How to insulate old plastic windows. Instructions for self-warming a plastic window for the winter

Why insulate plastic windows? This reasonable question arises, of course, for all owners of modern sealed structures, because manufacturers sold us the perfect product with perfect thermal insulation. Installation errors, improper operation, home shrinkage and time can play a trick even with the highest quality windows. Do not rush to change the whole structure - you can try to insulate plastic windows with your own hands. It’s easy and not for long. We deal with the weaknesses of modern windows and learn to eliminate them.

No. 1. Why do plastic windows need insulation?

High-quality made and installed plastic windows in the first years will certainly be a reliable barrier to cold air, drafts and noise. Over the years, of course, problems can arise, and often the user is to blame for them. With unfair installation, various defects can make themselves felt in the first season.

The most common reasons for additional thermal insulation of plastic windows:

installation performed in violation of technology;
shrinkage of the building, which is especially characteristic of;
wear of rubber insulation. Responsible manufacturers and installers inform the user about the rules for maintaining a rubber seal, but few follow the rules and regularly inspect the condition of this structural element. Lack of proper care leads to an accelerated process of thinning and drying of rubber, the appearance of microcracks in its structure, the result is a decrease in the adherence to the frame and deterioration of thermal insulation;
incorrectly set slopes.

A window of poor quality or with inappropriate climatic conditions technical specifications will also not be able to provide normal thermal insulation, so it is so important to be able to correctly and immediately determine the appropriate one.

No. 2. Identify weaknesses

To conduct effective insulation of plastic windows, you must first understand in which places the tightness is broken. Only the frame can be deleted from the list of suspects: multi-chamber plastic is a good heat insulator, it does not dry out unlike.

Cold air can penetrate such structural elements:

A double-glazed window rarely causes a violation of thermal insulation (the exception is its depressurization), but it can also be insulated. "Extra" warmth in winter does not hurt.

Identify leaks window simple - just hold your palm along and across the entire structure, and you will feel that in some places decently blowing. Some advise using a lighter for this purpose. If you ignite the flame and draw it along the perimeter of the window, maintaining a safe distance, then it will tilt in places where there is even a small draft. Be extremely careful with this method!

As a rule, work on the insulation of a plastic window can be done with your own hands. The exception is cases when it is necessary to insulate from the outside, and the apartment is located above the second floor. It is necessary to be prepared that complex warming may be necessary if several zones of leakage of warm air are found, but first things first.

Number 3. Presser Debugging

Shrinkage of the house and weather factors can lead to a slight skew of the window sashes and slight deformation of the sealing gum. This leads to a deterioration in thermal insulation, but in this case, the return to its former tightness is a matter of a couple of minutes, however, knowledge of the design of the plastic window and skills in working with tools will be needed.

Adjustment of the clamping mechanism can be done using special eccentrics located around the perimeter of the wings. To make the sash fit more tight, the eccentric must be turned clockwise using a 4 mm Allen key. Focus on the notch located on each such element. When it is directed towards the street, the clamp is weakened, towards the seal - reinforced. Everything is well shown in the video.

Sometimes a plastic window helps to insulate a simple loop adjustment, which also have their own mechanism responsible for the pressure density. Here regulation is carried out using a hexagon. It should be followed by a simple rule: if the tongue is very extended, the sash fits well. To push it, you need to turn the hexagon counterclockwise if the loops are on the left and clockwise if on the right.

Things are even simpler with glazing bead. It is enough to pry off the old departed glazing bead with a thin spatula, and install a new one in its place, which can be bought in the same company that sold and installed the windows for you.

After adjustment, check whether the tightness of the structure has improved with your palm or lighter. If everything is done correctly, but the draft still walks, you will probably have to change the seal.

Number 4. Seal replacement

Ideally, a rubber sealant can last a long time, but some conditions must be met. According to the rules of operation of plastic windows, the sealant must be regularly lubricated with special substances, but which of us does this? So it turns out that after 5 years the rubber dries up and starts to let in a cold breeze from the street. The problem may be in the seal, which is located under the glass, or that is located along the contour of the sash. Replacing the seal in a plastic window is not as complicated as a matter of responsibility. If you doubt your skills, it is better to call a specialist.

Procedure for replacing the glass seal:

A replacement may also be necessary. a seal which is located along the contour of the sash. In this case, the sash should be removed. First, decorative pads are removed from the hinges, and then with the help of a mounting handle or a pin is pulled out of the hinge. It remains to carefully remove the sash, and only then it is very easy to remove the old seal from it. It is better to start installing a new seal from the top of the sash, gently pressing it, but not stretching it. The beginning and end of the sealing tape is best fixed with glue. All! It remains only to hang the sash back: the pin can be installed with your bare hands, and then put the decorative trim back in place. Everything is very well shown and described in the video.

No. 5. Window sill insulation

The installation of a plastic window is often associated with decent damage, they are especially significant in the area between the wall and. Some installers throw gaps with cement and construction waste. There are no comments. It is better, of course, when the space under the windowsill is filled, but this option is not ideal. Over time, the foam may shrink or even crack, and decent cracks form through which cold air enters the house.

To insulate a plastic window, you will have to get rid of the old foam and fill in a new one. Keep in mind that it tends to expand when solidified. Excesses after complete solidification are cut off, some builders recommend additionally filling small cracks with silicone sealant. This is followed by plastering and decorative coating.

