Window seals – Everything You Need to Know

What is a window seal?

A window seal is a window rubber gasket which is typically installed in uPVC windows and doors. You will find bubble gasket seals are installed around the opening of a window or door. Whereas Wedge and E-gaskets are installed around the glass units.

Can window seals be replaced?

You can replace upvc window seals in your uPVC windows and doors. Doing so is very easy and doesn’t require any tools. You will find you can remove and install most window seals with just your fingers.

What causes window seals to fail?

There are a number of reasons why window seals fail. The main reason is simply time and how long they’ve been installed for. This is because when a seal has been installed for a long period of time it flattens and loses its effectiveness. The second reason for failed window seals is shrinkage. Cold weather can cause your seal to shrink which pulls it out from the corners of your windows and doors. This can also cause the rubber window seal to become brittle and start crumbling overtime.

How long do window seals last?

Most window seals will last longer than 10 years. In fact, you will likely find that most window and door manufacturers will give you a 10 year guarantee. That being said, we recommend checking your window and door seals every 5 years.

Can a window seal be repaired?

If you’re looking to repair your window seal, sorry to say, this won’t be possible. Once window seals have lost their shape or become brittle the only thing to do is replace them.

Do windows with broken seals need to be replaced?

If you find your window seals are performing badly you should change them as soon as possible. Poor performing window and door seals will allow cold and draughts to enter your home. Depending on how bad your window seals are you may see a reduction in the cost of heating your home as a result of replacing them.

How can you tell if a window seal loses its seal?

Testing your window rubber seal is quite simple. The easiest way to do this is to simply feel for draughts and cold coming in around your window. If you can feel a cold breeze around the seals of your window then your seal has flattened and is no longer effective. You can also remove a bit of seal from your window, if it’s squashed flat or you find it’s brittle and crumbling then you should be replacing them right away. The third way would be looking for shrinkage. Sometimes window seals will shrink and pull away from the corners. You will have big gaps in the corners of your windows or glass where the seal is no longer situated.

How do I keep cold air from coming in my windows?

The best way to stop cold air from entering your home is simply to replace your window seals. If your seals are more than 10 years old then they will almost definitely need replacing. Doing so will drastically increase the efficiency of your home. The second thing you can do is replace your window hinges. Failed window hinges won’t close tightly on to your window seals. With that being said, even after you have replaced your window seals, you may need to also replace the hinges to get the maximum benefit from your new seals.

How to fix condensation on the inside of windows.

When the weather drops cold you may notice you have condensation on your windows. We have a great article which provides information on how this happens and what to do to fix it. Read the article here.

At GB DIY Store we stock a wide range of window seals and items to help seal your window and doors. Here’s a list of products you may find useful.