A new window does not ask for much, but it does ask for something. If nobody lubricates the hardware, cleans the seals and clears the drainage holes, the window starts to stick, let air in or let water in. There is also the warranty: one profile maker’s leaflet says the warranty does not cover damage caused by a lack of proper maintenance.
This guide gathers what manufacturers write about maintenance, as a calendar. The intervals come from manuals by profile and hardware makers. They differ from system to system, so the manual for your window comes first. If the installer did not hand it over, ask for it.
The calendar in one table
| When | What to do | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Once a year | Lubricate the moving parts of the hardware | REHAU, Siegenia, Reynaers |
| Once a year | Check the locking elements for wear | Siegenia |
| Once a year | Check that the seals sit well, and lubricate them | Siegenia, REHAU, Reynaers |
| Now and then | Clean profiles and glass | REHAU |
| Every 6 months | Clean the chamber between the moving and fixed part and clear the drainage slots | Reynaers (aluminium) |
| Every month | Clean the track of sliding windows | Reynaers (sliding) |
| When needed | Replace the seals, after several years | Siegenia |
You can print this page and keep it with the window manual.
Hardware: once a year
The hardware is the mechanism that opens, closes and locks the window: hinges, lock, handle, arms.
- REHAU advises lubricating the moving parts at least once a year, so the window opens and closes easily.
- Siegenia says the same and names the oil: it must be free of silicone and acid. Use the chance to look for wear on the locking elements.
- Reynaers (aluminium systems) asks you to remove dust and grease from the hardware every year, with a soft cloth and a neutral product. It advises avoiding silicone lubricants on hardware and not lubricating the composite rods or door hinges.
If a handle is loose, Siegenia explains that you lift the cover flap, turn it from vertical to horizontal and tighten the screw underneath.
REHAU also suggests that a professional checks the fitting and movement of the hardware, to avoid permanent damage to the window.
Seals: check and lubricate once a year
The seals are the rubbers around the sash. They close the window against air and water.
- Siegenia advises checking once a year that they sit well and seal. They are lubricated with silicone oil or talc, to stay soft and working for longer.
- REHAU says to clean them with water and lubricate them from time to time with silicone in stick form, sold in hardware shops.
- Reynaers says to apply, once a year, ordinary household talc to the EPDM rubbers between the moving and fixed part, or liquid silicone with a cloth, so they do not crack.
- Seals do not last for ever. Siegenia warns that after several years they may need replacing so the compression is right again. It gives no deadline.
Cleaning: what to use and what to avoid
REHAU explains that dust and rain marks come off the profiles with a damp cloth and an ordinary detergent, and that glass is cleaned with a chamois in hot water. Near industry or railways, pollution can leave stains on the profiles, and REHAU advises cleaning regularly with its own detergent.
Avoid, according to REHAU:
- aggressive products or ones with solvents, such as synthetic-resin thinners and acetone;
- abrasive detergents;
- spatulas, metal brushes and rough sponges.
Reynaers adds, for aluminium, to avoid aggressive or corrosive products and use lukewarm water with a neutral product. In the same leaflet, Reynaers asks for cleaning aluminium profiles twice a year in a non-corrosive atmosphere with exposure to rain, and at least four times a year in other cases. The more demanding cases include being near the sea (less than 10 km) and near major traffic routes. These intervals are the manufacturer’s, for its own systems.
Drainage: the chamber and the slots
Many windows have channels underneath that let out rainwater that gets into the frame. If they are blocked, the water cannot get out.
Reynaers asks you to clean the chamber between the moving and fixed part every 6 months and to clear the drainage slots if needed. On sliding doors and windows the bottom track collects dust and sand: clean it every month. We did not find an equivalent interval for PVC windows. See your manufacturer’s manual.
What this means for the warranty
REHAU writes in its leaflet that the warranty excludes surface damage from neglect, from not doing proper maintenance, and from aggressive or abrasive detergents. That is that manufacturer’s warranty. Check yours, in writing, in warranties and certificates, and keep the maintenance manual next to it.
What we could not confirm
- We did not find manuals from Veka or Kömmerling. If your window is one of these brands, use the installer’s manual.
- We did not find a legal or official deadline for window maintenance in Portugal.
- Reynaers’ intervals are for aluminium systems. REHAU’s and Siegenia’s are more general. For your window, the manual that came with it rules.
Sources
- REHAU: Janelas PVC, cuidados e manutenção: cleaning, hardware once a year, seals, products to avoid, warranty.
- Siegenia: Know-how: tips and tricks for windows: hardware and seals once a year, wear, replacing seals.
- Reynaers: Operation and care: drainage, seals, tracks, cleaning aluminium, products to avoid. An aluminium-system maker.
What to do next
- Ask the installer for the maintenance manual: see the questions for the installer.
- If water appears inside the home, see the condensation guide.
- Replacing windows? Get an idea of the price with the calculator.