Wooden windows, like other types of windows, can leak over the years. Due to cracked seals or the wrong window mode, the house loses heat unnecessarily and heating bills increase.
Why should wooden windows be sealed for the winter?
Through leaky windows, your home can lose up to 30% of its heat. Wooden windows with roof leaks cause many undesirable situations. These include:
Significant heat loss
Higher heating bills
Moisture and leaks: Through large gaps in wooden windows, moisture can penetrate rooms during rainy weather, and in extreme cases, even puddle on window sills.
If you want to avoid the above phenomena, you need to seal wooden windows for the winter. You, your family, and the environment will benefit. Your home will be greener and more energy efficient.
How to seal wooden windows for the winter?
Before you start caulking wooden windows, you need to determine exactly where the greatest heat loss occurs. There are several ways:
hand test: place your hand in different places on the window: the places where you feel cold gusts of air need to be sealed
smoke test: direct the smoke towards the window; if it moves to the other side of the window, it means it’s leaking
sheet of paper test: put a sheet of paper between the frame and the window frame, and close the window; if the paper comes off easily, it is a sign that the window does not require sealing as much as adjustment
Examination with a thermal imager – this task should be entrusted to a specialist who, using a special camera, will examine and determine the places where the window is leaking.
Once you have located the leak sites, you need to prepare them for sealing next. Whichever method you choose, it’s best to first clean them thoroughly of dust, dirt and grease and any peeling paint. As a result, the seal will be faster and more durable.
Methods of sealing wooden windows depending on the type of leak
The most common leaks in wooden windows are those between:
window frame and its frame
window frame and wall
Window frame and glass
In addition, a lot of heat also escapes through the windows themselves.
One of the ways to seal windows known for decades is cotton. This very old-fashioned method is not used very often today. It was superseded by much more modern materials and methods. Even such a popular gasket a few years ago in the form of a developed sponge is definitely losing popularity today.
Today, the choice of means for sealing wooden windows is very wide:
Mounting Foam: Ideal for leaks that occur between the window frame and the wall. Until a few years ago, these spaces were filled with glass wool. The method used today allows for a more precise sealing.
Silicone or putty – suitable for sealing places between the window frame and its glass. Putty is a material that often crumbles and breaks quickly. For this reason, in recent years it has often been replaced by much more durable silicone.
Adhesive tapes and joints: mainly useful for sealing gaps between the frame and the window frame. You can choose between silicone-rubber and silicone gaskets. The former are more durable, while the latter insulate heat better.
Sealing Strips – Like mounting foam, these will come in handy when sealing the gap between the frame and the wall. They are resistant to changes in temperature, humidity and UV radiation.
If your wooden windows have a lot of leaks in different places, you should use several suitable materials.
Why are airtight roof windows so important?
Over time, all wooden windows in the house, including roof windows, require sealing. If you’re wondering why airtight roof windows are so important, you should know that you can lose more heat through leaks than with traditional front windows because hot air escapes to the top.
New generation wooden roof windows are already designed to generate as little heat loss as possible. The older models, however, require your attention if you want them to serve you as long as possible and to be tight. The repair looks similar here as with the front windows. Also, sealing flanges are available on the market. Many window manufacturers also offer special insulation kits.