Winter Maintenance Tips

Your windows are doors can be quite rugged, especially if they’re more modern. However, older windows and doors can decline in quality throughout their lifetime and can begin to cause problems. You might want to consider a check up and updating your fittings, but here are a few things to look out for if you want to make sure you’re keeping your house warm throughout winter without wasting any of your money or heat energy.

Condensation

A really common issue in winter condensation. With the air cooler outside, and warmer air inside, it’s expected to see some moisture, but just how much is too much and when is it a problem? With the heating going on during the winter months, it’s probably not a big deal to see some moisture, but it’s worth monitoring as it can damage other areas of your house, such as the bay of your window and walls close by.

Exterior condensation is never an issue, and is most likely seen in the morning. However, if you begin to see moisture between the window panes, there may be a bigger problem such as broken seals or when the desiccant is saturated. This is when you’d want to give us a call to see how we can help.

Heat loss

If you’ve got the heating up and you’re still experiencing drafts, it may be that your seals are broken and letting in the cool air from outside. Check for gaps in the panes and weather stripping for faults. Frequent use can cause small amounts of movement to dislodge fittings (particularly older fittings) over time, especially common with doors, you can use draft excluders to combat this, but this is only a temporary solution. If you have older fittings, it’s possible that you are losing heat anyway, so it’s always worth having blinds and curtains to negate this.

Frame Rot

Wooden frames still exist, though they’re becoming less common, but they require more maintenance and care in order to stay functional and weather resistant. They are particularly vulnerable in the colder and wetter temperatures and the moisture can get inside the frame through absorption and cause them to expand or warp which can lead to problems to the fitting. You can treat this, but it might be time to consider upgrading.

Be sure to look out for ice obstructions in your home. You may not need to open your window, but if for some reason you do and ice has formed with extremely low temperatures and enough moisture, it can be dangerous to you fitting if you need to force it open.

Get in touch

Be sure to continually monitor the conditions around your home so that your windows and doors are in top condition.