Plastic windows leak in the house in winter: causes of condensation and how to correct the situation

Reasons why plastic windows cry in winter

It is believed that only windows with plastic frames leak, but this is not true. Let's explain.

Windows most often begin to leak at the beginning and end of winter, when temperature changes begin. The temperature difference between the street and home is too high, and the humidity rises.

Due to poor ventilation in the house or its absence, excess moisture has nowhere to go and it condenses in the coldest places of the house - on the windows. It is high humidity that is the problem of “crying” windows, and not that the window operator installed the double-glazed window incorrectly.

Quite the contrary: if moisture settles on the glass, this is a sure sign that the windows are reliably sealed and air from the street does not get inside. If you previously had windows in a wooden frame, and moisture did not settle on the glass, this means that there were micro-slits through which the window sill was ventilated.

Therefore, there is no need to urgently call a window specialist or complain about a bad double-glazed window. Eliminate the reason why moisture remains on the glass. This may be due to:

• lack of ventilation or its malfunction;
• lack of access to warm air to the window due to thick curtains or a wide window sill and flowers on it;
• cold uninsulated slopes on windows;
• improper installation, which can also occur in some cases (when the window was not installed by a specialist, for example).

Violation of installation technology

First you need to determine if the window is leaking when it rains or if water accumulates regardless of weather conditions. If puddles form only during bad weather, the first suspected reason is a violation of installation technology. Most often it leads to errors:

• incompetence of workers;
• ignorance of the design features of double-glazed windows and frames of a particular manufacturer;
• choosing cheap materials out of a desire to save money.

The easiest way to avoid leaking plastic windows due to installation errors is to contact trusted companies that have been on the market for a long time.

Leaking plastic windows: how to fix them

The first thing you need to pay attention to when there is condensation on the window glass is how the ventilation in the house works. If it is not there or it is faulty, then excess moisture will not be removed from the room and will settle, according to the laws of physics, in the coldest places. Therefore, improve the ventilation.

If there is no ventilation, and it is not possible to do it quickly, then to eliminate leaks in the windows, you can ventilate the premises more often:

• open the windows for micro-ventilation for half an hour to an hour (this is possible in plastic structures);
• method of instant ventilation, opening the window completely for 5 minutes.

Such actions will not cool the room, and excess moisture will be drawn outside, which will help maintain the windows without leaks.

There are also mini-systems that are mounted directly into the frame of a plastic window - a ventilated valve. It helps to ventilate the room and maintain optimal humidity on the windowsill.

You can also use the kitchen hood system as a ventilation system, turning it on several times a day for 30 minutes.

Tip: Use relays in ventilation systems to set automatic on and off mode. Their cost starts from 600 rubles, and saves enough time and nerves.

It also happens that residents are not afraid of the humidity in the room, but on the contrary, they want to preserve it. In this case, condensation on the windows in winter should only be dried on the windowsill.

To do this, you need to direct warm air to the windows. How to do it?

1. Bring the ventilation box from the battery under the window sill to the windows. Then warm air will flow through them and the problem of weeping windows will be solved.
2. Buy decorative lamps or candles with an electric heater that will dry the window sill. They look great in the interior, creating a fabulous image behind closed curtains. Just observe fire safety.
3. Remove flowers from the windowsill and keep curtains and tulle open more often.

Often condensation falls on the window itself, but on the slopes. This is due to the fact that when installing the window, the slopes were not insulated, and now these are the coldest places in the house. It is advisable to disassemble them and insulate them as soon as possible so that mold does not have time to appear.

What to do?

We figured out why plastic windows leak. Now, it’s important to decide what to do with all this. First you need to establish the cause of the leak. It, as you understand, can be different. Of course, in this matter it is better to trust the professionals. For example, Teplo Doma specialists are faced with a problem when a plastic window leaks in the rain, almost several times a day. If you don’t need an extra headache and searching for unknown reasons, then contact our specialist and discuss all the conditions with him.

If you decide to do everything yourself, which we strongly do not recommend, then you will have to plunge into this topic headlong.

Installation

If any mistakes were made during window installation, it will be very difficult to identify them. In addition, in most cases these same errors have to be eliminated by dismantling and subsequent re-installation of the metal-plastic structure.

Sealant

Windows leak when it rains, what should I do? Try looking at the rubber seal. How does she “feel”? Does it have any cracks, is it resilient, does it fit snugly against the door frame? A poor-quality seal can deform or dry out quite quickly. The seal will need to be replaced.

Important!

Did you know that the sealing rubber on plastic windows needs to be treated with a special Vaseline-based product every six months? This will significantly extend its service life.