If possible, the window sill area can be additionally insulated from the outside. Foam is also used for this, but sometimes it is also used. Above, everything is on the grid and gets off.

No. 6. Slope insulation

Today, when installing plastic windows, slopes are often additionally installed, smooth, beautiful, made of thick plastic. It often happens that there is a large crack between the decorative strip and the wall, which perfectly conducts cold and wind into the apartment, therefore, to improve the thermal insulation of plastic windows, it is recommended to insulate the slopes from the inside or outside.

The procedure is as follows:

dismantle unnecessary parts of the mounting foam;
if the surface is very uneven, you can plaster it;
priming slope treatment; antibacterial compounds can be used to prevent mold development;
a slice corresponding to the slope is cut from the foam. To better stick to the surface, it can be slightly scratched from the back. It remains to apply mounting glue and firmly press it to the surface of the slope, several dowels can be installed to guarantee;
it remains to mount the corner, putty the surface and fix the platband.

Number 7. What else can be done to insulate a plastic window?

The above methods will allow you to reliably insulate plastic windows and get rid of all the cracks, but it is possible to make the structure even warmer - it will not only not let cold into the apartment, but will also prevent the exit of warm air from the apartment. This is not magic, but reality, which is achieved through the use of:

heat saving film;
electric heating of windows;
woolen blinds and curtains.

Heat saving film- a thin transparent material that does not change the optical properties of glass, but reflects thermal energy back to the apartment. The effect is achieved due to the presence of a thin metal layer. Of course, when it comes to plastic windows, it is better to use a special heat-saving double-glazed window - its efficiency is several times higher than any film, but if a regular double-glazed window is installed in existing windows, then additional insulation will not be superfluous.

With the installation of the film you can easily do it yourself:

glass and frame surfaces are thoroughly cleaned;
double-sided tape is glued around the perimeter of the box;
the necessary fragment is cut from a roll of film, it is better to cut with a margin;
the film is glued to previously attached double-sided tape, its surface is blown with warm air from a hair dryer. It is necessary to act, slowly, so that the result is accurate, there are no distortions and bubbles. Correctly pasted film is almost invisible.

Heated glass it’s already more difficult to arrange, it’s better to do this even at the stage of window installation, but most window companies can install such a system on an already installed window. Heating is carried out due to the electric heating coil mounted in the glass.

Well, and finally, the most banal, simple and universal ways to make the window a little warmer. it thick curtains and woolen blinds. The latter can be done by wrapping ordinary blinds with woolen cloth.

It is better to carry out work on the insulation of plastic windows on a warm dry day, since it is no longer possible to work with many materials at temperatures below + 5 ... + 10 0 C, and you can let the cold into the apartment. In order to encounter the problem of warming a modern window as late as possible, you should seriously approach the choice of a window manufacturer and pay attention to the selection of optimal technical characteristics, focusing on the region’s climate. It is also important to choose a responsible installer and not to forget about the need to properly maintain the window.

A warm house is the key to a cozy atmosphere and comfort of living for all family members. To make our house warmer we use energy-saving technologies, we make a warm floor, we use alternative heat sources.
An important factor is not only the accumulation of heat in the cold season, but also its conservation. Experts, not without reason, believe that about 40% of the heat leaves through our windows.

It's no secret that panoramic glazing, large windows to the floor is one of the main causes of heat loss. Plastic and wooden windows also need to be insulated, so that in winter it will be possible to significantly save on heating.

Insulate plastic windows for the winter with your own hands

Plastic windows that have been in operation for a long time also need to be insulated in winter.
If the window served you for a long time and the first season began to miss the cold, then you need to adjust the locking mechanism and change the insulation. Frost, condensation or frost inside the frame may indicate a window leak.

1. Replacing the plastic window seal

You can do the replacement of the plastic window seal yourself. A sealant is better to buy "native". If you can’t buy one, you can consult the seller in the hardware store. To select the appropriate seal, it is enough to take a small piece of the old with you.
It is better if the rubber seal is black. It doesn’t have street dust on it.

First you need to remove the handle of the sash handle, so as not to damage it. Lay the sash with the inside (where the handle is) down. Next, you need to remove the old insulation, prying it with a knife, clean and degrease the groove. After the insulation is laid around the window perimeter, it is necessary to cut off the sealing profile 0.25-0.5 cm longer than the perimeter. This residue seal must be pressed into the groove. It also replaces the seal on the frame.

After this, the sash is put in place. The shutter is mounted from top to bottom on the lower hinge, then parts of the upper hinge are connected by moving away from themselves, a hairpin, lock washer and loop overlay are installed. We close the leaf on the lock and check the quality of the work performed, testing the joint for a draft.

It is advisable to clean and wipe the seal 1-2 times a year. Wipe the seal with a dry cloth to remove dirt. Then it is better to degrease the seal for the plastic window with soapy water and apply silicone grease. Such preventive maintenance will save the sealant from high temperatures in the summer and will allow it to retain its qualities longer in the cold.

2. Adjustment of plastic window fittings

Over time, the locks of the plastic window require adjustment. The fixed part of the castle is on the frame. The main indicator for adjusting the locks is the bolt head recessed in the design, which has a groove for the hex key. This is an adjusting bolt that changes the position of the wedge, beyond which the locking “tongue” of the lock goes. The regulation of this wedge changes the fit of the sash to the frame in the closed position. In summer, the closure density can be weakened, but in winter, on the contrary, the density must be maximized. To adjust the lock of the plastic window use a hex key.

