Signs Your Windows Need Replacing

Mist or condensation between the panes

Condensation on the inside face of the glass on a cold morning is common, and it is usually about moisture in the room. Condensation trapped between the two panes is different. It means the seal around the double-glazed unit has failed and damp air has got into the gap.

Once a unit has failed it will not clear itself, and it no longer insulates as it should. If the frame is in good condition, replacing just the sealed unit is often enough. If several units have gone at once, or the frames are tired as well, it is worth looking at the whole window.

Draughts and cold spots

Hold the back of your hand near the edges of the opening sash on a windy day. If you can feel air moving, the seals or gaskets may have perished, the sash may have dropped, or the frame may not be sealed to the wall properly.

Gaskets and hinges can sometimes be replaced or adjusted. When the draught comes from around the outside of the frame, or the frame has moved out of square, adjustment will not fix it. That is usually down to how the window was fitted in the first place, and it is why I measure every opening before anything is ordered.

Windows that are hard to open, close or lock

A window that sticks, drops, or needs the handle forcing to lock is more than an annoyance. It can mean worn hinges, a failing locking mechanism, or a frame that has twisted.

• Worn friction hinges let the sash sag, so it catches on the frame.
• Locking gear wears and stops engaging properly, which affects security.
• Twisted or bowed frames stop the sash sitting flat against the seals.

Hinges and locking gear can often be replaced on their own. A frame that has moved is a different matter.

Rotten, cracked or discoloured frames

On older timber windows, push a screwdriver gently into the bottom rail and the sill. If it sinks in, the timber is rotting. Peeling paint, gaps at the joints and soft putty are early warnings.

uPVC does not rot, but very old frames can become brittle, discoloured or cracked, and the corners can open up. Once the frame itself has failed, replacement is usually the sensible choice.

Rising heating bills and noise

If one room is always colder than the rest, or traffic noise has become more noticeable, the windows are worth checking. Older double glazing was made to lower standards than today's windows, so there can be a real difference between a window fitted decades ago and a new one. Replacement windows now have to meet a minimum energy standard under the building regulations, so a new window should keep noticeably more heat in.

Repair or replace?

When a repair is usually enough

• One or two misted units in otherwise sound frames.
• A dropped sash or stiff handle caused by worn hinges or locking gear.
• Perished gaskets on a frame that is still square.

When replacement makes more sense

• Rotten timber or cracked and brittle uPVC frames.
• Several failed units across the house.
• Draughts from around the frame rather than the sash.
• Windows that no longer lock securely.

Late autumn is a good time to look, because draughts and condensation show up as soon as the weather turns. In Oswestry and Ellesmere, as in most of Shropshire, the colder months make a poorly sealed window obvious.

What happens when I replace a window

I measure each opening at the survey, then order the windows. On the day, the old frames come out, the new ones go in plumb and level, and they are sealed inside and out. A window replacement is usually completed in a day, and the old frames are taken away.

If the doors are in the same condition, it is often worth doing them at the same visit. Have a look at our uPVC and composite doors page.