They do a fantastic job of insulating your home during the winter and look very stylish, but when they run into problems, it can mean that all their benefits are lost.
If you’re experiencing some problems with your windows, then you’re not alone. We’ve collated some very common problems with double-glazing into this article, in addition to some ways you can fix them yourself – so let’s get into it.
Windows steaming up/foggy inside
Not only does it look very unappealing, but condensation inside your home can really affect your windows’ performance.
Ventilation is usually the culprit in this situation. It’s not just older windows that can come in contact with this either, your brand-new ones can also do it.
To combat this, you’ll need to get more air circulation into your property. You can do this by opening the vents above your windows to let some fresh air in, as well as investing in some humidity traps (dehumidifiers are very good at this).
Condensation between panes
If you notice some condensation between the actual panes, it will unfortunately take more than an open window to solve this issue.
It’s likely that a seal has been broken if this is the case, meaning you’ll require a specialist, such as ourselves, to take a proper look.
It might not be as serious as replacing the whole frame, thankfully, so try not to panic before getting your window properly looked at.
Draught coming in
Much like inner frame condensation mentioned previously, a draught from a window is likely to be coming in from a broken seal.
In this instance, the seal would likely have to be very badly damaged to let in the cold air, but it might not be a really expensive fix. It could simply be a case of replacing the seal rather than the whole window.
Another thing to look out for is if the seal between the actual wall and frame has not been set properly, so, if you feel cold air around the casing, you’ll know that the frame might not be excluding draft as well as it should.
If you are concerned about this, get in touch to discuss how this could be resolved.
Leaking double glazing
You can probably guess by now, but yes, this is again to do with the seal.
It could be that the weather seals have broken, letting in rain from the outside, so if this sounds like your situation, then you should definitely contact your local window specialist or whoever installed them.
However, the seal isn’t always to blame. It could be that the drainage section inside your double glazing is blocked. This a much cheaper (albeit dirtier) fix for leaky windows, as all it takes is a cleaning out for it to work as intended again, something easily done by yourself.
When it comes to leaks, it’s essential to do something about it as soon as possible to avoid any damage to the inside of your home, so don’t wait to get this issue sorted.
Stiff opening mechanism
Perhaps on a hot day you want some fresh air inside the house, but your windows just won’t open, or are much more challenging to open. In this instance, you should take a look at the mechanism inside the frame.
It might only require a bit of oil to get things moving again, which can be easily carried out by yourself if you know where you’re looking. However, if you can’t immediately see the issue, then it might be best to have our team at Infil take a look.
It can also be possible for the actual frame and metal inside the opening to shrink or expand under drastic cold or hot temperatures, respectively. The searing heatwave we had in 2022 could have had an impact on your window fittings, for example, so watch out for any spells of weather that could potentially cause a change in your fittings.
Bad locks
Whether they’re hard to lock and unlock, or don’t at all, it’s essential that you look to get these fixed quickly. The security of your property and family are at risk the longer you leave this issue, so getting these fixed sooner rather than later is better.
It might take a bit more than some WD-40 for your locks to be in working order again, so it is best practice to get a professional installer in to take a proper examination.
If after reading this article you are unable fix the issues of the common problems with double-glazing we’ve listed, feel free to give us a call on 01787 477231 today. Our 40+ years of double-glazing experience means that we’ll be able to fix most issues with your windows, and advise you on the next steps you should take if they need replacing.
Don’t put off fixing your double glazing, let’s do it together. As they say, a stitch in time saves nine.