3. Warming of slopes and window sills.

It is good if, when installing a plastic window, slopes and window sills made of PVC were installed at the same time. If a draft is heard through a plastic window, care must be taken to warm the slopes and window sills. Large gaps can be blocked with tow or foam rubber. On top of the slit, you can optionally fill with foam or alabaster. Then complete the gap treatment with sealant.

We warm wooden windows for the winter with our own hands

4. In order to eliminate drafts in the house, it is necessary to lay in all the cracks between the frames and glasses pieces of paperwhich are wetted before and twisted into a bundle. On top of such a heater, paper is also usually used to increase the tightness. The disadvantage of this method is that after the cold weather, dried paper from the frames will need to be removed, and the frames themselves re-painted.

5. The next method of warming wooden is to put in window slots cotton wool and pieces of foam rubber. On top, you can stick strips of unnecessary fabric 5 cm wide. Before using such fabric strips, they need to be moistened, squeezed and soaped with soap. Compared to paper, the fabric does not turn yellow and can be easily removed in spring.

Important: the foam sealant absorbs moisture, so it must be replaced annually.

6. Insulation of window slots using paraffin wax. First, paraffin must be melted to a temperature of 70 degrees. Then, using a heated syringe, paraffin is injected into the cracks.

7. Warming with tubular profiles. Such profiles are also sometimes called gaskets. Such heaters are made for large and small cracks. The advantage of the insulation is that it is invisible, since it is glued to one side of the frame. Service life up to a minimum of 5 years. A feature of these profiles is that you need to start window insulation before the onset of severe cold weather. Since such profiles can be installed at a temperature of at least 10 degrees. PVC seals better tolerate frost. When choosing rubber seals, it is better to give preference to softer ones.

8. Another modern and convenient way to insulate wooden windows heat saving film. The peculiarity of this material is that it has two sides simple and with a metal coating. Due to this, it passes sunlight through itself, but does not pass infrared radiation back. This explains its heat-saving effect. The material is glued on glass and on frames. With proper execution, it will be almost invisible to the eye, and the room will immediately become significantly warmer.

Window insulation using Swedish technology

The patented name for this technology is EuroStrip. In some countries, it is also called Canadian technology.

Window insulation according to Swedish technology is good because it allows you to save environmentally friendly wooden windows, providing them with good tightness for many years. Also, this technology is good in that it allows to reduce at times street noise and reduce the penetration of dirt and dust between the wings almost to zero. The cost of insulating windows using Swedish technology is ten times lower than the cost of installing new plastic windows

The material for sealing according to this technology is made of wear-resistant and durable rubber, which contains natural rubber. The material is also not exposed to water and is able to maintain its heat-saving properties in the temperature range from -53 ° C to + 128 ° C. That is, under all weather conditions, Swedish insulation will protect the house from drafts. Of particular note is the heat savings in the apartment. After the work, the temperature in the house rises by an average of 3-5 ° C. A specially made wide profile protects you from rain, wind, noise and dust. Aesthetically, the window retains its former appearance. With closed shutters, the insulation is not even visible.

High-quality insulation of windows using Swedish technology is carried out in stages, in compliance with all technological requirements.

The process of warming wooden windows using Swedish technology:
1) First you need to thoroughly wash the windows.
2) Perform a sash check. Are they tightly closed and are all mechanisms working.
3) Remove the sash from the hinges.
4) Extra layers of old paint are grind off the wings, which interfere with closing and opening.
5) Create a groove along the entire contour of the sash grooves.
6) A special high-quality sealant is rolled into the grooves 7) To reduce the penetration of dust and dirt, the casement windows are insulated between themselves and inside.
8) The doors are put in place, while the hardware is being replaced.
9) The casements and the proper operation of the wooden window fittings are checked.

Specialists who are engaged in window insulation say that it is better to entrust such insulation work to professionals. Since carrying out window insulation with Swedish technology, special skills and an appropriate tool are required. The use of the cutter when rolling the seal in the groove ensures that the seal does not peel off and fall out over time.

Alternative methods of insulation

Heat leaves the house through dirty windows. Want to make the house warmer just wash all windows before the onset of cold weather. It is proved that the window, if it becomes dirty and loses transparency in the visible part of the spectrum, increases transparency in the infrared spectrum. And the heat leaves the house due to drafts and infrared radiation going out. Window washing is best done using ethyl or ammonia. This will clear fat deposits on the windows in the kitchen and avoid stains on the glass.

Use woolen blinds. Conventional lamellas are wrapped in strips of wool and fabric. Such blinds become good protection against the cold.

Electric window heating. It implies the installation of a special heating coil on the windows, which carries out heating. This method of heating should be provided even at the stage of installation of the window.

Preliminary preparation of wooden windows

Before starting work, wash and wipe the windows, inspect the gaps between the frames and glass. Such cracks appear when the frames dry out, and the window putty in which the glass is installed crumbles.

Repair Steps

Check the condition of glazing beads - long wooden battens with which the glass is fixed in the window frame. It is better to immediately replace the rotten and dried out elements with new ones.
Pull out the problematic glazing beads and nails. Take out the glass and clean it of putty residues using alkaline products such as soda ash diluted in water.
Clean the frames from putty and paint in the places where the glass is inserted, wipe dry and treat with transparent silicone sealant.
When installing glass, try not to pinch it. Fasten the glazing beads with window nails.
Coat the remaining gaps with the same sealant, let it dry for 2-4 hours and wipe the windows with a special detergent.

