A third, or even half (depending on the glazing area) of the heat loss in the house falls on the windows, therefore, with the approach of cold weather, you need to take care of thermal insulation. Consider effective and inexpensive ways to properly insulate old wooden windows for the winter with your own hands.

Despite the widespread replacement of wooden windows with plastic and metal-plastic ones, they retain a part of the market. Despite the fact that PVC windows are more preferable from the point of view of heat-saving properties, a number of users, for various reasons, continue to use old wooden windows.

There are a number of explanations for this fact:

• the high cost of plastic windows (which may also require insulation);

• environmental friendliness of wooden windows and their ability to maintain an optimal microclimate in the room due to natural ventilation;

• there is no desire to make repairs after replacing windows;

• distrust of plastic structures;

• living in a hostel or a rented apartment;

• the need to insulate windows at work, in educational institutions, etc.

With all the advantages of wooden windows, they do not meet modern requirements for energy efficiency and heat conservation (except for wooden windows with double-glazed windows). So the owner has to think about how to insulate wooden windows so that it does not blow.

Any insulation of old wooden windows provides for blocking (sealing, putty) of all cracks that can potentially be a source of heat loss.

Due to the fact that wooden windows have been in use for more than one century, and users have always faced a lack of tightness, they have invented a lot of ways to perform insulation and. After all, heat losses through a window exceed heat losses through a wall of a similar area, which means it will be correct to know how to insulate wooden windows for the winter.

Where to start insulating windows

Work begins with finding out the place of blowing. In the case of wooden windows, these include:

• slopes (external and internal), incl. beams to strengthen the opening;
• ebb and sills;
• the places where the sash adjoins the window frame;
• frame wood;
• glass.

How to insulate wooden windows for the winter with your own hands

To begin with, we note that all existing methods of insulation can be divided into two directions - external and internal, which means that the technology of insulation of wooden windows will be considered in two directions.

1. Thermal insulation of wooden windows for the winter outside

External insulation is carried out from the outside of the window, from the street. It is much easier to perform this type of work in a private house than in a multi-storey one. Nevertheless, in the apartment and in the house, the following options are available for execution:

Insulation of window slopes outside

Thermal insulation of window slopes is a mandatory step, since insulation from the inside does not exclude the possibility of heat loss from the street. Polyurethane foam or rigid insulation is used as insulation.

How to insulate slopes from the street:

• inspect the window along the perimeter of the frame, remove all elements that do not hold well (old putty, polyurethane foam, insulation, plaster, paint, etc.);

• prime the surface of the slopes;

• blow out all cracks with polyurethane foam and / or stick the foam on the slope. In the process of installing the foam, you need to make sure that the sheet goes onto the frame;

• if only foam was used, it must be cut off after complete curing and covered with plaster. If foam was used, it must be covered with a polymer mesh, perforated tape must be installed in the corners and the slope must be plastered;

• after the plaster has completely dried, the slope is primed and painted.

Note. Outdoor insulation works are carried out at temperatures up to +5 ° С. At low temperatures, foam and adhesive mixtures lose some of their characteristics and properties.

Insulation of window ebb

Low tide is the lower part of the slope. Here it is recommended to blow out all the cracks with polyurethane foam and install an ebb bar on top. It is necessary to provide the ability to drain water down (the ebb bar is set at an angle), wrap the side edges up to avoid water leakage, bring the bar 20-30 mm beyond the edge of the masonry, seal all joints of the bar and slope or frame with sealant.

Elimination of gaps

Do not forget that wood is a breathable and non-hygroscopic material, so the outside of the window must be painted or varnished.

Advice. If delamination of the existing paintwork is planned, it must be removed with a construction hair dryer and a new layer applied.

2. Thermal insulation of wooden windows for the winter from the inside

Let us consider the main methods of internal insulation of windows (thermal insulation from the side of the room), which can be conditionally divided into temporary and conditionally permanent. The first group of activities includes those that are performed during cold weather and are cleaned in the spring by washing frames and windows. The second - those that ensure the tightness of the windows for a long period.

