Why do plastic windows freeze: what is this phenomenon, what causes it to occur from below or from the inside of a double-glazed window in winter, how to eliminate the problem in an apartment or private house?

Anyone who has once turned to unscrupulous companies to install double-glazed windows can experience freezing of PVC windows.
But most apartment owners with such a problem prefer not to look for a solution, and still continue to use double-glazed windows with critical violations.

To avoid sad consequences, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with this problem in more detail, find out its causes, and also learn how to properly care for your windows.

What kind of phenomenon?

The term “freezing of plastic windows” means the appearance of condensation inside the window, as well as blowing from the glass unit in the resulting cracks. This often happens when snow falls outside the window. It lies on the outside of the glass unit in the frame area.

If the window is in good working order, then the inside will be warm and dry, but if the PVC structure is installed incorrectly, the frame will begin to freeze. It shows up like this:

inside the window, small drops form on the glass near the frame;
puddles of water appear on the windowsill;
puddles of water can turn to ice.

Most owners immediately go to manufacturers with claims that the windows were made poorly, but not every time the reason lies precisely in poor materials.

This phenomenon can be observed in the winter season, when the air temperature outside the window is significantly lower than that inside the room. Due to poor air ventilation, high humidity appears. The air collects in droplets on the glass and flows down to the frame. Then it falls on the windowsill and freezes due to the fact that there are cracks in the double-glazed window.

Could this be the norm?

This phenomenon can be considered normal only in two cases:

if the humidity level in the room where the window is frosting is too high;
and also if there is a large difference between the temperatures outside and inside the room.

When the humidity in an apartment or private house is high, there is not enough ventilation. This problem is no longer related to the quality of the window, but to the fact that the ventilation holes are clogged and warm air does not escape where it is needed.

The temperature difference also does its job: the double-glazed window does not have time to quickly heat up to the required temperature from the room side, which is why drops of condensation appear. When the temperature outside the window drops, the condensation transforms into a thick layer of ice, the thickness of which does not exceed 1 mm.

Important! Cases when the PVC frame freezes due to poor-quality installation of double-glazed windows, as well as due to the very structure of the window structure, made with errors by the manufacturer, cannot be considered the norm. This applies to cases where moisture accumulates not from the inside or outside, but between the chambers of a PVC glass unit.

3) Regularly protect your windows from icing

If you apply de-icer or your own prepared liquid in the evening in severe frost, then in the morning you will not lose much time in order to remove the ice that has formed. Even in severe frost, the liquid will protect the glass surface from severe freezing. And if ice does form on the glass, it will be much easier to remove than without treatment.

Also, if you were unable or forgot to treat the glass in the evening, then in order to speed up the thawing of the glass, you can treat the glass immediately before warming up or while warming up the car. The liquid will help speed up the thawing process.

In what parts of the glass unit?

The greatest freezing of a window can be seen in its coldest parts. Often these are the corners of the glass unit where condensation settles. This is due not only to the temperature difference and high humidity, but also to the violation of the tightness of the slopes.

When the window is already installed in the opening, the finishing of the slopes is performed at the final stage. It is produced both outside and inside the room. For external slopes, it is important to use insulation for finishing. Sandwich panels or filling a frame made of wooden slats with insulation are well suited for this.

But, even if insulating material was used, the problem may arise from poor-quality polyurethane foam or incomplete filling of the gaps with foam. Through the cracks, cold air enters the room and settles in droplets on the corners of the window, forming water, which subsequently becomes ice.

Consequences of freezing windows

An increase in heating bills when the temperature in the rooms is low is not the only consequence of freezing windows, which can also provoke:

the formation of fungus or mold;
damage to decorative finishing of slopes;
premature wear of some elements of window structures.

All of these problems do not appear immediately, so they can be prevented. To do this, you need to start acting as soon as frost is noticed on the windows.

Windows with cold double-glazed windows can be insulated using special energy-efficient films. They are glued from inside the premises directly to the surface of the glass. However, this measure only partially solves the problem.

Why do they freeze?

PVC windows can freeze both from the bottom of the window and from the inside. If the window freezes from below, then the reason lies in an improperly installed frame on the ebb or window sill side. This is due to the cracks that appeared at the bottom of the window. Cold air enters through them, which settles in droplets in the form of condensation on the glass.

The inside of windows can freeze for various reasons:

Poor quality installation. Mistakes during installation are often made by inexperienced installers.
They can seal the space between the frame and the wall with polystyrene foam or polyurethane foam. Holes may form in it if the seam was applied incorrectly. Air from the street enters through these openings. At first glance, after installing the window, such gaps are not always noticeable.
The motivation for such improper installation is to save workers time and reduce material costs, so it is recommended to ensure that quality raw materials are used. The size of the window may also not match the window opening, which will result in large gaps that will subsequently have to be filled.
Poor window design. After making the frame, you need to wait some time and only then install it in the window opening. If this is not done, then in winter the frame may become deformed, which will cause the PVC window to freeze.
This will also lead to the appearance of a gap between the frame and the sash, resulting in freezing. Cracks in the glass will also serve as a prerequisite for the penetration of cold air and the appearance of ice. The double-glazed window ceases to perform the function of retaining heat and air of cold temperature freely flows inside.
After 5-10 years, you can notice how the seal begins to malfunction - it dries out and loses its function. This may also be the cause of this problem.
Wrong choice of window sill width and the battery is nearby. As you know, radiators are often installed under the window sill.
If the window sill is too wide, then the heat from the radiator cannot rise upward normally. This promotes condensation. This problem occurs if the window opening is too deep.
Humidity in the room. Humidity increases on its own during cooking, during the use of a humidifier, as well as when washing floors, laundry and poor-quality ventilation systems.
It is worth remembering that the room temperature should be above 18 degrees in winter. If this condition is not met, and there is severe frost outside the window, then the window will freeze.
Incorrect adjustment of fittings. Maintenance of window fittings should occur at least once a year.
Over time, it becomes loose and it is necessary to tighten the hinges with a hexagon.
If this is not done, the doors begin to fit loosely, forming cracks through which cold air enters.

