What to do if cold air is blowing from the window?

What are the reasons?

There are many options for why a draft comes from a window, for example:

• Installation was done incorrectly. Due to distortions or savings on mounting foam, windows, window sills, slopes can start to leak.
• Neglecting to adjust the fittings. Few people know that plastic windows have a summer and winter mode. They also need regular adjustments due to constant opening and closing.
• Heavy pollution. Dust and sand that get on the seal destroy it, and a draft starts coming from under the rubber.
• Saving on fittings. The source of drafts from windows can be budget hinges, locks, seals, and the double-glazed windows themselves.
• Incorrect protrusion. A tabletop under the window that is too wide disrupts the flow of warm and cold air, thereby worsening the microclimate. The window does not actually let it through, it just seems that way. In summer, the problem will be unnoticeable, but in winter, the difference in temperatures above and below will be noticeable.

How to find the cause yourself?

To save money on calling a specialist, you can carry out repairs yourself – especially since in most cases the work does not require qualifications or specific knowledge. To effectively solve the problem, you should find the cause of the draft, or rather determine the source of the draft.

The most effective method is fire. Light a match, candle or lighter and bring the flame to the plastic window. Move slowly around the perimeter of the window and frame: where the fire starts to move or go out, that is the right place.

The source of cold air can also be found by the visible problem:

• a strip of dust on the inside of the frame – the rebate is blowing;
• drops of water or ice along the lower edge of the PVC window – the problem is in the rebate or sealing rubber.

How to eliminate blowing depending on the source?

All plastic windows, expensive and cheap, have the same weak points: the perimeter of the sashes, window hinges, corners (joints), connection of static and dynamic frames, adjoining the window block to the window sill or slopes, the window sill to the wall.

From Everywhere

When the flame flickers or goes out anywhere, it means that the plastic windows are blowing from everywhere and the problem is most likely complex. The most common reason is non-compliance with the mode. High-quality plastic windows have 3 options, differing in pressure:

• Summer. The seal is not compressed, sounds pass through, the plastic is easily deformed – favorable for extending the service life.
• Winter. The mechanism presses the sashes as tightly as possible, pressing the rubber. The most airtight option
• Standard. The middle position between the warmest and most durable.

The mode can be adjusted with a trunnion – a special circle inside the frame. In summer it is maximally relaxed, in winter it is tightened. If tightening the trunnion does not help, we move on.

Plastic is not static, the material contracts and expands, and the fittings (hinges, clamps) become loose from constant use. As a result, the geometry may change or the connections may become loose: it is better to entrust the elimination to a master, he will cope with the job best. Due to ignorance, a plastic window can be completely damaged, as a result of which the transom will have to be replaced.

Advice! If the structures have been installed recently, use the installer’s or manufacturer’s warranty.

Glazing bead

Another reason for drafts around the perimeter is unsuitable or poorly cut glazing beads. The plastic profile performs the same function as the wooden one in old frames: it holds the glass in place, pressing it against the base. If the strip does not cope with its task well, there is a draft from the windows.

You can try to solve the problem with a sealant, but a more reliable way is to replace low-quality glazing beads with new ones, correctly selected and trimmed.

Window sill

We have already named one of the options for the accumulation of cold air in the window sill: a plane that is too wide, blocking the passage of the warm flow from the battery. The problem can be eliminated by installing ventilation grilles, or a complete renovation with the installation of a narrower model. Both methods will help to avoid differences and even out the temperature in the room.

The second, most common example is a gap between the window sill and the frame. The simplest, most aesthetically pleasing method of sealing is the sealant itself. Choose one that can withstand low temperatures.

1. Before applying, clean the joint, degrease it, and seal it with masking tape.
2. Then apply the composition and smooth it out with a special spatula.
3. Wait until it dries and remove the tape.

Don’t like the look of the sealant? Try a baseboard. A thin corner for a bathroom or kitchen is installed using the same sealant or special glue, pressing it tightly to the base.

The sealant problem can also be hidden under the window sill: it occurs due to saving on foam or its subsidence. You will have to blow foam under the base, wait until it dries completely, cut off the excess and decorate the opening.

Hinges

A source of cold from the hinges indicates incorrect adjustment of the sashes or their loosening. If it blows from the upper hinge, most likely there are problems with the horizontal plane. At the bottom — with a vertical one.

To fix the situation, you should remove the plastic plug of the hinge, due to which the draft comes from the window, and tighten the fasteners.

Window sash

We have already discussed most of the reasons why plastic window sashes start to draft — incorrect geometry, glazing beads that do not fit the seams, etc. Another common reason is the seals: rubber seals of any quality tend to wear out, so on sashes older than 5-7 years, the first thing you should do is check their condition. Are they in satisfactory condition? Keep looking for the cause. Worn out? Replacement will help to eliminate the problem of a plastic window.

Between the frame and the slopes or window sill

The window opening consists not only of the frame: the slopes and window sill can also blow. How to fix the situation between the frame and the “tabletop” is described in the section “Window sill”.

The seams between the frame and the slopes are insulated either with a sealant or by a total repair with foaming (depending on how much the draft is).

In what cases is it better to give the work to professionals?

Even if you have “golden hands”, but do not have sufficient knowledge in the construction of windows, you can easily ruin the already installed material. To prevent this, call a professional for the following tasks:

• changing the pressure;
• adjusting the hinges;
• replacing the glazing beads;
• correcting the geometry.

You can handle installing the handles and changing the summer-winter mode if there is a draft on your own.

Prevention recommendations

Windows are taken for granted by many: however, they require regular maintenance.

1. Washing. Wash the sashes, frames, slopes from the front and back sides at least 2 times a year.
2. Adjustment. A large number of operations causes the fittings to loosen and start to blow – so they need to be tightened. Call a specialist at least once a year.
3. Replacing worn parts. Seals, hinges and other elements can break – do not delay their renewal.

Only competent installation is more important than prevention: trust window replacement only to proven companies that provide a guarantee for their work. Do not skimp on fittings and components, then they will be reliable, will last a long time and will not blow.