Draught proofing old uPVC windows

dr_bogenbroom

Hi,

Now that the weather is colder I am now noticing draughts more in the house we just bought. 

The rubber seals in 2 windows in our living room had small gaps even with the window closed, so am I right in saying I need new seals, or is the window more likely misaligned? 

I’ve tried searching for replacement seals but it seems to be tricky - I’m thinking of taking a sample to a local warehouse snow supplier. 

Any tips or advice welcome - below are a couple of pics showing the seals in question:

bjorn_toby_wilde

It could be a bit of both.  The seals do shrink up over time. There are online companies who will supply a bag of samples so you can find the right one. I didn’t have any luck sourcing them locally.

Check first whether the seal can be removed. Some Modern ones are coextruded with the frame so they can’t be replaced.

There are YouTube videos which will show you how to adjust the hinges but if the frame itself is slightly twisted then it’s more difficult.

Is there a “Window Doctor” type business near you? That could be worth a try.

dr_bogenbroom

bjorn_toby_wilde said:

It could be a bit of both.  The seals do shrink up over time. There are online companies who will supply a bag of samples so you can find the right one. I didn’t have any luck sourcing them locally.

Check first whether the seal can be removed. Some Modern ones are coextruded with the frame so they can’t be replaced.

There are YouTube videos which will show you how to adjust the hinges but if the frame itself is slightly twisted then it’s more difficult.

Is there a “Window Doctor” type business near you? That could be worth a try.

There is a window doctor guy and I’ve just had triple glazed installed in 2 rooms facing a busy road and the difference in heat retention is definitely noticeable. If only we had the funds for the whole house that would be ideal.

I’ll reach out to the guy who fitted the triple glazed ones and see if they do window doctor stuff, I’m pretty sure they do. 

Thanks.

smyluk

It looks like you either have a bubble gasket or flipper gasket. If you find the end and pull it out of the channel, you will be able to see its unique shape. You can then compare the shape and size of your current seal against similar window seal suppliers. We have previously used seals direct who supply glazing and window seals.

You could also look at putting a secondary glazing gasket on the opposite face. This will create another seal. On the link above, look at the section called 'sponge weatherstrip seals'.