We repair double glazing in Wallasey, CH44 and CH45, within Wirral Council’s area. Victorian, Edwardian and inter-war homes here sit close to the coast, so windows and doors face strong wind and driving rain. The jobs we see most are leaking and draughty windows, worn seals and gaskets, misted units and doors that have stopped locking smoothly. We find the cause, then quote in writing to repair it.
Why do coastal windows leak?
A uPVC window is designed to let a little water into the outer chamber of the frame and drain it straight back out. On a sheltered house that system rarely struggles. On an exposed elevation, wind pushes rain harder and for longer, and small weaknesses become leaks. The usual culprits are:
- Blocked drainage slots – debris, salt deposits or old paint stop water escaping, so it builds up and finds a way in.
- Failed perimeter sealant – the bead between frame and wall cracks or comes away.
- Shrunken wedge gaskets – the rubber holding the glass contracts and leaves a gap.
- A dropped sash – worn hinges mean the sash no longer presses evenly on its seal.
We test and look before deciding on a fix, because each needs a different repair. Our leaking window repair page explains how we track water to its source.
Draughts and whistling
The same seals that keep water out keep wind out. Brush and bubble seals compress over the years and gaskets harden, so a window that once closed snugly starts to whistle. New seals, together with adjusted keeps and hinges where needed, usually cure it. See seal and gasket replacement for details.
Glass units under pressure
Units that sit in a wet frame, or that see large swings in temperature on a sunny, windy elevation, can fail sooner. When a pane mists between the glass, a new made-to-measure unit is the lasting fix, and we check drainage and packers when fitting it so the new unit is not left sitting in water. If the old units are working but tired, low-E argon-filled replacements can make rooms feel warmer.
Front and back doors facing the weather
Exposed doors take a lot of punishment. Seals wear, hinges loosen, and a door that has moved slightly will no longer line up with its keeps. Then the handle has to be forced and the multipoint lock suffers. Whether yours is uPVC or composite, adjustment and replacement parts are usually enough – our composite door repair page covers GRP-skinned doors in particular.
Simple checks you can do
- Brush out ground-floor drainage slots with a soft brush.
- Lubricate locking points with a light oil or silicone as the maker recommends.
- Look at the sealant bead around the outside of the frame for cracks or gaps.
- Check whether condensation is on the room side or between the panes.
Keep to ground-floor checks. Leave upper-floor windows, and anything involving removing glass, to us.
Nearby
We also cover Birkenhead next door. Across the estuary, Crosby homes face much the same coastal weather. For the full list of what we fix, see our double glazing repairs on the Wirral and in Liverpool.
Leaks or draughts in Wallasey?
Call 07777 659786 and describe what happens and when. We will call back and arrange a visit to find the cause. You can also contact our double glazing repair team for Merseyside through the form.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my window only leak when it is windy?
Wind-driven rain is pushed against the frame with force, so it gets past gaps that ordinary rain does not – a shrunken gasket, cracked perimeter sealant, or a sash that no longer presses evenly on its seal. Blocked drainage slots can also let water build up and overflow inside. We find which it is before we fix it.
My window whistles in the wind. Is that fixable?
Usually. Whistling normally means air is getting past a seal that has shrunk or a sash that has dropped and no longer closes tightly. Replacing the seals and adjusting or replacing the hinges and keeps generally cures it.
Can I clear the drainage slots myself?
Yes, this is a safe check for ground-floor windows. Open the window and gently brush out the slots along the bottom of the frame with a soft brush. Do not use ladders to reach upper windows – we can check those during our visit.
Are composite doors better on an exposed house?
Composite doors have a GRP skin over an insulated core and are generally sturdy, but their seals, hinges and locks still wear, and an exposed door works harder. If yours has started to draught or stick, adjustment and new seals often put it right.
Will leaking around the frame damage the glass unit?
It can. If water sits in the frame because drainage is blocked or packers are poor, the unit’s edge seal can fail sooner and the glass may start to mist. Sorting out the leak early helps protect the unit.