1. Stop paying to heat the garden
The rubber seals around windows and doors harden, shrink and come loose over the years. On top of that, doors and opening windows slowly drop on their hinges, so they no longer press tight against the seal. The result is a draught you can feel with your hand, a whistle on windy nights and a radiator that never quite wins.
The SEAI estimates that around 10% of a home's heat can be lost through windows and doors, depending on their age, and draught-proofing is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to keep heat in. In most cases we can replace the worn seals and adjust the hinges and keeps in a single visit, without touching the frame.
2. Misted glass isn't just a cosmetic problem
If you see fog, droplets or water marks between the two panes of glass, the seal around the glass unit has failed. Damp air has got in, and the unit no longer insulates the way it should. In winter that means a colder pane, more condensation on the inside of the window and, over time, black mould on the seals and reveals.
You don't need a new window for this. If the frame is sound, we replace only the sealed glass unit, so you get clear, properly insulating glass back for a fraction of the cost of a new window.
Quick test
Wipe the misted glass on both sides. If the mist is still there, it's trapped between the panes and the glass unit needs replacing. If it wipes away, it's normal condensation, and better ventilation (open trickle vents, a dehumidifier) usually solves it.
3. Dark evenings: make sure every lock works
Gardaí say burglaries can rise by up to 20% in the winter months, when there are fewer hours of daylight, and the busiest time is in the early evening. Every winter their Lock Up, Light Up campaign gives the same advice: make sure all doors and windows are locked and have good locks.
That's hard to do if the key is stiff, the handle has gone floppy or you have to lift the door to lock it. Those are early signs that the door has dropped or the lock is wearing, and they tend to get worse in cold, damp weather. A quick adjustment, a new gearbox or an anti-snap cylinder is much cheaper than a lock that fails completely, or a break-in.
4. Doors that stick, drop or won't close
Cold and damp make materials move. A door that closes fine in July can catch on the frame, drag on the threshold or refuse to lock in January. Sliding patio doors get heavy when the rollers are worn and the track is full of winter grit. Most of the time it's an adjustment or a part, not a new door.
Door repairs → Sliding & patio doors →
5. Small problems get bigger in winter
A door that you have to slam, a window you have to force or a lock you have to jiggle all wear faster the more they're forced. Left until spring, a simple adjustment can turn into a broken gearbox, a cracked hinge or water getting into the frame. Fixing it now is usually quicker and cheaper.
Your 5-minute winter check
- Feel for draughts. On a windy day, run the back of your hand around closed windows and doors.
- Look for light. Can you see daylight around the edge of a closed door?
- Check the glass. Any mist or marks between the panes?
- Try every lock. Does the key turn easily and the handle lift without forcing?
- Watch the door close. Does it catch, drag or need a push to latch?
If you answered yes to any of these, send us a photo.
Repair or replace?
We'll tell you straight. Most winter problems are a repair. But if the frames are rotten, warped or badly damaged, or lots of units are failing at once, new windows or doors may make more sense. Our sister company, Buia Windows, supplies and fits new windows and doors, including triple-glazed Palladio composite doors.