How to insulate wooden frames

Window structures made of wood are usually insulated with:

Modern profile seal

Window Seal Profiles

This material is sold in any hardware store and is a tape, with or without an adhesive layer. Such a sealant is also called a tubular profile and is made of the following materials:

foam rubber
rubber
polyvinyl chloride;
polyethylene foam;
polyurethane

Adhesive seals are more popular. But their minus can be considered the fact that they cannot stick as securely as their self-adhesive analogues.

The foam sealant absorbs moisture, so it must be replaced annually. The polymer tape does not care for water, which significantly increases its service life.

The sealant is easy to use: the tape is glued to the open sash around the perimeter, inside and out. To eliminate especially large gaps, you can additionally use masking tape.

Sealant for a wooden window is mounted around the perimeter of the frame

It is best to use transparent silicone adhesive sealant to adhere the sealant without an adhesive backing.

Tools at hand

The method is suitable to insulate old wooden windows for the winter , as it is designed to eliminate too large gaps . They can be filled with cotton wool, rags, paper or foam rubber. A special putty for wood is also suitable.

Stages of warming:

compact the cotton wool or other material tightly in the slot with, for example, a wide screwdriver;
stick strips of fabric or paper over the material.

Glue for these purposes can be made from a soap solution or two components - water and starch. The recipe is simple: pour a tablespoon of starch with a slide with one glass of 200 ml water. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.

Instead of starch, sifted flour can be used. After cooling the paste, proceed to warming.

Paraffin can be bought at any household goods store

This method was widespread several decades ago among housewives who knew exactly how to insulate wooden windows for the winter, as it allowed to close up large cracks quickly and without cost.

The paraffin candle must be melted in a water bath and pour the hot mixture into a pre-heated syringe. With this device you need to quickly process all the gaps.

Putties

Insulating windows for the winter with special mixtures or something similar with your own hands is an effective, but radical method. Removing such insulation often leads to damage to the paint, so this method is suitable for old windows that you plan to replace soon.

As a heater, adhesive putties, a solution of alabaster and chalk 1: 1, special sealants for window joints are suitable. The mixture is applied to the gaps, leveled with a spatula and left to dry completely.

Heat-saving film - an effective way to avoid heat loss

This method is suitable for the insulation of wooden window structures and PVC windows.

In hardware stores you can find a special protective film that has universal properties - in the summer it protects the room from sunlight, and in winter raises the temperature to 5 degrees.

The material of the required size is glued to the glazing beads of the frame using double-sided tape and blown with air from the hair dryer to align and give transparency.

Read more about energy-saving films for windows

Additional cold bridges

Be sure to check jumpers above the windows, as they often serve as a place for heat leakage. Jumpers are insulated from the outside by alternately applying facade polystyrene foam, reinforcing mixture and plaster.

Conductors of cold can also become slopes. For thermal insulation, the side surfaces are sanded, then primed and PVC panels are installed. If voids have formed inside, it is necessary to fill them with tow or polyurethane foam.

Windowsill, improperly treated with foam, they are insulated by attaching a piece of PVC panel, fitted in size, under it. The voids are filled with the same materials as in the case of slopes.

More about window sill insulation (plastic or wooden)

How to insulate plastic windows yourself

To improve the thermal insulation qualities of plastic windows, it is imperative to use a heater. It can be a traditional polyurethane foam or a sealant suitable for this purpose:

Polyurethane sealant. Experts consider this material ideal for sealing deep gaps, since the mass after solidification increases its volume several times and penetrates deep into the gap.
Silicone sealant. This is the most popular and affordable way to get rid of unwanted sources of air into the room. The sealant tightly fills the gaps and has high elasticity, which makes it convenient to use.
Acrylic sealant. It is distinguished by its elasticity and ease of use - its surplus during application can be easily removed, unlike silicone sealant. But this material has one drawback - in a short time of operation, the acrylic sealant changes color from white to gray. This is due to its ability to attract dust and dirt.

When warming plastic windows, follow the basic steps:

Use a stick or brush to clean the cracks from spilled mounting foam or debris.
Carefully walk along the slopes, frames, and windowsill with a degreasing cleaner.
Fill the gaps with mounting foam or sealant, depending on the material chosen.

To summarize

If the budget does not yet allow replacing old windows with new ones, do not despair. A variety of materials for their insulation will allow you to choose something for yourself based on the financial condition and characteristics of the work.

Related Video

Loss of heat in the house affects both the comfort of life of its cloisters, and when paying heating bills. Issues of energy efficiency are priority today and in the construction of modern buildings this aspect is given special attention. However, driving into a new apartment you can find some flaws, even in plastic windows, which are reliable.

When analyzing the condition of old housing for the penetration of cold, you can certainly find more than one source of heat loss. This problem becomes especially urgent in anticipation of winter. Ineffective housing protection can be caused by structural or installation errors.

Information on how to insulate plastic windows yourself will help to save on this operation without calling a professional whose services can cost the family budget expensive. For repair you need only desire and knowledge. When working, you can use a simple tool that can be found in the house.

An analysis of the condition of the apartment in preparation for the winter for heat-shielding effectiveness can be done at home, without resorting to specialists. It is better to do this in the cold or cold season when there is no wind on the street. Why is this the best way to verify window construction?