How can you insulate old windows

1. paper;
2. cotton wool;
3. foam rubber;
4. rubber or polymer seals;
5. polyurethane foam;
6. acrylic or silicone sealant;
7. hard or soft insulation;
8. paraffin, alabaster, etc.

How to insulate wooden windows with paper

This is the first option that comes to mind if you need to quickly and inexpensively insulate old windows. Of course, the aesthetics of the window suffers from this method, but the level of tightness is quite high. Material prepared for the site www.site

To make paper putty, you need to grind the paper (it is better to take old newspapers), soak it in water, squeeze it, add 1 part of clay or 2 parts of crushed chalk to the mass, and seal all the cracks with the resulting mass. The putty is flexible and easily clogs even into small cracks. A knife, screwdriver, metal ruler or other suitable tool is used to apply the mass.

To cover the paper putty, you usually use window tape or special paper with adhesive properties (such as masking tape), window paper, or fabric strips. The fabric and paper are coated with soap dipped in water and glued over the cracks.

The insulation is kept until the onset of heat, and then removed. At the same time, unattractive stripes remain on the window that need to be washed off.

Note. If the decorative coating on the window does not hold well, you need to be prepared for the fact that some of it will be removed along with tape or paper and painting will be required.

How to insulate wooden windows with cotton wool

The method is similar to the first, but instead of paper putty, cotton wool is used, which is also covered with strips of paper / fabric.

How to properly stick paper on windows - video

Insulation of windows with a sealant (regular or tubular foam rubber)

Regular foam is placed between the frame flaps and closed. Foam rubber is distinguished by its low price and availability. And also the possibility of reuse in the next season.

Tubular foam rubber is glued to the sash of the window frame from the inside thanks to the adhesive tape. The advantage of this method is the ability to use a window - open / close (for example, ventilate the room). The seal is securely attached to the sash and does not interfere with the operation of the window. In addition, it can be glued in several rows, which increases the tightness of the window sash to the frame.

A good option is a self-adhesive window tape made of rubber, polyurethane or polyethylene foam, made in the form of sticky-based tubes.

The choice of the seal depends on the temperature, the quality of the material, the size of the slots. Details about window seals in the video

Thermal insulation of wooden windows using Swedish technology

This is one of the most effective methods of insulation using a seal. The difference lies in the technology of its installation. In this case, before installing the seal, you need to make a groove in the frame and place the seal in it.

As you can see, the Swedish technology is, in fact, a partial restoration of a wooden window. And, ordinary wooden frames in their heat-saving properties are close to metal-plastic ones.

It often happens that cold weather comes unexpectedly and sunny days are replaced by chilly wind and rains. Therefore, you should take care of the weather in the house in advance and you need to start with the windows. If you, when deciding how to glue the windows for the winter, make the right choice, you can keep up to 2/3 of the heat in the room.

Contrary to popular belief that only wooden windows need to be insulated with their own hands, plastic structures also often need to improve their heat-saving qualities. This happens if the service life of plastic windows has ended or the structures were installed in violation of the technology.

To insulate windows for the winter with your own hands, you need to create the most airtight space between the frames, since the air in an enclosed space has excellent thermal insulation properties.

To get a comfortable room temperature, you need to eliminate the cracks through which cold air enters.

To insulate wooden frames, one (or both) of the traditional methods is usually used: gluing a sealing gum, sealing cracks with cotton wool, glue and paper strips, cloth or tape. An adsorbent can be placed between the frames - a substance that absorbs moisture, such as activated carbon, silica gel, soda or salt.

