When you upgrade to double glazed windows you will gain many different benefits, from lower heating bills to reduced noise coming into your property. With new double glazed windows, it is very rare that you will experience any problems but as they get older, you may have some issues that can usually be rectified fairly easily.
These are some of the most common double glazing problems and what you should do to resolve them:
Mould caused by condensation
This type of issue is normally caused by details regarding your property, rather than a fault in your windows, unless the condensation is in between the two panes of glass. If condensation is regularly forming on the inside of your windows, this can contribute to mould accumulating around the seal of the windows. To help prevent this problem, you should wipe away condensation as quickly as possible when you see it on your windows, using a dry cloth.
There are several reasons why you may be experiencing a lot of condensation on your windows, such as drying clothes in the room or having furniture pushed up too close to the walls, which traps moisture. Rooms that regularly have moisture in the air, such as bathrooms and kitchens should be ventilated as much as possible, so open the windows when cooking or taking a shower to reduce the build up of condensation and mould.
Windows not opening or closing properly
If you are struggling to move the handles to open the windows or the window is difficult to close, it could be due to debris or dirt getting stuck in the hinges. To prevent this problem, you should open the windows and check for any sign of dirt in the window mechanism. You may need to use a hoover attachment to get dust out of the hinge or you might need to use something like a thin tool or hook to pull dirt out.
When you have issues trying to close or lock your windows, this can compromise the security of your home, so you should regularly clean the hinges and locking mechanism to try and prevent dirt from accumulating and causing problems.
Another reason that you might be struggling to close windows is if the handle or hinges have become loose. You should be able to tighten them up with a screwdriver to see if this resolves the issue. Alternatively, there might be a fault with the handle which means it needs to be replaced with a new one.
If windows are sticking and feel stiff to open, it could be that they need a bit of oil to help loosen the mechanism. Changes in temperature can cause problems with windows and doors, as extreme temperatures can cause the frame to shrink or expand. In hot weather, you can try wiping down the frame with cold water or simply wait until the weather changes to close or open the windows.
Broken seals
One of the most problematic issues with double glazing is when the seals break and you start to get condensation between the panes of glass. This can be caused by a number of reasons, such as mould forming inside the windows or it can just be that they have failed over time.
When this happens, you do not necessarily need to replace the whole windows, as you can just replace the seals, which will restore the argon gas gap between the two window panes. The seals breaking might not have a huge impact on your home, so many people choose to wait until all of the windows need replacing instead of getting the seals replaced on one window.
Discoloured frames
White UPVC windows can sometimes discolour, either through not getting cleaned thoroughly or from the sun’s UV rays. You can buy specific cleaning products that can help to bring UPVC windows back to their original colour. If cleaning your window frames with a cleaning product does not work, it may be because your windows are getting older and the frames need to be replaced.
Generally, good quality double glazed windows will stay in good condition for around 20-30 years and will not have many problems until the end of their lifespan.