Because the temperature difference in housing and on the street creates the preconditions for convection of air masses, which will help to correctly diagnose the problem and decide how to insulate plastic windows for the winter with their own hands. To identify hidden sources of cold penetration, you can create additional traction by opening the front door or by turning on exhaust ventilation.

An indicator of an open flame is used as an indicator. You can take a lighter, matches. Better yet, use a candle. A trickle of smoke reacts more subtly to air movement. Incense sticks, in the extreme case, a lit cigarette will become an accurate tool for finding the smallest defects, poorly insulated areas through which the cold makes its way into the housing.

Carefully, slowly exploring the following areas in front of the windows:

adjacency of the double-glazed window to the supporting profile;
porch of the sash to the impost and the box;
the junction of the window system with the opening;
windowsill.

Having found places where a fire or a stream of smoke begin to oscillate, note them. After completing the examination, begin a visual inspection. This will help to draw up a list of works, and how to insulate double-glazed windows, slopes, windowsill, we will discuss below. In some cases, the causes are identified easily. Simply replace the seal.

Often you need to adjust the plastic windows. But sometimes it’s difficult to understand why it’s blowing in this place, although external prerequisites are not visible. In some cases, the plastic window structure will need to be partially disassembled before insulation.

Causes of heat loss through window systems

When replacing old wooden windows with modern plastic counterparts, the installers promised that all problems remained in the past. But in practice it turned out that the apartment was not much more comfortable. The vaunted soundproofing turned out to be not so effective, and it is not much different from the time when the wooden windows stood. Inspection revealed places through which heat flows from the premises during the winter.

Before you start warming plastic windows with your own hands, you need to identify the causes:

If heat leakage is detected through the joint of the double-glazed window and the profile, then the matter is in the seal. Two gasket circuits should form a sealed volume, the outer one is installed on the profile, and the inner one on the glazing bead. The factory dimensions of the seats at the plastic and metal-plastic windows are accurate and are designed for the recommended thickness of the glass packet. The penetration of cold in this place means one of two things - the wrong dimensions of the double-glazed window or failed seals.
If heat leaves through the junction of the sash in the design of the window system, then 3 reasons are possible. The first is the incorrect position of the sash when its parallelism with respect to the carrier box is not observed. The second is the incorrect adjustment of fittings. The locking mechanism does not provide pressure, leaving a gap that reduces the level of thermal insulation of housing. The third is a failed seal.
The penetration of cold through the cracks between the supporting structure of the wall and the window is one of the most common causes of heat loss. Incorrect installation, ignorance of the features of installing plastic windows lead to the fact that in the first year of operation, heaters lose all declared qualities. The reasons for poor thermal insulation of windows can be many. This is a poor-quality sealing of the technological gap, and incorrectly made slopes, both inside and outside, and the use of materials not intended for this type of work, and the failed insulation for plastic windows. The coefficient of thermal expansion of a plastic structure is several times higher than that of a wooden analog and a metal-plastic system, therefore, similar windows are installed with this feature in mind.
There are frequent cases of heat leakage in the area of \u200b\u200bthe windowsill. Often, gaps and gaps in this area are hidden, and it is not easy to detect them, although they can be a powerful source of the penetration of cold into housing. The reasons can be both improper installation and the quality of the preparation of the footprint, in particular additional brickwork or installation of a special design to obtain the necessary dimensions of the opening, into which the installation of plastic windows is then done, the repair of which will subsequently become a laborious and costly operation. Often the source of cold is under the windowsill.

Many of the above reasons are eliminated independently with the existing skills and experience of the home master. When we insulate the window zone on our own, it is not necessary to have a professional tool, special knowledge and skills. It is enough to responsibly and carefully approach the solution to this problem and correctly decide how to insulate plastic windows in a particular case. Which materials to choose? What technology to use to ensure maximum thermal insulation of housing.

Technologies and methods for warming plastic windows

Having identified the causes, you can proceed directly to their elimination. How to insulate a plastic window quickly, efficiently and inexpensively? If it is better to choose a cool time to search for depressurization places, then repair and restoration procedures are carried out when the ambient temperature allows the use of materials for which frost and humidity are unacceptable.

On the packaging of building mixtures, sealants indicated application conditions that must be strictly observed to achieve the desired result. It is better not to carry out repair and insulation of plastic windows in winter, with the exception of some emergency operations, adjusting mechanisms and replacing seals.

The best double-glazed windows for plastic windows are made from energy-saving glasses, but they can not cope with the task when there are gaps. The reason for this is a sealant that has lost its quality. To replace it, it is better to remove the sash and carry out operations in a horizontal position.

In order to understand how to insulate plastic windows with your own hands, you need to familiarize yourself with the procedure:

the glazing beads are carefully dismantled;
a double-glazed window is removed;
old gaskets are removed from the grooves on the profile of the window system and glazing beads;
a new flexible insulator is installed in the seat;
a double-glazed window is inserted into place;
when installing glazing beads, the sealant pressure should arise on the glass, that is, they are mounted with an interference fit;
the fit of the elastic elements along the entire contour is checked on both sides and if vibration is observed, the movement of the double-glazed windows inside the sash, then the wrong sealant is selected. In rare cases, factory defects are possible. The thickness of the double-glazed window is less than the permissible norms and replacement by a new product will be required;
when the visual leak test is completed, the sash is installed in the window unit.