The listed causes of freezing can be eliminated on your own, but sometimes you still have to turn to specialists.

Solutions

freeze window blocks using radical or indirect methods :

Radical methods:
replacing double-glazed windows with an energy-efficient design;
replacing a double-glazed window from single-chamber to double-chamber;
insulation of slopes with installation of thermal sandwich panels;
installation of a blind sash instead of an opening structure;
replacing window sill boards;
insulation of the building facade from the street side.
Indirect methods:
installation of additional sealant between the double-glazed window and the profile;
installation of electric heating of internal glass on a translucent element;
installation of a “third glass” polymer membrane;
installation of heat-saving films;
pasting the installation gap with a vapor-permeable waterproofing membrane;
installation of an additional layer of polyurethane foam at the joint between the window profile and the end of the opening;
replacing the sealing tape around the perimeter of the junction of the sash with the profile, along the length of the bead;
adjusting the fittings of the moving parts of the translucent block;
switching axles from summer to winter mode;
installation of an additional heating device in the coldest time;
installation of thick, impenetrable curtains that block the penetration of cold into the room.

Note. Each of the described techniques can be combined with each other to achieve maximum energy efficiency.

Means and materials for processing

When eliminating the problem of freezing of window blocks, as a rule, the following means and materials are used :

The glass is treated with anti-freeze for the car, which eliminates fogging and, as a result, the occurrence of ice. When purchasing such substances, you should pay attention to their composition, since harmful fumes are not allowed into the room.
The formation of condensation is also eliminated when treating the window with soap, glycerin, shaving foam, toothpaste, turpentine and other folk remedies.
Butyl sealant for processing the glass unit around the perimeter, which prevents cold air from entering between the translucent elements.
Tape for sealing seams and joints between the profile and the movable sash for the winter period. To enhance the thermal properties, it is also recommended to use foam rubber or synthetic wool, which is tightly packed into the joint space before gluing.
Sandwich panels with effective insulation made of extruded polystyrene foam, which are installed along the perimeter of the slopes.
High-quality polyurethane foam for sealing poor-quality gaps between the window frame and the end of the outer wall.
Effective insulation made of mineral wool or polystyrene to increase the energy efficiency of the building envelope on the outside.
For wooden windows - tow, which is used to seal the cracks between the wall and the frame.
Putty for sealing cracks in wooden profiles.
Various energy-saving films that differ in thickness, reflective ability and other technical characteristics.

Important. When purchasing materials, it is necessary to pay special attention to the manufacturer of this product, as well as the presence of positive reviews from satisfied consumers online, which indicates its high quality.

How to fix the problem?

Once the problem is diagnosed, it is better to immediately begin solving it:

For example, if the reason was poor-quality installation of the structure, then you should call the installers and demand that they redo their work.
But this way out of the situation is only suitable if a little time has passed after installation. If several years have passed, you will have to solve the problem yourself or completely reinstall the double-glazed windows.
If the problem is poor window design, then the only solution is to completely replace the glass unit. Often the reason lies in cracks in the glass, a deformed profile on the frame - such a problem can no longer be solved on our own.

But there are also reasons that can be easily eliminated on your own:

For example, if the fittings are not adjusted, which is why cold air comes in, then you can use a hexagon to perform simple steps to adjust it.
If there is high humidity in the room, then you should take care of the outflow of air through ventilation, and also do not forget to ventilate the room.

Find out what to do if a plastic window freezes in the video below:

About wooden frames

Why didn't this usually happen when using them? There are two main reasons for this.

The first is that they usually had many gaps through which air passed.

At the same time, the temperature from different sides differed by a smaller amount. In addition, the communication of air between both sides of the frame reduced the release of moisture from the air.

Please watch the video on the topic:

Another reason is that they were made with two frames. The air gap increased the quality of thermal insulation, which prevented the interior from overcooling and promoting moisture condensation.

Useful tips for care and prevention

There are also a few tips to follow to avoid the problem:

Before installing the frame, it is worth taking correct measurements of the window opening;
Before ordering a frame, you should make sure that it completely fits into the opening and that there will be no gaps;
It is recommended to choose installation companies that have positive reviews;
It is worth monitoring the humidity in the room; for this you can purchase a hygrometer;
regularly ventilate the apartment or house, as well as ensure normal air flow;
eliminate material defects, for example, replace the rubber seal;
When purchasing a window, carefully check all its elements for defects.

Advice. It is not recommended to install PVC double-glazed windows yourself if you have not had the relevant experience before.

1) Liquid to protect glass from freezing

In order to protect the glass from freezing, it is necessary to treat the glass overnight with a special liquid, which you can simply make yourself. To do this, take an empty plastic spray bottle (for example, you can use an empty glass cleaner bottle) and pour regular undiluted vinegar into it. The required proportion for a quality liquid: three parts vinegar and one part water.