How to replace the seal on the windows with your own hands

Double-glazed windows and PVC windows are today in almost every home, and if they are installed with all the norms in mind, then a person for a long time is provided with reliable protection against cold, excessive noise and wind. However, in some cases, even the most high-quality plastic windows lose their properties, and drafts, dust, moisture, etc. begin to penetrate the space. If this situation arises, it will be necessary to replace the sealant, which can be done on its own.

Concept and purpose of the

gasket Before replacing the seal, you need to understand what it is and where it is located in the double glazing system. So, the sealing tow is a rubber layer, which has a relief or spongy structure, which is fixed between special depressions in the windows. This tourniquet runs along the perimeter of the entire window opening and has the characteristics of resistance to bad weather conditions.

Due to this, the sealant is not subject to cracking in frost or deformation under the influence of high temperature. But the main advantage is that it does not let heat, moisture or cold pass into the living space, thus regulating the climate control in the room.

Types of gaskets in modern windows

• Rubber or rubber seal is the most common type of interlayer. Characterized by a low level of sensitivity to temperature changes, high resistance to mechanical damage and resistance to ultraviolet rays.
• The polymer sealant is a popular kind of material that is made of modified PVC, i.e. From raw materials, similar to the plastic profile of the window. It is securely fixed and ensures high tightness of the window structure. But it also has a number of drawbacks: it is subject to the influence of temperature changes in the external environment, ultraviolet, and may lose its elasticity.
• Polyethylene foam sealer with foam filling - it differs monotonous shapes and low recovery characteristics.

When is it necessary to change the seal?

Rubber seal is an important component of the window system, which is responsible for the tightness of the plastic double-glazed windows. From its functionality depends how well the window will cope with providing noise insulation, maintaining the temperature regime and protect the premises from getting unpleasant odors from the street.

However, there are some signals that will help the owner to determine when to replace the seal on the plastic windows. Such indicators include the following phenomena:

1. Emergence of drafts.
2. Penetration of cold or extraneous noise into the room.
3. Appearance on the windows of condensate.
4. Appearance in wintertime ice on the windowsill or inside the window.
5. Manifestations of depressurization of a double-glazed unit.
6. Appearance of dryness and cracking of rubber.
7. Appearance of fungus and moldy formations on a rubber product.

The appearance of such signs will clearly indicate that the rubber seal does not cope with the functions assigned to it. In other words, it is necessary to lay a new high-quality sealing cord.

Sealing layer selection

If the profile of the plastic window structure is manufactured by a well-known brand name, then it will not be difficult to find and buy a sealant of a consultative design or type. But regarding the profile system of third-party brands, when choosing a rubber harness, it is necessary to take into account some features.

Almost all profile systems from little-known manufacturers are clones of VEKA, REHAU or KBE brands, and accordingly the interlayer will be interchangeable. Thus, KBE analogues are the profile systems of such brands as: Vitrage, Novotex or Proplex. While the REHAU sealant will be an excellent substitute for Montblanc or Brusbox windows.

It is also important not to fall into the misconception that the window seal can be purchased exclusively with a bay of several hundred meters. Modern online stores and large construction stores sell this product, both wholesale and retail. This allows you to buy the required running meters of the sealant without difficulty, you only need to accurately measure the parameters of the window structure and take the material slightly with a margin.

Important! It is undesirable to purchase a sealing layer of thickness greater than that which was originally delivered. The popular opinion that a thick sealant can have higher leak tightness, noise insulation and extended life is erroneous. On the contrary, such a seal is more susceptible to deformation, which significantly shortens its service life. In addition, an excessively dense layer - an additional load on the locking window hardware and hinges, which in the future will not affect the durability of the window in the future.

You should not also make the mistake of buying a cheap and useless for plastic windows silicone universal seal. Its use is justified only in case of sealing of wooden windows made according to the old pattern. For PVC windows, it is necessary to use a specialized material that complies with GOST 30778-2001.

How to extend the life of the seal?

It is always better to preempt the problem, rather than solve it in a difficult and expensive way. Therefore, it is much easier to avoid the rapid deterioration of the seal for windows by carrying out easy preventive measures. Among these precautions and care should be noted the following:

1. At least 2 times a year, it is necessary to thoroughly wash and wipe the windows not only from the inside, but also outside the room, because the falling of debris and dirt is significantly damaging the operation of the seal.
2. Periodically apply to a cleaned sealing layer a special solution in the form of a silicone-containing drug or regular glycerin, which can be purchased at a pharmacy.
3. When washing window structures, it is advisable to avoid using greasy detergents to avoid them getting inside the seal and damaging the tow.
4. It is necessary to perform repair work or other dusty procedures indoors with the window closed so that dirt and dust do not settle on the seal. Otherwise, cleaning the contaminated tourniquet will be problematic.

The procedure for care of the window seal can be seen here

Replacement of the sealing cord by one's own hands

If the sealing layer has become unusable and requires an urgent replacement due to loss of quality and functionality, the following auxiliary materials should be prepared:

1. Silicone adhesive.
2. Glue gun.
3. New seal.
4. Scissors.

Next, the seal is being replaced. In order to avoid any difficulties or possible errors when installing a new layer of the sealing harness, it is worth following these instructions:

1. Use the scissors to pull the edge of the old sealing harness and remove it from the window opening. Usually it is easily removed from the grooves of the window frame.
2. Clean the place in the profile thoroughly from dirt and dust with a soft, clean cloth. It is necessary to do this not for the sake of aesthetic comfort, but for the new harness to denserly lay in the cleaned grooves.
3. Apply glue to the corners of the window frame to fix the new cord.
4. Seal the harness carefully into the grooves. It should be walking all over the area of ​​the window perimeter.
5. Lay the seal in the corners of the window frame without pulling it or pressing it, adhere to the uniformity.
6. Remove excess rubber tail with scissors.
7. The joint seal of the sealant is fixed by glue in the corner of the window frame.

Important! When laying a new sealing cord in the window perimeter, take a solid cut. Do not tear and cut it, do not pack it in pieces.

When gluing a rubber sealing layer, place it in the groove of the frame evenly, freely and covering the surface of the grooves.

See the instructions for replacing the seal in this video: