How to adjust a uPVC door or window to stop cold air draughts!, by Fix it with Fowler on YouTube. 4 min 40 s.
- Video length
- 4 min 40 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Close the door or window and run your hand slowly around the edge to feel where cold air comes in. A strip of paper trapped in the gap will pull out easily where the seal is loose.
Look at the hinges. Most uPVC doors use flag hinges with a small plastic cap on top. Prise the cap off with a flathead screwdriver to reach the adjustment screws.
Find the horizontal screw on the hinge, usually the one nearest the door face. Turn it a quarter turn with the Allen key to pull the door leaf closer to the frame.
If the door has dropped and rubs at the bottom, use the vertical screw on the hinge to lift the leaf slightly. Turn it in small steps and check the door still closes.
Move to the handle side. Loosen the screw holding each keep (the metal plate on the frame) and tap the keep a millimetre or two towards the inside, then retighten it.
On windows, check the locking points on the opening sash. These eccentrics turn with a screwdriver or Allen key, and turning them moves the sash tighter against the frame.
Close and lock the door or window. The handle should turn fully without force and the locking points should click into the keeps.
Repeat the paper test. If air still gets through, adjust each screw another quarter turn and test again before making bigger changes.
Tips and common mistakes
Work in quarter turns only and test after each one, because a small adjustment goes a long way on uPVC hardware.
Never undo a hinge screw all the way while the door is hanging, or the leaf can drop or come off.
If the rubber gasket is cracked, flattened or torn, adjustment will not fix the draught and the seal needs replacing.
Note or photograph the screw positions before you start so you can put things back if the door stops locking.
Questions
What size Allen key do I need?
Most uPVC hinges use a 4mm or 5mm Allen key, but sizes vary between brands. Try a set and use the one that fits snugly so you do not round off the screw head.
Which way do I turn the screw to make the seal tighter?
On most hinges, turning clockwise pulls the leaf towards the frame. Check the gap after a quarter turn, since some hinges work the opposite way.
Can I adjust a door that will not lock after I move it?
Yes. Loosen the keeps on the frame and slide them slightly to line up with the locking points, then retighten and test the handle again.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