If the window uses non-energy-saving glass, and replacement is not possible due to some circumstances, it is possible to increase the efficiency of double-glazed windows independently. For this, a special film with reflective ability is acquired. Thermal insulation of plastic windows in this way is economically and technologically justified. Following the installation rules and recommendations, the film is glued to the surface of the windows from the inside, thereby significantly reducing heat loss.

Incorrect adjustment of the window system also brings a lot of problems. Before doing it, you should make sure that the structure as a whole has the correct geometry, otherwise the work will be useless.

Deviations from the vertical side of the power profiles should not exceed 1, 5 mm per meter. When measuring diagonals, the critical value defined by GOST R 52749-2007 is the size difference of not more than 8 mm. The window construction itself cannot have bends or deformations.

This is checked by the building rule, a metal ruler, a flat rail. The tool is applied to the horizontal parts of the structure. If both ends are tightly pressed to the window block profiles, and there are no gaps of more than 1-2 mm in length, then the plane complies with the standards. Otherwise, repair of plastic windows or their reinstallation is required.

Now you can begin to adjust the position of the sash relative to the box. The window is slowly closed, fixing their touch profile. If it occurs simultaneously along the entire length of the vertical line, then this position is considered correct.

Then check the size of the gap around the perimeter of the sash. It should be the same. If the conditions are met, but it continues to blow from the window, then most likely the matter is in a worn seal, which changes in the same way as with a similar operation with a double-glazed window.

If deviations are noticed, then adjust the loops. Depending on the manufacturer’s standards, the tuning window screw can be cross-shaped or hexagonal. Using a screwdriver or a key, adjust the window to a satisfactory condition.

Equally important are the adjustments to the shutter mechanism of the eurowindows. When the handle is moved from the “open” position to the “closed” state, the sash should snuggle against the box. The lever operates in a range of about 2 mm.

If, when the handle is closed, the sash remains stationary, then this means that the sealant at best only touches the box, although it should slightly deform, ensuring tightness.

The clamp is adjusted by an eccentric at the end. The key or screwdriver set the desired position. The setting of plastic windows for the winter is recommended every season.

Slope insulation

Window openings when installing plastic windows have some nuances. Since they give greater thermal expansion, it is recommended to use only technologies that withstand these changes. It is not advisable to fill the technological gap between the box and the wall with concrete, even for a metal-plastic window, which has a lower coefficient of thermal expansion.

It is better to do this with mounting foam, which is also a good insulation. This method of fixing the window system requires reliable protection from external influences, therefore, special attention is paid to decoration from the outside. The sun and freezing damage the structure of the foam. Slopes should go on the window block profile. This contributes to better insulation.

For high-quality thermal insulation protection of the euro-window to be repaired, old materials are removed.

An additional layer of insulation is laid outside under a new decorative finish:

Mineral wool. The material requires additional moisture protection. When insulating with mineral wool, a waterproofing layer is necessarily made;
Foamed polymers based on polypropylene or polyethylene. It is important to do the insulation of PVC windows with these materials, without leaving cracks and gaps, excluding the occurrence of cold bridges;
Composite materials. Sandwich panels are modern products, the production of which takes into account external influences. Additional materials for insulation will not be required. Composite panels will be good thermal insulation for decorating exterior slopes.

The metal-plastic euro-window on the inside requires rather decorative decoration. Providing external protection, the opening with the block will become an insurmountable barrier to the penetration of cold into housing. Finish with insulating materials the slopes from the inside in those cases when there is not enough thermal protection on the front side.

Sealing with waterproofing is not sufficient to create a comfortable environment in the house. Understanding the principles of installation of the system, a decision is made on how to insulate metal-plastic windows using the optimal method.

Window sill insulation

Inexperienced masters do not pay close attention to this part. abouthorse structures, suggesting that it is not necessary to insulate in this place. The result of this error will be cold indoors in the winter. Outwardly, everything looks reliable, the window sill is tightly attached to the plastic profiles.

For window slopes, insulation has been done, but cold air currents continue to penetrate the room. The reason may be an insufficient level of thermal insulation of window sills from below. The viewing area is not convenient. It is difficult to determine the source of heat leakage there. It is not in vain that during the initial analysis of the state of housing it is strongly recommended to do a full examination of all obvious and hidden shortcomings.

Troubles can occur due to insufficient water protection on the outside. Leaking water under the box and its subsequent freezing destroys the heat-insulating layer, so the window sill of plastic windows is insulated from the outside. If necessary, remove the failed materials and stack new ones. But only replacement of thermal protection is not necessary.

The layer should be protected from moisture penetration. First, they insulate, then cover the material with a waterproof insulator and mount a decorative finish or ebb. It is advisable to purchase a finished product for water disposal. Such ebbs will become reliable protection on eurowindows from getting wet and freezing openings in the lower part. Easily attached to a metal-plastic profile with sealants and screws.

If gaps with a frame have formed on the windowsills, then repair should be done. Having insulated problem areas, it is necessary to protect them. It is desirable to use plastic materials for this purpose, for example, silicone sealants. Then the windows will be insulated, waterproofed and not subject to the formation of new gaps due to the elasticity of the polymer.

It is not advisable to close the cracks with dry building mixtures. They do not hold well on a plastic surface, unlike a wooden frame, where their use is justified. For the same reason, many craftsmen get rid of old finishes with traditional materials, preferring to design slopes with modern products.