Preliminary preparation of wooden windows

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

Repair stages

1. Check the condition of the glazing beads - the long wooden slats with which the glass is reinforced in the window frame. It is better to replace rotten and cracked elements with new ones immediately.
2. Remove the problematic glazing beads and nails. Remove the glass and clean it from the remaining putty using an alkaline product, for example, soda ash diluted in water.
3. Clean the frames from putty and paint in the places where glass is inserted, wipe dry and treat with transparent silicone sealant.
4. When installing the glass, try not to pinch it. Secure the glazing beads with window nails.
5. 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 the help of:

Modern profile gasket

Window seal profiles

This material is sold at any hardware store and comes in tape, with or without adhesive. Such a seal is also called a tubular profile and is made from the following materials:

• foam rubber
• rubber
• polyvinyl chloride;
• polyethylene foam;
• polyurethane

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

The foam seal absorbs moisture, so it must be replaced annually. Polymer tape does not care about water, which significantly increases its service life.

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

A seal for a wooden window is attached to the perimeter of the frame

It is best to use a transparent silicone adhesive sealant to glue the seal without an adhesive base.

Improvised means

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.

Insulation stages:

• firmly tamp cotton wool or other material into the crevices using, for example, a wide screwdriver;
• glue 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 heaped tablespoon of starch with one glass of water 200 ml., Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.

Sifted flour can be used instead of starch. After cooling the paste, proceed to the insulation.

Paraffin wax can be purchased at any hardware store

This method was widespread several decades ago among housewives, who know exactly how to insulate wooden windows for the winter, as it made it possible to close large gaps quickly and at no cost.

The paraffin candle must be melted in a water bath and the hot mixture is poured 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 damages the paint, so this method is suitable for old windows that you plan to replace soon.

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

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

This method is suitable for insulating wood and PVC windows.

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

The material of the required size is glued to the frame glazing beads using double-sided tape and blown with air from a hair dryer to level and make it transparent.

More about energy-saving films for windows

Additional cold bridges

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

Also, cold conductors can be 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 processed with foam, is insulated by attaching a piece of PVC panel, adjusted to size, under it. The voids are filled with the same materials as for the slopes.

Read 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 insulation. It can be traditional polyurethane foam or a suitable sealant for this purpose:

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

When insulating plastic windows, follow the basic steps:

• Use a stick or brush to remove spilled polyurethane foam or debris from the cracks.
• Go over the slopes, frames and windowsill thoroughly with a degreasing cleaner.
• Fill the gaps with polyurethane foam or sealant, depending on the material chosen.

Summing up

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 your financial condition and the characteristics of the work.

Related video

Modern sealants can solve a whole bunch of problems - this is insulation, sound insulation, and sealing cracks and cracks in cracked wooden windows. Some sealants can also be used as adhesives, as they have high adhesion to different materials. There are many options for sealants and you need to understand all these proposals.

We insulate windows for the winter - goals and purposes

Even today, the issue of window insulation for the winter can be solved by old-fashioned methods, for example, to seal the cracks with paper, tape or strips of old newspapers, to stuff cotton wool or rags. Practical, but not at all aesthetically pleasing - this option is unlikely to suit the owner of an apartment where the renovation has just ended. Modern window sealants allow you to insulate windows completely imperceptibly - the strips of sealant become part of the window, merge with it, in some cases they can be painted or you can choose a transparent, colorless option.

Some sealants are used at the stage of installing windows - polyurethane foam wedges the window well and fills all the voids in the walls, and it perfectly hides under a layer of plaster or PVC or metal slopes. Others can be used just before the onset of cold weather, filling up the cracks at the windowsill and at the junction with the wall. It should be understood that one single sealant for windows will not solve the problem of insulation and sound insulation - you need to use several materials in the complex, for indoor and outdoor use. Before going to the construction market, decide what goals you are pursuing. Window sealant can be:

• frost-resistant
• refractory
• for outdoor use
• for sealing joints and cracks indoors
• elastic
• for painting
• transparent
• with pigment
• UV resistant

None of the existing sealants combine all of these qualities. However, they are all in one bottle and are not needed. So, frost resistance is important for outdoor sealants, transparency - for sealing joints in large panoramic windows, UV resistance is useful only if the joints are not hidden under a protective layer of paint or plaster. Let's take a closer look at the existing proposals.

