Window seal for plastic windows

The window seal for the plastic profile performs the role of insulation, protects the interior of the premises from external noise, cold, wind, and moisture. You can use it in the windows of buildings of any purpose. Recently, residents of modern homes and apartments have increasingly begun to install plastic windows, which differ in practicality and functionality from their wooden counterparts. With their help, you can reduce the cost of heating services. But over time, any, even the most high-quality thing can fail, plastic windows are no exception. Sealing gums and other elements of modern systems periodically need maintenance.

Description

The window seal prevents foreign objects from entering the room. With it, you can protect the accessories from moisture, which is capable of destroying it. Sealing elements have high strength, which is sometimes compared with the qualities inherent in vulcanized rubber. Use of such seals can be carried out over a wide range of temperatures, which vary from -40 to +55 ° C. These elements are resistant to deformation, they are ecological, and their area of use is quite extensive. If we talk about the environment, the window seal does not contain elements that would be toxic. Visiting the store, you can choose the color of the seal, which will match the shade of the window frame.

Specifications

Window seals can last up to 30 years, and the operating temperature can vary depending on the production technology. The material in the basis of this element is not so sensitive to ozone and ultraviolet radiation. Technical characteristics of different brands of seals can be changed, so you need to pay special attention to this issue.

Select by material: rubber and silicone seals

The technology of manufacturing a rubber sealant involves the vulcanization of rubber using sulfur and ultraviolet. The main component is carbon black, these elements can be used for 30 years. This version of the seal provides sealing of all available joints.

Silicone is ready to last longer for 10 years. In the manufacture of these elements, environmentally friendly materials are used that have increased resistance to temperature changes. Properties are not lost during operation, even if the temperature will vary from -40 to +150 ° C. The material is resistant to sunlight, oxygen and ozone.

EPDM and TPE Seals

The window seal for plastic windows can be made of ethylene propylene. The service life in this case reaches 20 years, the material is resistant to atmospheric factors and does not crack, which allows it to be used effectively for its intended purpose. When the material is based on thermoplastic elastomers, the name sounds like TPE, while the material manifests itself as rubber, based on modified synthetic polymers.

Features of PVC sealant

Window seal, the profile with which you can effectively isolate and protect, can be made of PVC, which has many advantages and some disadvantages. It can be used only in warm residential premises, but the operational period is only 3 years. Manufacturing technology is quite simple against the background of analogues, which positively affects the cost, which, unfortunately, can not be said about the quality.

The need to replace the sealant

The rubber for the window requires replacement, if you notice that there was a draft in the rooms, condensation on the surface of the windows, and the windows themselves began to freeze. On the inner surface, therefore, frost may form, which contributes to the complete or partial wear of the sealing rubber. The formation of condensate can be a consequence of poor closure of the leaf, resulting in a temperature between the glasses is reduced, which leads to the formation of moisture.

Replacing the sealant

If the silicone sealant has failed, has lost its properties and no longer protects the profile, then it must be replaced. To do this, you should use a certain set of materials and tools, among them:

• Sharp scissors;
• glue;
• Sealing material.

Once the old seal has been removed, it is necessary to clean the pores of contamination, for this you can use an elastic brush. The grooves are then wiped with a damp rag and then dried well. The corners are treated with glue, the processing is carried out and in those places where the fixation of the new material will be made. The cord should be integral, it is important to cut the excess with scissors, and the joints to be joined, applying glue.

Recommendations of a specialist

The seal for window frames must not be tightened during installation. To avoid the need to replace the seal, you can use the method of sealing adjustment, for this purpose, a key is installed in a specially designed hole and rotated until the required result is obtained. If this technique does not allow to achieve the desired effect, then in the first stage the window leaf is removed, it is best to do this starting from the upper loop. Then the old seal is removed, and afterwards a new one is installed to the grooves, but it is necessary to act gradually.

When installing the rubber window sealant, you do not need to get rid of the old glue. It is better to apply a new layer. Hurry with this procedure should not be, because the glue can be smeared. It is necessary to wait for the complete drying of the mixture, only after it is recommended to install the window leaf in place. If it turned out that the old rubber is not completely worn out and can still be used, the sealant is recommended to be restored, for this purpose it is lubricated with an aerosol lubricant.

Additional recommendations for choosing a sealant

If you still do not know which sealer to choose, then you should pay attention to the features of each of them. For example, the polymer is made from high-quality polyvinyl chloride, but has disadvantages in the form of high susceptibility to negative weather conditions. In summer, such a seal softens, and hardens in winter, among other things, it is exposed to sunlight. But rubber and rubber seals are the most reliable and versatile in operation. They have the qualities of confrontation to temperature extremes. Ultra-violet on such seals is not affected, they have high durability. Window sealant self-adhesive can be made of polyethylene with foam rubber. This material is less common due to poor quality and a small variety of forms. The most expensive is silicone, so it does not enjoy such a high demand. The material is impervious to weather conditions, has high stability and is inferior to the rubber seal in the issue of exposure to mechanical effects. Low protection from wind and noise is inherent in a porous EPDM seal.

Conclusion

The service life of the sealing rubber will depend not only on external negative factors, but also on proper maintenance. To extend the life of this window element, it must be kept clean. To do this, as necessary, the surface of the sealant is cleaned of dirt and dust, smeared with silicone gel. Such manipulations should be carried out several times a year, only under such conditions the replacement of rubber bands can be carried out much less often.