If you insulate the window block with mineral wool, then you cannot plaster it without reinforcement. It is preferable to use sheet materials. The final decision on how to insulate the window sill of a plastic window is made not only from their technological, but also from aesthetic considerations using similar techniques that were used to decorate the interior of the room.

Ideally, window structures should be insulated even at the installation stage. Of course, in this case, the total cost of each window will increase significantly (by about a third), since it will add the price of heat-insulating material and work (if they will not be done with their own hands). But the operational life of the entire structure will be extended. Moreover, you do not have to subsequently dismantle the windows (inside and out).

But if nobody took care of thermal insulation during installation, then you will have to do it yourself. Therefore, today we will talk about how to insulate double-glazed windows.

Design features of PVC windows

Any plastic window includes the following structural elements.

Profile.
Slopes.
Seals made of rubber.
Windowsill.
The glass packet itself.
Regulatory fittings.

What is typical, if a breakdown occurs with one of these elements, the window will be blown through.

What materials will be required?

For thermal insulation of modern double-glazed windows, it is preferable to use the same modern materials. In this case, one of the following options can follow the insulation for a window construction:

polystyrene foam;
some kind of “warm” mixture;
mineral wool;
polyurethane foam.

When choosing one or another of them, it is necessary to pay attention not only to the properties of each of the materials, but also to the features of the installation and further use (external and internal). The most convenient option is, of course, polyurethane foam, but under the influence of ultraviolet rays, temperature changes or even air, it is easily destroyed. Therefore, external work is preferably performed using "warm" mixtures. And for waterproofing the mortar for plaster, you can apply both staining and a primer with moisture-proofing properties.

Note! The only drawback in this case is that it is difficult to choose a consumable insulation material, for the installation of which it would not be necessary to dismantle the slopes and other components. Only in such conditions it is possible to determine with accuracy what material should be and how much it will be needed at all.

To seal small gaps in places where the window profile is adjacent to the window sill and other elements, sealant can be used. Even an ordinary housewife will cope with such work - you just need to follow the instructions for use indicated on the package.

What is the essence of thermal insulation?

Thermal insulation of double-glazed windows consists, as already noted above, in the slopes. If we talk about other structural elements, then it will only require troubleshooting. For example, drafts never appear due to the profile. And the modern technological plastic that is used in the windows is no longer wood, it is neither able to "move out" nor dry out.

Plastic windows lose thermal energy if certain parts of the structure are depressurized. And if you do not want the cold to penetrate inside the room, then take care of the isolation of the slopes or search for the causes of the malfunctions. Well, we proceed directly to how to insulate double-glazed windows, and begin with warming the slopes of window structures.

7 ways to insulate windows for the winter

Previously, we gave several instructions on how and what is the best way to insulate windows for the winter, in addition to this article, we advise you to familiarize yourself with this information

We are engaged in warming slopes

As you know, in metal-plastic windows, the slopes must be plastic. The cladding should be plastic, and always hard. What causes this? The fact is that this material is ideal for additional thermal insulation.

And here the aperture formed between the window frame and the wall surface must be blown out with the help of mounting foam. Of course, there are other options - for example, insulation boards (they are made from basalt fiber) or foamed insulation. Therefore, you can completely choose the material that is ideal for current purposes.

Both inside and out, the wall should be insulated. But in this case, the materials used will not only be insulated, but also protected. The insulator itself is necessary to protect against various external negative factors.

Correcting skewed sashes

As you know, in some cases, even plastic window structures can shrink. And with this, alas, nothing can be done. As a rule, this problem is mainly “affected” by houses that have been built recently. And due to shrinkage, respectively, the flaps are slightly warped, which has a negative effect on the thermal insulation characteristics of the structure. But this problem can be solved - for this it is necessary to debug hardware.

What tools will be needed?

The sash clamp can be adjusted by hand using special eccentrics. When the handle is rotated, they move beyond the "recruitment area". It is necessary to install such elements around the entire perimeter of the frame. And to ensure the most tight clamp, the eccentric must be scrolled strictly clockwise.

On each of the elements mentioned above there is a special "drawing". If it is directed towards the street, this means that the clamp is loosened. But if this pointer is directed to the rubber seal, then the sash is perfectly pressed against the frame structure.

A bit about loops

Hinges in metal-plastic window structures also have their own mechanism, which is responsible for pressing. The device is regulated using a special hexagon. You should be guided here by one simple rule: if the tongue is pulled out strongly, then the window sashes fit snugly. To push this tab, you need to scroll the hexagon while moving counterclockwise. If the hinges in the window are located on the right, it is necessary to turn the hexagon in the opposite direction. That is, here it is clockwise. It turns out that there is nothing complicated in this event - the elimination of bias is simple and simple.

Note! If the manipulations described above did not bring any result, and the cold air continues to penetrate the apartment, then, most likely, the problems are more serious. It remains only to seek help from specialists.

We continue to talk about how to insulate glass units. Now we will find out how the preparation of windows for winter is carried out.

Change the rubber seal

What is a rubber seal? Its main function is to ensure the most tight fit of the window frame and sashes. To make it more reliable, it is made of rubber, so it does not let cold air through even if it is closed.

With proper care and periodic processing using special mixtures, the sealant will last quite a long time. But only some of the owners of double-glazed windows do this, because this element is almost always hidden behind the shutters. What is there, only a few know that the seal should be periodically processed with something.

