How to care for plastic windows in winter

Installation of metal—plastic windows is usually designed to solve one task - to minimize heat loss in the cold season. But the cold snap, which in Ukraine is almost always accompanied by temperature changes, can negatively affect the operation of metal-plastic windows. Therefore, new metal-plastic windows, and those more structures that have been installed for a long time, should be prepared for winter.

Preparing windows for winter makes it possible to solve several tasks at once. This includes the elimination of traces of operation throughout the year, and the prevention of the negative effects of low temperatures on the fittings and seal. The complexity of the work on preparing the window for winter is low — but they should not be neglected.

Pay attention! To prepare plastic windows for winter, you should choose a fairly warm day in late November or early December — before the first serious frosts. Several windows can be put in order in just an hour, but you still have to open them — and on a frosty day this is associated with discomfort.

 Preparing the profile for winter

The window profile, made of high-quality PVC, is not afraid even of severe frosts and temperature changes. Specific preparation for cold weather is not required — so you can limit yourself to cleaning the frames and shutters:

• Using a wet cloth or rag, we clean the profile from the outside and inside from dust and persistent dirt. You can use a warm soap solution, but after that it is advisable to rinse the profile with clean water and wipe dry. Do not use metal brushes, very hard sponges and abrasive detergents to clean the profile — scratches will appear on the surface of the plastic or lamination, which will be almost impossible to remove.
• For several months of operation, the drainage holes in the profile can become clogged with dust and debris. To prevent moisture from entering the room, the holes should be cleaned. It is convenient to use a toothpick or a thin wire for cleaning. If this is not done, drainage will be disrupted, and in winter the moisture inside the profile will begin to freeze.
• Mosquito nets should be removed before the start of the cold season, rinsed under running water from the shower and thoroughly dried. Mosquito stacks are stored indoors, because temperature changes and snow sticking lead to stretching of the canvas. As a result, some of the holes increase in size — in the summer, insects will enter the room through them.

This is the end of the preparation — no additional actions are required. The only recommendation is that after a heavy snowfall, it is worth sweeping the snow away from the low tide, otherwise it will begin to melt and some of the moisture may get into the mounting seam.

Hardware care

If the profile is practically not in danger in winter, then the fittings will experience an increased load in the cold. Because of this, the risk of damage to the mechanism will increase — and the window will open with great difficulty. To avoid this, we prepare the accessories for the cold season in advance:

• Open the window and remove dirt from the hardware mechanism. Open areas are cleaned with a brush and a napkin, in hard-to-reach places we use cotton swabs and toothpicks. The less dust remains on the moving parts of the fittings, the better.
• Wipe the hardware dry and lubricate it. To do this, we apply 2-3 drops of lubricant to the hinges, and also add them to the technological holes (manufacturers often put a pictogram in the form of an oil can opposite them). In order for the oil to be evenly distributed over the mechanism, we open and close the window several times. Drips of oil are wiped with a napkin.

In our climate zone, there is no need to use special cold-resistant lubricants. But this does not mean that you can use any oil. The best solution is a composition designed specifically for window fittings, silicone—based oil for fishing reels or lubricant for sewing machines.

Important! In any case, do not apply vegetable oil to the mechanism. It thickens over time and mixes with dust, and low temperatures only aggravate the situation. As a result, the load on the fittings will not decrease, but will increase many times — and the chance of the mechanism breaking when trying to open or close with effort will be quite real.

Care of the sealer

The sealing circuit performs one important function — it covers the gap between the frame and the sash in the closed position, and thereby ensures tightness in the clamping area. The sealer can cope with the task only while maintaining elasticity — otherwise, a gap will inevitably appear through which cold air will penetrate into the room.

In the production of high-quality metal-plastic windows, seals are used that retain elasticity for 10-15 years or more, while operating in a wide temperature range. But severe frosts, and especially sudden temperature changes with a noticeable cooling can lead to the fact that the seal becomes brittle, and cracks appear on it.

To avoid this, before the start of the winter season, you need to take care of protecting the seal. Therefore:

• We clean the seal from dirt. The easiest way is to wipe all the contours with a damp cloth.
• Lubricate the seal with a special lubricant. It will protect the material from drying out, prevent the appearance of cracks in the cold and make it possible to maintain elasticity for longer.

Pay attention! The lubricant for the window sealer is included in the window care kit. If there is no special composition, any neutral silicone—based lubricant without abrasive materials or solvents will do.

Manipulations with one window will take no more than 15 minutes. At the same time, preparing windows for the winter season will avoid serious problems with drafts and incorrect operation of fittings. The window, lubricated and cleaned of dirt, will open and close effortlessly even in severe frosts (because ventilation of the room is mandatory at any temperature). And in the closed position, the window will retain maximum heat due to high tightness.

You can order a high-quality professional installation of metal-plastic windows by following the link