We seal from the inside - acrylic and butyl sealants

Sealing of window seams with butyl sealants often occurs already at the stage of assembly of insulating glass units at the time of production. Butyl compounds are based on a mixture of polyisobutylene with regular chalk. Chalk acts as a filler, and the quality of the sealant depends on its quantity. The best ratio is 50 to 50, but many manufacturers prefer to save on the more expensive polyisobutylene. Unfortunately for many consumers, the performance of an acquisition can only be assessed some time after it has been applied and hardened. Formulations with too much chalk dry out quickly, crack and crumble.

Butyl sealants are used exclusively for indoor sealing work. When choosing a composition, pay attention to the components from which it is made - if paraffin or industrial oil is also indicated on the label, then such a sealant will have much better adhesion to different materials.

Another type of interior sealant is acrylic. This type is characterized by low vapor permeability, and therefore it is often used to protect polyurethane foam from moisture and condensation. adheres perfectly to any surfaces, even if they are not completely dry. The main disadvantage of acrylic sealants is their low elasticity. In frosty weather, they completely harden and may crack. Therefore, sealing window seams from the outside with such compounds does not justify itself at all. The advantages include the fact that acrylic seams can be painted in any color with almost any paint. Therefore, most of these sealants are sold in white.

Butyl tapes are not at all the same as butyl sealants. Butyl rubber and a number of plasticizers and fillers are used as a polymer base in the tapes. It is on them that the quality of the finished product depends, therefore, butyl tapes should be bought with great care so as not to fall on a completely unusable sealant. Paraffin wax and industrial oil are also used as a plasticizer to improve material adhesion.

When working with butyl compounds, it is important to very carefully remove the remnants of dirt, paint and old putty. It does not hurt to coat the places where the seam will pass with a special primer. Using acrylic sealants, you can do without any primers.

Outdoor sealants - exploring offers

Among the most affordable and most popular sealants for sealing joints outside, silicone compounds have been and remain. Most often, you can find a white window sealant on sale - this is due to the color of PVC windows, often also white. However, silicone is actually colorless and clear versions can also be found commercially. The most important advantage of such a sealant is its high elasticity, which remains even at very low temperatures. In addition, silicone sealant is not afraid of exposure to moisture and ultraviolet radiation, which makes it suitable for winterizing windows.

The main component of such formulations is rubber, which feels great on any surface. Since it is completely safe, silicone sealant is often used for interior work as well. However, when buying it, you should either choose the desired color in advance, or do not paint the seams in the future, since the paint on the silicone lays down very poorly and does not hold well after drying. The highest quality is considered to be an acidic silicone sealant, which is easily recognizable by the smell of vinegar. However, such formulations are incompatible with metal surfaces.

When buying a window sealant, choose the one with fungicides in the composition, in this case, you will avoid the appearance of mold on the seams.

It has a serious drawback - "musicality". The point is that when the compound is applied to the seam between the glass and the frame, it forms a thin film. After a while, this film can peel off from the glass, and then the windows begin to whistle in the truest sense of the word in unison with the gusts of wind. Whistling can only be eliminated by sealing the seam with a new layer of sealant after removing the old one. By the way, sometimes it is removed completely by accident, you just have to pull on the hanging threads of a thin film.

Among the new products on the market are acrylic silicone sealants, which combine the qualities of acrylic and silicone. Such sealants are highly elastic and can be painted at the same time. However, they also cost more. If a high level of sealing of joints and surfaces is of paramount importance to you, then thiokol sealant is the best choice. They are based on polysulfide oligomers - a component that provides a high degree of fluidity and viscosity after solidification. The high cost of thiokol compositions is justified by a very powerful sealing. It is quite difficult to work with them, since you have to mix the two components yourself, so they are often used only by professionals.

In recent years, the popularity of plastic windows has increased significantly. Despite this, wooden windows are still quite common. Therefore, the question of how to insulate wooden windows for the winter remains relevant to this day.
In winter, up to fifty percent of the heat is lost through old windows. There are 7 known ways to insulate windows for the winter.