Not only rainwater, but also dust, cold air and noise from the street can pass through a loose sealing rubber.

Slopes

If improperly made slopes cause leakage of plastic windows, then this is again an installation issue. In this case, most likely, it will be necessary to correct the mistakes of those who made these very slopes.

Polyurethane foam

As for polyurethane foam, everything is a little simpler here. If there are cracks, they need to be sealed. First, dig everything out thoroughly, then dry it, and then blow it out with foam, let it dry, and then do the exterior finishing.

It is imperative to hide the mounting foam from ultraviolet rays. If this is not done, then in just a year it will turn into dust. Of course, if we are not dealing with some kind of special foam that is not “afraid” of sunlight.

Drainage holes

If the drainage holes cannot cope with a large flow of water, then it goes over the edge straight onto the windowsill. It is also worth noting that over time, these same drainage holes have a habit of becoming clogged. As a result, the flow of water first decreases and then stops altogether. It happens that drains are milled incorrectly at the factory. As a result, moisture gets into the holes, in winter it freezes, the water expands, and nothing good happens.

What to do about it? If the drains are clogged, they need to be cleaned. If they are done incorrectly, contact the manufacturer. If this is not possible, then do everything as needed. If it doesn’t work, then call a specialist.

What's the result? If your PVC windows leak during rain, then you need to act:

• Determine the cause of the leak.
• Solve the problem yourself.
• If you cannot fix the leak yourself, seek help from specialists.

Related article: How to make plastic windows close tighter

Ways to protect windows from condensation

The problem of weeping glass can be eliminated in other ways, including folk remedies. A similar task faces motorists. Special chemical compositions have been developed for them to prevent the formation of condensation. The most commonly used methods:

1. Saline solution: 1 tbsp. spoon for 5 liters of water. Wipe the glass with liquid. If whitish stains remain, repeat the procedure with a lower salt concentration.
2. Soap or detergent solution. The steps are similar; finally, wipe the glass with a dry cloth. Proceed in the same way with the water and glycerin-alcohol mixture. The proportion is maintained at 10:1.
3. Second window cleaner - spray evenly over the entire area, rub dry with clean newspaper.
4. Decorative candles, lit and placed on window sills (away from curtains and curtains), will raise the temperature near the glass. The dew point will disappear.
5. A household fan will cope with condensation in 10–20 minutes if the flow is directed towards a weeping window.

The optimal living conditions are considered to be a humidity of 40–60% and a temperature of 19–24ºС. In a well-ventilated house, the likelihood of condensation forming is almost zero, and the windows remain clean and beautiful. Careful handling of plastic double-glazed windows will help maintain a favorable microclimate in the house for a long time and ensure comfortable living for people.

Where are the drainage holes?

These drainage holes are located on the frame at the bottom of the housing. They are available on the inside and on the outside. You can find holes by opening the window sash.

It has been noted that lower drainage holes are not always effective. Sometimes you feel the need for such paths at the top of the window. Many models have similar additional holes, but in this case we are talking about the most modern products. How to prevent water from forming in a window.

If you are very worried about the issue of liquid in the window, and the mere presence of drainage holes does not completely calm you down, then you should do the following:

• firstly, close the window sashes tightly to prevent precipitation from getting in;
• secondly, make sure that condensation does not form on the double-glazed windows, and if this happens, eliminate the cause;
• third, clean the drainage holes occasionally.

Step-by-step instruction

If you find an accumulation of water on the windowsill, do not be upset. Use the step-by-step instructions, following which you will soon receive a fully functional window without hassle and serious additional costs:

1. Call and arrange a visit from a specialist at a time convenient for you. While you wait for the specialist, wipe the window with a dry soft cloth so that water does not destroy the structure.
2. The technician will arrive with everything necessary to diagnose the window and determine the causes of the leaks. The inspection usually does not take much time.
3. If the situation can be resolved by simple adjustments, they will be carried out on site. Otherwise, a specialist will advise on further actions and calculate the cost of repairs. If the client is satisfied with everything, a contract for the provision of services is signed.

To use the service right now, call the contact numbers listed on this website.

Elimination of condensation on windows, the cause of which is the double-glazed window itself.

It should be noted here that when choosing plastic windows, you should give preference to two-chamber or three-chamber double-glazed windows. Their thermal insulation properties are significantly higher than single-chamber double-glazed windows. This choice can eliminate the problem of condensation.

If the reason is a defective double-glazed window, then you need to contact the company that installed the double-glazed window for you.

