Rapidly cooling air around a window or patio door can create a draft (technically known as convection) as the heated air circulates by the window or patio door, cools and falls. This is not to be confused with "air leakage", which is a draft that is created by air coming in from outside either through a poorly insulated window or patio door or spaces between the walls of the home and the window or patio door frame.
Convection is not a defect of the product. Rather, it is a natural phenomenon. Performing routine maintenance on your gliding window is key to achieving optimum air seal performance. Identified below are several aspects of your gliding window unit that may be adjusted to help prevent air infiltration.
Optimizing Your Gliding Window Performance
Perform seasonal cleaning. Please see the Care and Maintenance Guides for Andersen® Windows and Patio Doors to locate the specific care and maintenance guide for your gliding window unit.
For optimal performance, keep the window sash in the closed and lock position when not in use. To view performance information for your gliding window, see Performance Grade, Air Infiltration and Sound Transmission Ratings for Andersen® Products.
If your gliding window unit has sustained severe weather damage, please see Severe Weather and Andersen® Window or Patio Door Limited Warranty.
Inspect Weatherstrip
Check the weatherstrip on your gliding window for gaps, damage or permanent compression (flattened weatherstrip). We recommend replacing any weatherstrip with gaps or displayed signs of damage or normal wear. For more information on replacing weatherstrip, see the article below for your window Series.
400 Series Gliding Window
Corner Foam Weatherstrip for 400 Series Gliding Windows
Rail and Stile Weatherstrip for 400 Series Gliding Windows
Replace Head and Sill Plugs for 400 Series Gliding Windows
200 Series Perma-Shield® Gliding Window
Meeting Stile Weatherstrip for Perma-Shield® Gliding Windows (1971-1992)
200 Series Gliding Window
Replace Check Rail Bulb Weatherstrip on 200 Series Gliding Windows
Rail Weatherstrip for 200 Series Gliding Windows
Check For Possible Adjustments
Check your gliding window unit to verify if any adjustments need to be made to the sash or other components. See the following articles for instructions on checking the reveal and adjusting the window to maintain weatherstrip contact.
Sash Adjustments for 400 Series Gliding Window (1991- Present)
Sash Adjustments for 100 Series Gliding Windows (2008 - Present)
Adjust Perma-Shield® Gliding Window Sash, 1971 to 1992
Adjust Sash on Primed Gliding Windows, 1940 to 1971
Check Unit Installation
To check your gliding window for proper installation, follow the instructions provided in Checking Window or Patio Door Unit Installation.
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