For this reason, after about five years, the density of the element is lost. When the sealant becomes unusable, it must be changed. For this, the windows are removed from the flaps, then the glazing bead is removed and the sealing material itself is removed. Replacing the latter does not represent anything complicated: the old seal is removed, and the new is placed through the groove. If desired, the element can be fixed with glue. You should not worry about the difference in colors - the element can be either gray or black, but there are no special differences between them.

Note! Extreme caution should be exercised when removing and installing a glazing bead. The fact is that it is extremely fragile, so breaking it is pretty easy. And if you break the glazing bead, then the structure can not be installed back.

What other insulation options are there?

It is worth noting that there are other ways to protect your home from the cold. Let's get acquainted with some of them.

Method number 1. Wool Blinds

A non-standard method of thermal insulation of a window structure, however, is quite effective. Ordinary blinds need to be wrapped with strips of woolen fabric, because of which they will prevent the penetration of cold into the room.

Method number 2. Window sill insulation

Through the joints between the elements of the windowsill, cold air can also penetrate. Therefore, these joints should be carefully repaired. In addition, in the case of illiterate installation, “black holes” may occur under the windowsill itself, which means that the element must be dismantled, and the gaps between the block and the plate must be carefully processed.

For this purpose, plugs are opened, a window sill is unscrewed with a screwdriver, and there you will find all the cracks (if any) that allow cold air to pass through.

Method number 3. The use of heat-saving film

A double-glazed window can be insulated with the use of a heat-saving film - a cheap, but at the same time effective material. It must be glued in such a way that no air bubbles remain under it, since not only the aesthetic indicators of the entire structure, but also the thermal insulation properties will depend on it.

And if you decide to use such a film, it is better to take care of sticking it before installing the double-glazed windows themselves. Although, in principle, this can be done at the end of the installation.

Video - Sticking heat-saving film

Method number 4. Curtains

This may sound ridiculous, but another way to insulate double-glazed windows can be curtains. These elements act as barriers to air, which means that they do not pass it in winter (if it nevertheless penetrates window structures). Moreover, the air passing through the curtains is even slightly warmed up.

Video - Preparing plastic windows for the winter

How does warming start?

Thanks to the correctly carried out measures aimed at thermal insulation of window double-glazed windows, it will allow to get rid of all the mistakes that were made at the stage of installation. If you want, you can even make some design changes in the windows - for example, install a window, replace the doors that open with blind or vice versa, make adjustments to the functionality, etc. And where does the thermal insulation procedure itself begin? First of all, from the choice of a particular technology, consumables, from the elaboration of a detailed plan for further work, and in order to do all this correctly, it is necessary to objectively assess the general condition of the window system.

Note! Despite the fact that the thermal insulation of plastic windows can be carried out at almost any time of the year, it would be right to do this in the warm period. In addition, there is another important condition - the weather should be dry and calm.

But, by the way, in the cold it is extremely easy to detect where the cracks are located, through which the cold penetrates into the room. And now we will consider what "weaknesses" are in all, without exception, metal-plastic constructions. These places include:

the seal of the sash that opens;
emptiness under the slopes and windowsill;
area of \u200b\u200bglazing bead;
the place where the window frame is adjacent to other structural elements of the entire structure;
window fittings (all).

In addition, it is imperative that you pay attention to the width of the windowsill. The fact is that it should not cover the heating radiators that are under it. Yes, of course, a wide window sill is extremely convenient, but from a technical point of view, this is not entirely correct.

Hire specialists or do everything yourself?

There are a number of defects, the correction of which is preferable to entrust to specialists. These defects relate directly to the construction of metal-plastic and include the following.

Defective sealing material in the sash that opens.
Thermal insulator defects along the entire window contour.
Malfunctions of window hardware or mechanism.

The first point: it will be necessary to isolate the ebbs and slopes of the plastic windows from the outside, and this, of course, is not so simple, especially if we are talking about an apartment located above the second floor. Second: insulation with your own hands will be a direct violation of the warranty conditions of both the manufacturer and the installer. Third: the quality of work will be guaranteed by hired specialists. Finally, the fourth important point: when performing repair work, professionals will use "native" hardware and window materials.

But if a home master has sufficient experience and knowledge, then he will only need high-quality instructions on how to insulate glass units in order to choose the most suitable technology for specific conditions. As for the thermal insulation of the contour of the window frame, then this procedure is quite possible to handle with your own hands. Moreover, you can isolate ebbs, slopes and windowsill yourself. Today we will find out how to do this, but first, let's take care of all the materials necessary for the work.

In conclusion

As a result, I would like to focus your attention on one more simple thing: if thermal energy is lost due to a double-glazed window, then one of the structural elements of the system has failed. And if you fix the problem, the window will again “acquire” the characteristics that were previously lost.

In fact, as already noted above, window structures should be insulated even at the installation stage. Of course, in this case, the total cost of each window will increase significantly (by about a third), since it will add the price of heat-insulating material and work (if they will not be done with their own hands). But the operational life of the entire structure will be extended. Moreover, you do not have to subsequently dismantle the windows (inside and out).

As for the full thermal insulation, it is necessary only for slopes and, perhaps, the windowsill. No other window insulation measures are needed in this case. Double-glazed windows and so can boast of high-quality protection from the cold, since they were originally designed to provide a comfortable microclimate in the room.