Also, the reason may be poor-quality installation, lack of mounting foam to completely seal the double-glazed window and the presence of unsealed cracks in the slopes. Once these shortcomings are eliminated, the condensation problem will also be solved.

Related posts:

Plastic windows for a bathhouse Blinds for plastic windows: types, installation features Curtains for plastic windows: variety of types, installation features Naturalism with all the amenities: plastic panoramic windows in a wooden house…

How to fix leaky windows?

In fact, there are as many fixes as there are causes of window leaks. This could be something as simple as replacing the weatherstripping on a sliding window, or as complex as having to repair half of your rotten wood wall before even getting around to replacing the window.

You can try some simple maintenance work such as:

• Remove the damaged exterior caulking, clean the window frame, and reseal it.
• Check the gasket between the window frame and the glass. Seal the glass to the gasket with clear silicone sealant.
• Make sure the sill at the bottom of the window frame slopes down to drain water out.
• Remove dirt, debris and insects from the drainage holes on the bottom of the frame. Use a small wire to disconnect these holes. This will allow water that passes through the mesh to drain out.

Read Reasons to choose arched windows for your home

If your window extends beyond the actual unit and is or has affected the structure around the window, the only correct solution is to call an experienced window replacement professional to evaluate and possibly perform a full frame window replacement.

It is often difficult to determine if there is moisture damage in the frame until the window is exposed. These walls look good, but the inside is a mess.

Although full-frame replacement is more expensive than other solutions, it is also the most thorough. Window reinstallers will be able to remove any damaged or rotten wood from the frame and surrounding wall structure.

But what is perhaps more important in the long run is that they will identify where the leak is coming from and be able to tell you whether it is directly related to the windows or is coming from another part of the wall.

What types of valves are there?

They can be installed either on the sash or on a solid frame. A significant advantage of this design is its fairly simple installation - no milling or drilling of the metal-plastic profile is required. The ventilation structure will be supplied with the mechanism itself, a rubber seal (so that it itself does not create cracks and drafts), self-tapping screws and instructions for installation and operation.

The modern building materials market offers a fairly wide range of valve models in different price categories. This includes those that are cheaper - they are made of cheaper plastic, small, and have manual adjustment of the size of the ventilation holes. Medium and high cost involves making the valve from good quality materials (plastic or even metal), remote or automatic adjustment of the fresh air supply.

The last option is worth special mention.

A few more pros

Some people are confused by the fact that some kind of ventilation devices are installed in a structure that, by definition, should be airtight. In fact, they do not create drafts at all. The holes are located at the very top of the sash, so the air movement occurs completely under the ceiling. The living area of ​​the premises will not feel uncomfortable air movement.

For the above reason, valves have a significant advantage in the cold season, because an open window sash begins to let cold into the house, and you need to spend more on heating. The valve only lets in the volume of air that is needed for useful ventilation, so the room does not cool down at the same rate.

Due to poor air exchange, carbon dioxide begins to accumulate in the rooms, which affects the well-being of residents - causing weakness and drowsiness. Fresh air carries a large amount of oxygen for vigor and well-being.

Solution

What to do if water flows from the windowsill? To eliminate the leak, you must first determine the cause of the problem. And only after this you can begin to troubleshoot the operation of the plastic window.

If the reason lies in poor-quality installation, then the best option is to contact the company that installed the plastic window. Especially if the problem was identified soon after the process. Company employees must eliminate the cause of the malfunction.

If the warranty period has expired, or the company no longer exists, you will have to make do on your own. To do this you will need to process the seams. First, the surface is cleaned of dirt, dust and old coating. Then the joints should be sealed.

How to seal the gap between the window sill and the plastic window? Initially, the gaps are treated with polyurethane foam. After the composition has hardened, the excess is cut off with a knife and covered with acrylic sealant. This treatment of seams will provide reliable protection against leaks.

If a low-quality drip lining is installed outside, or it has become damaged over time. it needs to be replaced. It is best to choose plastic ebbs. They are resistant to external influences, mechanical damage, and are durable and reliable.

How to seal a leak from a window sill if the reason for its formation is a loose fit of the sashes? If the rubber seal wears out or dries out, it is worth replacing the element with a new one. You can buy the sealant in specialized stores.

If the sashes are sagging, then their position should be adjusted. To do this, you need to tighten special screws located in the perforations of the fittings. Adjustment is carried out in all directions: along the axis of rotation (if the window is folding), length, width and height. For this work you will need an imbus wrench.

Fittings from different manufacturers differ in their mechanism, so the adjustment of individual brands is different. Therefore, to carry out such work, it is best to use the services of specialists. The master recognizes the brand at first sight and takes appropriate action.

