egress, screens, and stains. Print blank or save a filled PDF.

Inspections Fillable form · 9 sections · 50 checks Download filled or blank PDF and CSV Cross-checked against IRC, InterNACHI SOP, CPSC, and ENERGY STAR · Last verified Sep 1, 2026

Snugage fillable checklist

Fill this on screen, then download a PDF or CSV. Download a blank copy to complete by hand. Answers stay in this tab only. The next visitor sees a blank form. This is a visual window inspection of a US house: operation and locks, glass and fogged IGUs, frames and sills, flashing and exterior, bedroom egress, screens, and water stains. Mark N/A on items the house does not have.

  • 9 sections
  • 50 checks
  • Blank for each visitor

Form details

Property

This is a visual template, not a licensed home inspection, not a municipal code inspection, and not ENERGY STAR certification. Adopted residential codes vary by state and city. InterNACHI 3.10 asks you to open and close a representative number of windows.

12 fields
Property

InterNACHI inspects a representative number, not every unit. Note unusual types (basement hopper, garden, or glass block) in Comments.

ENERGY STAR: cloudy moisture between panes is a failed insulating glass unit (IGU). Single-pane glass cannot fail that way. Mark Unknown if you cannot tell.

Example: all first-floor living rooms, three bedrooms, street and rear elevations from grade.

IRC R310.1: every sleeping room needs an emergency escape and rescue opening. Mark the egress station N/A only for rooms that are not used for sleep.

ENERGY STAR qualification uses independently tested U-factor and SHGC by climate zone. This form does not Pass or Fail a U-factor.

Copy the printed numbers only. Do not invent a Pass/Fail from memory. ENERGY STAR climate-zone limits apply to new certified products, not to a visual grade of old glass.

Sun, shade, rain, or recent rain. InterNACHI: fog between panes often shows only when glass is heated by sun. Surface condensation is not the same as a failed IGU.

Inspection station

Operation and locks

Open and close a representative number of windows. InterNACHI 3.10 requires that. Mark N/A on fixed glass. Do not force a painted-shut or jammed sash.

8 items
Operation and locks

A representative number of windows opened and closed

InterNACHI 3.2 and 3.10: inspect a representative number of windows by opening and closing them. Note rooms you could not reach (blocked by furniture or locked) in Notes.

A representative number of windows opened and closed: OK, Defect, or N/A

Operable sashes open, stay put, and close without binding

ENERGY STAR lists windows that do not open, or that are painted shut, as a replacement indicator. InterNACHI vinyl text: a sagging frame can make the sash bind. Mark Defect if you cannot open a unit that is meant to operate.

Operable sashes open, stay put, and close without binding: OK, Defect, or N/A

Sashes not painted or screwed shut

Painted-shut windows fail both ventilation and emergency escape. Mark N/A on fixed picture windows that were never meant to open.

Sashes not painted or screwed shut: OK, Defect, or N/A

Locks and latches engage and release from inside

A lock that will not release from inside is a defect on any operable window, and it blocks egress in a sleeping room. InterNACHI is not required to operate security-bar release devices. Mark N/A if there is no lock hardware.

Locks and latches engage and release from inside: OK, Defect, or N/A

Cranks, lifts, balances, and keepers intact

Broken cranks, missing keepers, or sashes that slam shut are defects. Mark N/A on fixed units. Do not dismantle balances.

Cranks, lifts, balances, and keepers intact: OK, Defect, or N/A

Slider and casement tracks or hinges free of debris and not bent

A packed track or a bent hinge that stops travel is a defect. Mark N/A on hung windows with no track.

Slider and casement tracks or hinges free of debris and not bent: OK, Defect, or N/A

Hung sashes hold at mid-height without slamming

Failed balances let the sash drop. That is a pinch and operation defect. Mark N/A on casements, sliders, and fixed glass.

Hung sashes hold at mid-height without slamming: OK, Defect, or N/A

Operable windows work without keys, tools, or a special sequence

IRC R310.1.1 (ICC 2017 coordination text): emergency openings shall be operational from inside without keys or tools. InterNACHI is not required to operate devices that need special keys. Mark N/A on non-sleeping rooms if you are not checking egress here.

