Are Your Windows & Doors Ready for Autumn? 7 Things to Check Before the Weather Turns

There is a point every September when you suddenly notice the change.

The evenings draw in a little earlier. The first jumper comes out of the wardrobe. Windows that have been open for much of the summer start staying closed, and before long the heating gets its first tentative switch-on.

Autumn is a beautiful time of year, but for our homes it also brings a very different set of challenges: cooler temperatures, heavier rain, stronger winds and increasing moisture.

That makes early autumn an ideal time to give your home a simple seasonal health check — particularly your windows and doors. Small problems that barely registered during summer can become much more noticeable once the weather changes.

Here are seven things worth checking before autumn really gets underway.

1. Wait for a Breezy Day — Then Check for Draughts

One of the easiest ways to discover a poorly performing window or door doesn’t require any specialist equipment. Sometimes you simply need to wait for the right weather.

On a cool, breezy autumn day, run your hand carefully around the edges of closed windows and external doors. Can you feel air coming through anywhere?

A noticeable draught could indicate worn or damaged seals, an adjustment problem or, particularly with older windows, that they are no longer performing as effectively as they once did.

Don’t forget less frequently used entrances such as back doors, French doors and side doors. After spending much of the summer open, autumn is often when we first discover how well they actually seal when closed.

If your windows are getting older and you’re wondering whether maintenance or replacement makes more sense, our guide to choosing the right windows for your home is a useful place to start.

2. Look at What Happens When It Rains

British weather is usually happy to help with this particular test.

After a period of heavier rain, take a few minutes to look around your windows and doors from inside. Check for moisture, staining or dampness around frames, sills and surrounding walls.

Outside, look for damaged seals and obvious deterioration around the frame.

A little preventative attention now can avoid discovering a problem in the middle of a cold and particularly wet November.

This is especially worth doing around larger areas of glazing such as patio doors, where there is simply more surface area exposed to the elements.

If your existing garden doors are reaching the end of their life, you may also find our guide to French, bi-fold and sliding patio doors useful.

3. Pay Attention to Condensation

Autumn is often when condensation begins to make its annual return.

As outside temperatures fall and we start closing our windows and heating our homes, warm moisture-laden indoor air can meet colder surfaces and form condensation.

A little condensation on the room-facing surface of a window isn’t necessarily evidence that the window has failed. Cooking, showering, drying clothes indoors and inadequate ventilation can all increase humidity.

Where the condensation appears matters.

If moisture is trapped between the panes of a double-glazed unit, however, that’s a different matter. It can indicate that the sealed unit has failed and moisture has entered the space between the panes.

Autumn is a good time to start noticing these differences rather than simply wiping the glass and forgetting about them.

4. Check Your Locks, Handles and Hinges

We use windows and garden doors differently during summer. They are opened more frequently, sometimes left open for hours at a time and generally work harder.

Before colder weather arrives, open and close each window and door and pay attention to how it feels.

Does everything close smoothly? Does the handle operate properly? Does the window pull firmly against its seals when closed? Do doors lock without needing to be lifted, pushed or persuaded into position?

These aren’t just questions of convenience. Correctly functioning hardware contributes to both weather resistance and home security.

EW Grace has put together a separate guide on looking after locks and hinges if you’d like to give yours a little seasonal attention.

5. Think About Security as the Evenings Draw In

One of the most noticeable changes during autumn isn’t the temperature — it’s the light.

As sunset arrives earlier, home security naturally becomes more prominent in many people’s minds. It’s therefore a sensible time to check that windows close securely and external doors lock properly.

Look particularly at accessible ground-floor windows and doors at the rear or side of the property.

If you’re considering replacing an entrance door, modern designs can combine considerably more than good looks. Energy efficiency, robust construction, effective weather sealing and modern security can all be part of the decision.

You can explore EW Grace’s range of entrance, composite and aluminium doors to see some of the options available.

6. Don’t Forget Your Conservatory

During summer, a conservatory can feel almost like an extension of the garden. Autumn changes its role.

This is the point at which you discover how comfortable that space is when temperatures begin to fall.

Look for draughts around doors and windows, check seals and gutters, and make sure opening windows, roof vents and doors are operating correctly. Clear away fallen leaves before they have an opportunity to accumulate around gutters and drainage channels.

Most importantly, think about how the room actually feels. If you stop using your conservatory as soon as summer ends because it becomes uncomfortable, it may be worth considering whether improvements could make it a more genuinely year-round living space.

Our guide to conservatories and orangeries for all seasons explores this in more detail.

7. Notice How Your Home Feels Before Turning Up the Heating

Finally, don’t just inspect your windows. Pay attention to the room.

Do some rooms suddenly feel much colder than others? Is there a noticeable chill when you sit near a particular window? Are you reaching for the thermostat sooner than you remember doing last year?

Windows are only one part of a home’s overall thermal performance, but older or poorly performing glazing can certainly contribute to heat loss and uncomfortable cold spots.

Modern windows are designed with year-round performance in mind — something we explored from the opposite perspective during the summer in 6 critical features your windows should have in a heatwave.

That’s an important point: good windows aren’t just about keeping a house warm in January. They’re about making your home more comfortable throughout the year.

Autumn Is Your Home’s Early Warning System

You don’t necessarily need to replace something simply because it isn’t perfect.

In fact, that’s one of the advantages of carrying out these checks in early autumn. You have time to investigate small issues, arrange maintenance where appropriate and make informed decisions before the coldest part of the year arrives.

But if your windows are consistently draughty, glazing has failed, frames are deteriorating or doors are becoming increasingly difficult to operate, autumn can be a useful reminder that it’s time to consider your options.

And if replacement does become necessary, you don’t necessarily have to rush to get everything completed before winter. As we explain in 6 reasons why winter can be a great time to replace old double glazing, the colder months can actually make the weaknesses in older windows easier to identify.

A Little Attention Now Can Make Winter More Comfortable

A few simple checks during September and October can tell you a surprising amount about how prepared your home is for the months ahead.

So, when the next rainy or windy autumn day arrives, don’t just put the kettle on.

Take five minutes to listen for draughts, look for moisture, check the locks and notice how your home feels.

And if something doesn’t seem quite right, EW Grace Glass has been helping homeowners in Buckhurst Hill, Epping Forest and the surrounding Essex area with their windows, doors and glazing for more than 50 years.

Whether you need straightforward advice, help identifying a problem or you’re considering replacing your windows or doors, we’re always happy to help.

Call 020 8505 5656 or get in touch with EW Grace Glass to discuss your home before winter arrives.