Heat transfer mechanisms

There are three main mechanisms for heat transfer:

• direct heat transfer (thermal conductivity) through windows, walls, doors, ceiling and floor;
• infrared radiation through;
• convection - heat escapes through porous materials, crevices and cracks.

Traditional methods of insulation

If the budget is limited, then we often insulate wooden windows for the winter with improvised materials. A brief overview of budget insulation methods:

• If the windows do not close tightly, then use self-adhesive rubber seals of suitable thickness. You can buy them at any hardware store. There are times when the glue does not stick well. In this case, use a hairdryer or fan heater.
• Toilet paper is moistened in water, wrung out and hammered into the cracks. Paste on top
• With the help of cotton wool, foam rubber or tow, they clog the joints between the frames and the sashes, after which they are sealed with tape.
• Relatively cheap but reliable material - self-adhesive foam rubber, or polyethylene foam. It simultaneously possesses the properties of insulation and adhesive tape. Sold in rolls like scotch tape.
• The cracks are covered with plasticine or ordinary window putty. But the method has a big drawback - it is difficult to remove them from the window in spring. This method is used only in extreme cases.

Use of heat-saving film

One of the ways to insulate wooden windows for the winter is to use a heat-saving film. If in winter condensation and ice appear on the inside of the window glass, this is a sign of low thermal insulation properties. The problem is inherent even in modern double-glazed windows. The film is installed on the inside of the frame, parallel to the glass.

It simultaneously performs two actions: it prevents heat loss in the form of infrared radiation and creates a heat-insulating layer of air between the film and the glass. It makes it possible to avoid the effect of "crying windows".

Installation of thermal film is quick and easy. First of all, the frame is cleaned and degreased, and the usual film is glued around the glasses. The usual film is sold folded in two layers (the layers are separated before use).

The film is glued to the tape so that it covers the entire glass. It is pulled, not paying attention to the resulting wrinkles. In doing so, care should be taken to ensure that the edges of the film are firmly seated and that no bubbles form. After that, hot air from their hair dryer is blown onto the film. Under its influence, it stretches and smoothes.

Insulation of windows with paper and soap

This method is one of the oldest and is rarely used. Newspaper paper is torn into pieces, moistened in water and all the gaps between the frames are sealed with the resulting mass. Before you insulate wooden windows for the winter with your own hands, you should prepare the necessary tools: a knife, a flat screwdriver or a metal ruler. When all the slots are sealed, strips of paper and adhesive tape are glued over them. You can also use fabric. The strips of paper must first be lubricated with moistened soap, which will allow them to be securely attached to the surface. The method is relatively cheap, but it has one serious drawback - it is problematic to remove the paper without damaging it. Often the windows have to be repainted.

Insulation of windows with foam rubber

This type of insulation is similar to the first one. The difference lies only in the material used, that is, instead of paper, they take foam rubber. It is necessary to familiarize yourself with the installation technology before insulating wooden windows for the winter. The advice of specialists is not at all necessary, since the technique is quite simple, and any errors can be easily eliminated.

Foam strips are sold at any hardware store. Compared to paper, they are easy to dismantle. On top of them, you can also glue strips of paper, pre-smeared with soap.

Insulation with polyurethane foam

The best advice on how to insulate windows for the winter will certainly be given by experts. Using polyurethane foam is one of the most effective ways. In recent years, it has become widely used both in construction work and in everyday life. blow out all cracks, chips and other defects. After the cavity is filled with foam, it is allowed to dry. The excess is cut off with an ordinary knife.

When the foam is applied outside, all places must be plastered. This must be done because the foam crumbles in the sun and turns into dust. In general, the material is reliable and durable.

How to insulate windows for the winter: instructions and step-by-step technology

The silicone-based method requires more effort than conventional gap filling, but it is also the most effective. This is due to the fact that the method allows not only to minimize heat losses, but also to improve the overall sound insulation of windows.

The technology consists in the following: the glass fixing points are insulated with silicone. First of all, the frames are removed from the hinges and placed on the floor, after which the glazing beads are dismantled. You will need a flathead screwdriver to do this, but a knife will work as well. It is important to be extremely careful, as the glazing beads can break. It is advisable to pre-purchase spare. After dismantling them, the glass is removed. All work should be carried out with gloves, as there is a high risk of cutting yourself.