Operable windows work without keys, tools, or a special sequence: OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

Glass and insulating units

Report glass you can see. InterNACHI 3.10 requires reporting obviously fogged windows. InterNACHI 3.2 is not required to determine hidden thermal-seal integrity. Do not invent a U-factor Pass/Fail.

7 items
Glass and insulating units

No cracked, broken, or missing glass in the units walked

A hole or a long crack is a defect. A small corner chip that does not leak can be a note. InterNACHI is not required to inspect for safety glazing. Do not mark Pass or Fail from tempered-glass etchings unless you actually saw broken safety glass.

No cracked, broken, or missing glass in the units walked: OK, Defect, or N/A

No obviously fogged or misty insulating glass

InterNACHI 3.10: report any window that was obviously fogged or displayed other evidence of broken seals. ENERGY STAR: cloudy moisture between panes means the IGU seal has failed and insulating power is lost. Mark N/A on confirmed single-pane glass.

No obviously fogged or misty insulating glass: OK, Defect, or N/A

No standing moisture, haze, or mineral tracks between panes

InterNACHI: riverbedding and silica haze are later damage after a failed seal. Clean the room-side and outdoor faces first so you are not calling surface dirt a failed IGU.

No standing moisture, haze, or mineral tracks between panes: OK, Defect, or N/A

Room-side or outdoor surface condensation distinguished from a failed IGU

ENERGY STAR: water on the indoor glass face is dew-point condensation from indoor humidity, not a failed seal. Exterior condensation can form in warm, humid weather on efficient glass. Failed IGU moisture sits between panes and cannot be wiped off.

Room-side or outdoor surface condensation distinguished from a failed IGU: OK, Defect, or N/A

Sunny and shaded units both viewed for fog

InterNACHI: a recent seal failure may show only after sun heats the airspace. Windows in shade can hide fog. This is still a visual check, not a thermal-camera test. InterNACHI is not required to prove a seal that shows no visible fog.

Sunny and shaded units both viewed for fog: OK, Defect, or N/A

Single-pane units identified, not scored as failed IGUs

ENERGY STAR lists single-pane glass as a reason to consider replacement for energy, not as a broken seal. Mark OK if the single pane is intact. Mark N/A if every unit is an IGU.

Single-pane units identified, not scored as failed IGUs: OK, Defect, or N/A

Printed U-factor or SHGC, if present, recorded only (not a Pass/Fail)

ENERGY STAR: U-factor is independently tested and listed on the NFRC label. Lower U-factor means less heat transfer. Climate-zone ENERGY STAR limits apply to new certified products. Do not mark Defect because a label shows a number you dislike. Put the numbers in Property.

Printed U-factor or SHGC, if present, recorded only (not a Pass/Fail): OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

Frames and sills

Walk interior stools and exterior sills you can reach from the floor or grade. Interior wall stains belong on the water-stain station, not here.

7 items
Frames and sills

Sills and stools sound: not rotten, swollen, or crumbling

ENERGY STAR lists degraded sills and sashes, with drafts, as a replacement indicator. Probe only soft wood you can reach. Do not dig into sound paint.

Sills and stools sound: not rotten, swollen, or crumbling: OK, Defect, or N/A

Sashes and frames not racked, sagging, or pulled at the corners

InterNACHI vinyl: frames can sag, warp, or separate at mitered corners. A business-card gap at a welded vinyl corner is a water path. Wood that has opened at the joints is the same defect in a different material.

Sashes and frames not racked, sagging, or pulled at the corners: OK, Defect, or N/A

Weep holes, if present, at the bottom of the frame and not clogged

InterNACHI vinyl: weeps belong on the bottom so water can leave the frame. Weeps on the top mean the unit may be upside-down. Clogged weeps hold water in the frame. Mark N/A on wood units with no weeps.

Weep holes, if present, at the bottom of the frame and not clogged: OK, Defect, or N/A

No low-frame holes (alarm wire or similar) that can leak into the wall

InterNACHI vinyl: an alarm hole at the base of a hollow frame can send water along the wire into the house. Mark N/A if you see no such holes.

No low-frame holes (alarm wire or similar) that can leak into the wall: OK, Defect, or N/A

Wood frames: paint or seal intact, no open joints at the exterior

Bare wood at the sill nose is a maintenance defect even if the sash still moves. Mark N/A on vinyl or aluminum frames.

