Window Drafts – Checking and Replacing the Seal

Drafts around a window are usually caused by a worn or hardened rubber seal in the frame. Test: Clamp a sheet of paper in the closed window – if it slides out easily, the seal is no longer airtight. Solution: Buy a self-adhesive foam or EPDM seal at a hardware store (approx. £3–8), remove the old seal completely, clean the groove thoroughly, and press or stick the new seal in place. Alternatively, you can adjust the window hardware to close more firmly – on tilt-and-turn windows, the closing pressure can be adjusted at the locking pins using an Allen key (usually 4 mm).