PVC window adjustment - when and how often should you do it?

PVC and aluminium windows, despite their durable construction, require periodic hardware adjustment. This is normal wear and tear - a sash weighing anywhere from a dozen to several dozen kilograms gradually "settles" on its hinges over time, and seal pressure changes with the seasons.

Signs that a window needs adjustment

• The sash rubs against the frame when opening or closing
• The handle feels stiff, or you need to press the sash firmly for it to close
• A noticeable draught even though the window is closed
• The sash tilts open on its own or won't hold the tilt position

How often to adjust the hardware

Hardware manufacturers recommend an inspection and adjustment once a year, ideally at the start of the heating season (autumn, before winter) - that's when temperature differences most strongly affect airtightness. For newly installed windows, it's worth doing an extra adjustment after the first season, once the building structure and materials have "settled" following installation.

What a typical adjustment involves

Three-dimensional hardware adjustment allows the sash pressure to be corrected in three directions - up/down, left/right, and pressure against the frame - without removing the window. This is usually combined with lubricating the hardware and checking the condition of the seals (they lose elasticity over time and typically need replacing after several to a dozen or so years of use).

Adjustment is an investment, not a cost

Compared to replacing an entire window, adjustment is a small expense that genuinely protects against heat loss and moisture getting in through gaps. Neglected hardware can also lead to permanent damage to hinges or the frame, which ends up being more expensive to fix.

How to tell your window needs adjustment right now

The simplest home test: close the window and try sliding a sheet of paper between the sash and the frame at several points around the whole perimeter. If the paper slides freely in one spot but jams tightly in another, the sash pressure is uneven - a sign the catches need adjusting. A second test is watching for frost or condensation on the inside of the glass in freezing weather that appears more in one corner of the window than elsewhere - that also points to a localised loss of airtightness.

We handle sash and hardware adjustment regardless of whether we installed the windows ourselves - get in touch with us if you notice any of the signs above.