Wood frames: paint or seal intact, no open joints at the exterior: OK, Defect, or N/A

Glazing beads, stops, and putty in place

Missing exterior beads or failed putty let water to the glass edge. Mark Defect if a stop is missing or hanging. Do not remove stops to inspect the sealant behind them.

Glazing beads, stops, and putty in place: OK, Defect, or N/A

No obvious drafts at the sash-to-frame joint with the unit closed

ENERGY STAR: air leaks and drafts waste energy. Feel along the lock side on a windy day, or look for daylight at the meeting rail. This is not an NFRC air-leakage test. ENERGY STAR cites a typical product AL of 0.3 cfm/ft2 for labeled units. Do not invent that number as a field Pass/Fail.

No obvious drafts at the sash-to-frame joint with the unit closed: OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

Flashing and exterior

Inspect flashing and trim you can see from the ground. InterNACHI 3.2 inspects flashing and trim, and is not required to inspect window flashing that is not visible from the ground.

7 items
Flashing and exterior

Visible head flashing, drip cap, or trim sheds water at the top of the unit

InterNACHI 3.2: inspect flashing and trim. A missing drip cap with a stain under the head is a defect. Concealed pan flashing behind cladding is not a visual Pass/Fail from the yard.

Visible head flashing, drip cap, or trim sheds water at the top of the unit: OK, Defect, or N/A

Jambs and side trim not open, reverse-lapped, or pulling from the cladding

An open gap at the side that shows housewrap or sheathing is a defect. Do not strip trim to look for hidden flashing.

Jambs and side trim not open, reverse-lapped, or pulling from the cladding: OK, Defect, or N/A

Perimeter sealant, where used, not split, missing, or bridging a failed joint

Failed caulk is a maintenance defect. Caulk is not a substitute for missing head flashing. Do not mark Pass just because fresh caulk was smeared over a stain.

Perimeter sealant, where used, not split, missing, or bridging a failed joint: OK, Defect, or N/A

Exterior sill or stool slopes out, not back toward the wall

A sill that ponds or drains under the cladding is a defect. Vinyl nailing fins and sloped sills vary by maker. Mark what you see, not a slope percentage unless you measured.

Exterior sill or stool slopes out, not back toward the wall: OK, Defect, or N/A

Siding, stucco, or brick not trapping water against the frame

Cladding butted tight to the frame with no gap, or stucco bridging onto the sash, can hold water. InterNACHI inspects exterior wall covering and a representative number of windows from the ground.

Siding, stucco, or brick not trapping water against the frame: OK, Defect, or N/A

Mulled or joined units: the joint between frames is closed

An open mullion is a common leak. Mark N/A on single units.

Mulled or joined units: the joint between frames is closed: OK, Defect, or N/A

Basement or low windows not buried in soil or splash

Soil against a frame is a rot and leak defect. Window wells belong on the egress station if they serve a sleeping room. Mark N/A if every window is well above grade.

Basement or low windows not buried in soil or splash: OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

Bedroom egress

Use this station for sleeping rooms, habitable attics, and finished basement rooms used for sleep. Mark every line N/A if no sleeping room was on this walk. Model IRC dimensions are not a Pass/Fail unless you measured. Adopted code year varies by city.

8 items
Bedroom egress

Each sleeping room walked has an operable emergency opening to the outside

IRC R310.1 (2009 ICC text and later coordination draft): basements, habitable attics, and every sleeping room shall have at least one operable emergency escape and rescue opening that opens to a public way, yard, or court. Where a basement has sleeping rooms, each sleeping room needs its own opening.

Each sleeping room walked has an operable emergency opening to the outside: OK, Defect, or N/A

That opening operates from inside without keys, tools, or special knowledge

IRC R310.1.1 (ICC 2017 coordination text): operational from inside without keys or tools. Window opening control devices on a required escape window shall comply with ASTM F2090. A lock, bar, or stop that needs a tool to open is a defect in a sleeping room.

