Immediate action guide
Window & Door Installer Emergency Action Steps
What to do right now before a window & door installer arrives, with clear lines for 911, utility, and contractor calls.
First rule
If there is fire, smoke, shock, collapse risk, gas odor, carbon monoxide alarm, injury, trapped people, or any uncertainty about safety, leave the area and call 911. Use these steps only when you can act from a safe position.
E1
Broken Window Exposed
Do this now
- Move people, pets, and valuables away from the broken glass, sash, floor, exterior opening, and nearby furniture.
- Keep people and pets away and close the room if weather allows.
- Cover the opening from inside with cardboard or plastic only if you can avoid sharp glass.
- Photograph safely, note the time, and save temporary-material receipts.
- Call a window installer or glass pro and describe size, frame type, and security exposure.
Do not do this
- - Do not pull stuck glass shards by hand or lean on a cracked sash.
- - Do not re-enter while alarms, odors, sparks, smoke, water, or movement continue.
E2
Exterior Door Will Not Lock
Do this now
- Move people, pets, and valuables away from the exterior door, lockset, strike plate, frame, and entry path.
- Keep the door supervised and use another lockable entry if available.
- Use temporary security from inside only if it does not block emergency exit.
- Photograph safely, note the time, and save temporary-material receipts.
- Call a door installer or locksmith and explain whether the frame shifted or hardware failed.
Do not do this
- - Do not barricade a required exit so occupants cannot leave quickly.
- - Do not re-enter while alarms, odors, sparks, smoke, water, or movement continue.
E3
Window Leak During Storm
Do this now
- Move people, pets, and valuables away from the leaking window, sill, wall below, outlet, and floor.
- Move items away and stop using outlets on the wet wall.
- Place towels on the sill and a container on the floor without sealing water inside the wall.
- Photograph safely, note the time, and save temporary-material receipts.
- Call a window installer and report wind direction, window type, and interior damage.
Do not do this
- - Do not touch wet electrical devices, outlets, cords, panels, or switches.
- - Do not re-enter while alarms, odors, sparks, smoke, water, or movement continue.
E4
Patio Door Off Track
Do this now
- Move people, pets, and valuables away from the sliding door, track, glass panel, threshold, and exterior opening.
- Stop moving the door and keep people away from the glass edge.
- Secure the opening from inside if possible without lifting the panel.
- Photograph safely, note the time, and save temporary-material receipts.
- Call a door installer and describe whether the panel is tilted, cracked, or unsecured.
Do not do this
- - Do not lift a large glass panel alone or force it along the track.
- - Do not re-enter while alarms, odors, sparks, smoke, water, or movement continue.
E5
Glass Door Cracked
Do this now
- Move people, pets, and valuables away from the cracked glass door, frame, floor, and walking path.
- Stop using the door and keep people away from both sides.
- Tape a warning note nearby, not across loose glass that may shift.
- Photograph safely, note the time, and save temporary-material receipts.
- Call a glass or door installer for emergency board-up or replacement.
Do not do this
- - Do not slam, tape under tension, or lean on cracked safety glass.
- - Do not re-enter while alarms, odors, sparks, smoke, water, or movement continue.