Choosing fittings for plastic windows: selection criteria, features of elements and review of manufacturers.

The consequences of window fogging and what will happen if you don’t deal with it

The appearance of condensation is not only an aesthetic problem. Many people easily accept the fact that plastic windows, when fogged up, temporarily lose their vaunted transparency. However, neglecting this nuisance can lead to much more serious problems.

Firstly,

the degree of illumination decreases. In winter, the days are already very short, it is better not to deprive yourself of sunlight. It is useful for the eyes, immunity, and finally, for the prevention of clinical depression.

Secondly,

Condensation on windows leads to constant dampness, and this is an ideal environment for the proliferation of pathogens, bacteria, fungi and mold growth. The air becomes musty and unpleasant, like in a damp basement. A runny nose appears, the mood of household members deteriorates, sleep is disturbed, and the risk of getting sick increases.

Thirdly, mold, dampness, and bacteria spoil finishing materials. There is nothing pleasant about green and black stains on slopes, ceilings and wallpaper, and they are very difficult to remove. Constant freezing destroys the insulation, and it begins to blow from the frames. In particularly advanced cases, structures become fragile, which threatens dangerous destruction.

Origin of condensate

As mentioned above, water forming on the surface of a glass unit is called condensation. Condensation is the transition of water from a vapor state to a liquid state. The colder the room side of the glass unit, the greater the likelihood of condensation forming on it. Also, the likelihood of windows fogging is affected by the humidity in the room.

If we explain this from the point of view of physics, then there is such a thing as dew point . Dew on the grass occurs because in the morning the air temperature rises faster than the temperature of the grass, and at the moment when the temperature of the grass reaches the “dew point”, the vapor in the air settles on its surface, forming drops. Fogging of windows has the same nature.

Another example is a glass bottle that has just been taken out of the freezer. As soon as it is taken out, condensation immediately forms on it, which will subside only when the glass warms up to a temperature close to room temperature.

Using this table, you can determine the temperature of the glass surface at which condensation will form on it. As mentioned above, this value depends on two factors: the air temperature in the room and the humidity in the room. You can measure the humidity in a room with a hygrometer. This is an inexpensive device that is often built into digital watches or sold separately.

Quite often the question is asked: why did the old windows not sweat, but the new windows sweat? The fact is that Soviet carpentry windows have a large distance between the glasses in the frames, for this reason the glass that is in the room has a higher temperature than the same glass in a single-chamber double-glazed unit. But this does not mean at all that old carpentry windows are warmer.

Care Tips

For windows to last a long time, they must be properly cared for. This is especially important if there have been cases of moisture appearing on the windows. Simple tips will help you organize your care.

Tip 1. Clean surfaces and glass regularly.

Clean the surface with a damp viscose cloth once a month. Detergents must not contain solvents. Cleaning with sharp objects is prohibited. Once every six months, a protective agent is applied to the profile.

Chemicals are used to clean glass units. During cleaning, it is necessary to prevent such a product from coming into contact with the profile.

Tip 2. Treat rubber seals.

Strips of rubber, reinforced around the perimeter of the window, create a tight seal on the sash. They are subject to increased wear. In order for rubber seals to last longer, they need to be looked after: wiped and lubricated. The quality of cleaning will improve significantly, and the elasticity of the rubber will increase after using silicone oil.

Tip 3. Take care of the fittings.

Regular maintenance of the fittings is required after a year of use.

Moving elements must be protected from sand, debris, and dust. The handle requires special attention: loose fasteners are immediately tightened.

The fittings will last a long time if you lubricate them annually with grease or car oil.

There are special slots in the mechanism for lubrication.

The service life of the fittings will increase when the summer or winter mode is set correctly. In this case, the degree of pressing of the sash to the profile changes. Adjustment is performed using eccentrics and does not require experience.

Tip 4. Use a mosquito net correctly.

Before the onset of cold weather, the mesh is removed, washed and stored. A mesh left over the winter collects moisture, which destroys the profile.

Tip 5. Clean drainage channels regularly.

The window frame has holes to remove moisture. Very often they become clogged with dirt and the water stagnates. In this case, traces of moisture appear inside the windows. Cleaning the channels with a wooden or plastic stick takes no more than three minutes.

Tip 6. Monitor the condition of the valves.

The plastic window should not be left open for a long time. In this case, the moving elements are deformed, in addition, the sashes sag.

For repairs, the linings are removed from the adjusting mechanism and the subsidence is eliminated.

So, if high-quality windows are chosen, the technology for their installation is not violated, and proper care is organized, then excess moisture will never appear on the windows.