That opening operates from inside without keys, tools, or special knowledge: OK, Defect, or N/A

Bottom of the clear opening not more than 44 inches above the finished floor (if measured)

IRC R310 (2009 text and ICC 2017 draft): sill height, later clarified as the bottom of the clear opening, not more than 44 inches (1118 mm) above the floor. Measure if you are scoring this line. Do not mark Pass from a glance. Mark N/A if you did not measure.

Bottom of the clear opening not more than 44 inches above the finished floor (if measured): OK, Defect, or N/A

Net clear opening recorded; model IRC is 5.7 sq ft (5.0 at grade) with 24 in height and 20 in width

ICC 2017 IRC R310.2.1 coordination text: net clear opening not less than 5.7 square feet, 24 inches high, and 20 inches wide, from normal operation. Grade-floor openings may be 5.0 square feet. All three must be met together. Do not invent a Pass/Fail without measuring the open sash. Put numbers in Notes.

Net clear opening recorded; model IRC is 5.7 sq ft (5.0 at grade) with 24 in height and 20 in width: OK, Defect, or N/A

Below-grade sleeping-room wells: not less than 9 sq ft, 36 in projection, and the window fully opens

ICC 2017 draft R310.2.3 / R310.4.1 and InterNACHI citing 2006 IRC R310: horizontal area not less than 9 square feet, projection and width not less than 36 inches, and the well must let the window open fully. Mark N/A if the opening is not below grade.

Below-grade sleeping-room wells: not less than 9 sq ft, 36 in projection, and the window fully opens: OK, Defect, or N/A

Wells deeper than 44 inches have a permanent ladder or steps usable with the window open

ICC 2017 draft and InterNACHI citing 2006 IRC R310.2: wells with vertical depth greater than 44 inches need a permanently affixed ladder or steps usable with the window fully open. Mark N/A if the well is 44 inches or shallower, or there is no well.

Wells deeper than 44 inches have a permanent ladder or steps usable with the window open: OK, Defect, or N/A

Well covers, bars, or grilles, if present, release from inside without a key or tool

ICC 2017 draft R310.4.4: covers, bars, grilles, or screens over an escape opening or well shall be releasable from inside without a key, tool, or force greater than normal operation. InterNACHI: covers must be operable from inside. Do not leave a locked cover on a sleeping-room well. Mark N/A if there is no cover.

Well covers, bars, or grilles, if present, release from inside without a key or tool: OK, Defect, or N/A

Window wells not holding water, debris, or stored items against the sash

InterNACHI: a waterlogged well leaks into the basement. Clear debris. A cover helps, but a frozen or snow-loaded cover can block escape. Mark N/A if there is no well.

Window wells not holding water, debris, or stored items against the sash: OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

Screens and fall safety

InterNACHI 3.2 is not required to inspect or operate screens. This owner form still walks screens and child-fall hardware. CPSC: never depend on insect screens to stop a fall. Mark N/A if there are no children and you are skipping fall hardware.

7 items
Screens and fall safety

Insect screens, if present, fit the opening and are not torn through

A missing or torn screen is a pest and comfort note, not fall protection. InterNACHI SOP does not require operating screens. Mark N/A on houses with no screens, or if you skipped them.

Insect screens, if present, fit the opening and are not torn through: OK, Defect, or N/A

Screens not treated as child fall protection

CPSC Window Safety Week and CPSC childproofing: never depend on screens to keep children from falling out of windows. Mark Defect if a caregiver is relying on a screen as a guard. Mark OK if the screen is only for insects.

Screens not treated as child fall protection: OK, Defect, or N/A

Window stops, if used for children, limit the opening to 4 inches or less

CPSC: install window stops so windows open no more than four inches. CPSC childproofing: limit openings to four inches, including the space between window-guard bars. Mark N/A if no stops are installed. In a sleeping room, stops must still release for egress (see Bedroom egress).

Window stops, if used for children, limit the opening to 4 inches or less: OK, Defect, or N/A

Window guards, if present, are secure and at least one window per room can be used for fire escape

CPSC: install window guards. For windows on the 6th floor and below, adults and older children should be able to open the guards in a fire. CPSC childproofing: check guards often. Mark N/A if there are no guards.

Window guards, if present, are secure and at least one window per room can be used for fire escape: OK, Defect, or N/A

Furniture not placed as a climb under operable windows where children are present

CPSC: keep furniture away from windows so children cannot climb. Mark N/A if no young children live here, or if windows are not reachable that way.