The place where the glass was previously located is cleaned of all kinds of dirt and filled with a sealant. At the next stage, the glass is put back, after which the sealant is passed a second time and the glazing beads are hammered back. At the end of the work, the frame is hung back. In parallel with the insulation, it is recommended to repair the frame: remove old paint, fill in cracks, put high-quality constipation. In the question of how to insulate wooden windows for the winter, every little thing plays an important role.

Tip: It is best to use a transparent sealant as it will not be visible if it gets on the glass.

Elimination of gaps

Under the influence of various temperatures, wooden frames often crack. Before insulating wooden windows for the winter, all these gaps should be repaired.

For this, the following materials are used:

• molten paraffin;
• sealant;
• a mixture of sand and flour in a ratio of one to three.

There are other methods, but they are less common. If you use any of them, the windows will have to be repainted.

Insulation of windows along the perimeter of the frames

In the general case, window insulation is the sealing of cracks where the window sashes are adjacent to the window frame. It is possible to achieve tightness of joints with the help of rubber tubes with an adhesive base, foam tubes, polyurethane foam and other materials.

One of the most effective ways to place the seal is to glue it to the window frame around its entire perimeter. When the window is closed, the seal will bend and block the cold air flow from the street. In this case, it is important to ensure that the frame bends the seal and does not slide over it.

If the frame is wide enough, then the seal is glued in several rows. So that it is securely fixed, small nails are nailed along the edges of it. This will prevent the material from peeling off. It is important to carefully examine the frame before insulating the windows for the winter. Thermal insulation of wooden windows with a sealant can lead to the fact that they will not close. Therefore, the frame sometimes needs to be suspended so that the seal does not push the sash forward, as a result of which the window does not rest against the adjacent sash.

This method is most effective when used in conjunction with window fittings with silicone sealant. One of the main advantages of the method is that it is not necessary to dismantle the entire seal after winter is over, so it can be used for several years.

Finally

Wooden and plastic windows have their own advantages and disadvantages. They are distinguished by their sound and thermal insulation characteristics and require completely different care. In our climatic conditions, the issue of window insulation still does not lose its relevance, therefore it requires careful and deep consideration.

Having studied the mechanisms of heat transfer from the apartment to the outside, as well as the structural features of the building, it is possible to insulate the room with high quality and reliability in the shortest period of time at minimal cost. Windows play perhaps the most important role in this. Therefore, they are engaged in warming in the first place. The article described the main options for how this can be done efficiently and professionally. We hope you find these tips helpful.

Why insulate plastic windows? This reasonable question arises, for sure, among all owners of modern sealed structures, because manufacturers sold us a perfect product with perfect thermal insulation. Installation errors, improper operation, house shrinkage and time can play a cruel joke even with the highest quality windows. Do not rush to change the entire structure - you can try to insulate plastic windows with your own hands. It is simple and short-lived. We deal with the weak points of modern windows and learn how to eliminate them.

# 1. Why do plastic windows need insulation?

In the first years, well-made and installed plastic windows will certainly be a reliable barrier to cold air, drafts and noise. Over the years, of course, problems can appear, and often the user is to blame for them. In case of improper 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 typical for;
• wear of rubber insulation. Responsible manufacturers and installers inform the user about the rules for caring for the 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 out of rubber, the appearance of microcracks in its structure, the result is a decrease in the density of adhesion to the frame and deterioration of thermal insulation;
• incorrectly set slopes.

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

No. 2. Identifying weaknesses

To carry out effective insulation of plastic windows, you must first figure out where the tightness is broken. Immediately from the list of suspects, only the frame can be deleted: 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 additionally insulated. "Extra" warmth in winter will not hurt in any way.