Furniture not placed as a climb under operable windows where children are present: OK, Defect, or N/A

When ventilating around children, lower sashes stay closed if an upper sash can open instead

CPSC: whenever possible, open windows from the top instead of the bottom. Mark N/A on casements, awnings, or if no children are present.

When ventilating around children, lower sashes stay closed if an upper sash can open instead: OK, Defect, or N/A

Window covering cords, if present, not looped or dangling in a child's reach

CPSC childproofing: use cordless coverings in homes with young children. Continuous loops need a tension device. InterNACHI is not required to inspect window treatments. Mark N/A if coverings are cordless, or if you did not check treatments.

Window covering cords, if present, not looped or dangling in a child's reach: OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

Water stains and leaks

Look at drywall, stools, floors, and exterior cladding under each window walked. A stain is not the same as a failed IGU. Active drip during rain is stronger evidence than an old ring.

6 items
Water stains and leaks

No water stains on drywall, stools, or trim under the windows walked

ENERGY STAR: degraded frames can leak into walls. Look for peeling paint, cupped stools, and brown rings. An old stain that is dry can be a note. Active dampness is a defect.

No water stains on drywall, stools, or trim under the windows walked: OK, Defect, or N/A

No staining, cupping, or damaged finish on the floor under a window

Water that bypasses the stool often shows first at the floor. Mark N/A if flooring is fully covered and you did not move rugs. InterNACHI is not required to move furniture or coverings.

No staining, cupping, or damaged finish on the floor under a window: OK, Defect, or N/A

No streaking, rust, or decay at head and jambs on the outside

Stains below the head flashing line point to a flashing or sealant problem. Match what you marked on Flashing and exterior.

No streaking, rust, or decay at head and jambs on the outside: OK, Defect, or N/A

No active drip, wet insulation, or wet sash during or after rain

If the walk is dry, use stains and occupant report. Note the weather in Property. Do not mark Pass on a leak you could not see because it was a dry week.

No active drip, wet insulation, or wet sash during or after rain: OK, Defect, or N/A

Widespread interior-glass sweating treated as humidity, not as a wall leak

ENERGY STAR: indoor glass condenses when the glass is below the dew point. Run bath and kitchen fans, and do not block airflow at the glass. Mark Defect only if you also see wall or floor water that is not from glass-face dew.

Widespread interior-glass sweating treated as humidity, not as a wall leak: OK, Defect, or N/A

No open gap at the frame that can pass insects or wind-driven rain

ENERGY STAR: degraded sashes can admit pests as well as water. A daylight crack at a corner is enough to mark Defect even without a stain yet.

No open gap at the frame that can pass insects or wind-driven rain: OK, Defect, or N/A

Form details

Findings and sign-off

List every Defect line here. This worksheet is not a licensed inspection report, not a municipal code inspection, and not an ENERGY STAR product rating.

5 fields
Findings and sign-off

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References

  1. Home Inspection Standards of Practice (windows, flashing, fogged glass) - InterNACHI
  2. Condensation in Double-Paned Windows (failed IGU seals) - InterNACHI
  3. Vinyl Windows (weeps, mitered corners, sagging) - InterNACHI
  4. Window Well Inspection (well size, ladder, covers) - InterNACHI
  5. Is It Time to Replace Your Windows? (fogged glass, drafts, painted shut) - ENERGY STAR
  6. Residential Windows, Doors, and Skylights (condensation, installation, climate zones) - ENERGY STAR
  7. Independently Tested and Certified Energy Performance (U-factor and SHGC labels) - ENERGY STAR
  8. CPSC Urges Families to Protect Children During National Window Safety Week (screens, 4-inch stops, guards) - CPSC
  9. Childproofing Your Home (window screens are not fall protection) - CPSC
  10. 2009 IRC R310.1 Emergency Escape and Rescue Openings (sleeping rooms, 44-inch sill) - ICC
  11. IBC/IRC emergency escape and rescue coordination (net clear opening, wells, no keys or tools) - ICC

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These checklists are provided for general reference only. Always verify the steps against local codes, a licensed inspector or a qualified contractor before relying on them, especially for safety-critical work.