Identify leaking elements window simple - just hold your palm along and across the entire structure, and you will feel that in some places it blows decently. Some people advise using a lighter for this purpose. If you light a flame and hold it around the perimeter of the window, keeping a safe distance, then it will tilt in places where there is even a slight draft. Be extremely careful with this method!

As a rule, work on the insulation of a plastic window can be done by hand. The exception is 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 insulation may be needed if several zones of warm air leaks are found, but first things first.

No. 3. Debugging the pressure mechanism

Shrinkage of the house and weather factors can lead to slight distortion 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 of the former tightness is a matter of a couple of minutes, however, knowledge of the design of a plastic window and skills in working with tools will be needed.

Clamping mechanism regulation can be carried out using special eccentrics located along the perimeter of the flaps. In order for the sash to fit more tightly, the eccentric must be turned clockwise using a 4 mm Allen key. Focus on the serif located on each such element. When it is directed towards the street, the clamp is weakened, towards the sealant - it is strengthened. The video shows everything well.

Sometimes a simple one helps to insulate a plastic window regulation of loops, which also have their own mechanism responsible for the pressure density. Here the regulation is carried out using a hexagon. One should be guided by a simple rule: if the tongue is strongly extended, then the sash fits well. To pull it out, you need to turn the hexagon counterclockwise if the hinges are on the left, and clockwise if on the right.

The situation is even simpler with glazing bead... It is enough to pry the old gone 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 adjusting, check if the tightness of the structure has improved with the palm of your hand or a lighter. If everything is done correctly, and the draft still walks, then most likely you will have to change the seal.

No. 4. Replacing the seal

Ideally, a rubber seal can last long enough, but certain conditions must be met for this. According to the rules for the 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 the cold breeze from the street. The problem may be in the seal, which is located under the glass, or in what is along the contour of the sash. Replacing the seal in a plastic window is not so difficult as it is responsible. If you are in doubt about your skills, it is better to call a specialist.

Procedure for replacing the glass gasket:

Replacement may need and seal, which is located along the contour of the sash... In this case, it is better to remove the sash. First, the decorative overlays are dismantled from the hinges, and then using the mounting handle or the 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. It is better to secure the beginning and end of the sealing tape with glue. Everything! All that remains is to hang the sash back: the pin can be installed with bare hands, and then the decorative strip can be replaced. The video shows and describes everything very well.

No. 5. Window sill insulation

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 cement and debris into the cracks. No comment here. Better, of course, when the space under the windowsill is filled, but this option is not ideal either. Over time, the foam can shrink or even dry out, decent cracks are formed 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 it solidifies. The surplus is cut off after complete solidification; 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. For this, polyurethane foam is also used, but sometimes and is used. From above, everything is on the grid and gets off.

No. 6. Insulation of slopes

Today, often, when installing plastic windows, slopes are additionally installed, smooth, beautiful, made of dense 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:

• dismantling unnecessary parts of polyurethane foam;
• if the surface is very uneven, you can plaster it;
• treatment of the slope with a primer, you can use antibacterial compounds to prevent the development of mold;
• a fragment corresponding to the slope is cut out of the foam. In order for it to better adhere to the surface, it can be slightly scratched on the back side. It remains to apply assembly glue and press firmly to the surface of the slope, to guarantee you can install several dowels;
• it remains to mount the corner, putty the surface and fix the platband.

No. 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 there is an opportunity to make the structure even warmer - it will not only not let cold into the apartment, but will also prevent warm air from escaping 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 the glass, but reflects heat energy back into 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 glass unit - its efficiency is several times higher than any film, but if a regular glass unit is installed in the existing windows, then additional insulation will not be superfluous.

You can easily handle the installation of the film yourself:

• glass surface and frames are thoroughly cleaned;
• double-sided tape is glued around the perimeter of the box;
• the necessary fragment is cut from the roll of film, it is better to cut with a margin;
• the film is glued to the 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 glued film is almost invisible.

Electric glass heating it is already more difficult to equip, it is better to do this even at the stage of installing windows, but most window companies can install such a system already on an installed window. Heating is carried out by means of an electric heating coil mounted in the glass.

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

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