“Winter mode” on a PVC window is the everyday name for a stronger pressure of the sash against the sealing gasket. It is not a compulsory seasonal setting, and it is not the same adjustment on every piece of hardware. If the window seals well and closes easily, there is no reason to adjust it just because winter is coming. On MACO hardware, adjusting the contact pressure is a job for the service team. You can inspect the window yourself and carry out routine maintenance.
What “winter” and “summer” mode actually mean
Around the sash there are locking cams that engage with keeps on the frame. On hardware with adjustable cams, their position affects how hard the sash presses on the gasket. The shape, the tool, and the permitted range of adjustment depend on the hardware model.
- Higher pressure can improve contact when an adjustment is genuinely needed. Too much pressure puts extra load on the gaskets and makes the window harder to operate.
- Lower pressure reduces how far the gasket is compressed, but it must not break the seal. “Summer mode” is not a substitute for opening the window and airing the room.
On MACO hardware this is a fine adjustment. It does not put right a faulty installation, a damaged gasket, or a distorted sash. The service engineer finds the cause first, and only then chooses the right correction.
There is no universal rule that “the mark facing inwards means winter”. Different cams can have different marks and different ways of adjusting them. That is why it is a bad idea to turn every cam through the same angle because a video showed a different window.
Checking sash contact with a sheet of paper
A paper test can serve as a rough check of contact. It does not measure air leakage, and it cannot by itself confirm the cause of a draught.
- Open the sash and place a sheet of paper between the sash and the frame.
- Close the window with a normal movement, without force, then pull the paper out carefully.
- Repeat in several places: top, bottom, on the handle side, and on the hinge side.
If the resistance differs noticeably from one place to another, note where the paper slips out easily. That is useful information for the service team. Weaker resistance can come from the condition of the gasket or the position of the sash, not only from the cam pressure.
Preparing a PVC window for winter, step by step
- Inspect the sash and the gaskets. Look for cracks, gaskets that have come away, visible damage, or catching as the window closes.
- Clean the surfaces you can reach. Use a soft cloth and a mild product allowed by the manufacturer’s instructions. Avoid abrasives and aggressive solvents.
- Maintain the hardware as the instructions say. Apply the recommended lubricant to the points that are meant to be lubricated. A general-purpose spray is not automatically a substitute for the right grease for the hardware.
- Check the contact with paper. Note the places where the resistance feels weaker and where you can feel air moving.
- Check that the window operates easily. The handle and the sash should work without being forced. If the handle is stiff, do not increase the contact pressure further.
- Report the fault to the service team. Send a photograph of the hardware, the manufacturer’s name, and a description: draught, catching, or a window that is hard to close. That makes it easier to prepare the right service visit.
You can repeat the same check in spring. A window that is set correctly does not need to be switched routinely between the strongest and the weakest pressure.
What you should not do yourself
In its instructions for end users, MACO draws a clear line. The user checks whether the sash enters the frame freely, whether the handle moves easily, and whether a balcony sash has dropped. The user lubricates the hardware and looks for damaged parts. According to the same instructions, the following are jobs for the service team:
- adjusting the hinges (the scissor stay and the corner bearing), that is, the height and the lateral position of the sash;
- adjusting the sash lifter;
- tightening and replacing screws on the hardware;
- adjusting the pressure on the locking cams.
In the instructions for end users, MACO expressly classes adjustment of the pressure on oval or security cams as work for the service team. That is why this article does not give a universal direction of turn, a tool, or an angle of adjustment.
The sash catches or scrapes at the bottom: height adjustment
When the sash scrapes or hits the frame, the cause may be a dropped sash, a change in the hardware position, or a problem with how the glass is supported. The service engineer needs to find the cause, check the hinges and the cams, and bring the sash back into line.
Do not lift the sash by force, and do not loosen the hinge screws. For Danito windows, report the fault by phone or email. When you book the visit, check what the guarantee covers, the price of a call-out if one applies, and the available date.
The gasket: the quiet part of winter preparation
A gasket that has hardened, cracked, or come away can let air through even when the hardware is adjusted correctly. Clean it with a mild product, and use only a care product that suits its material and the manufacturer’s instructions.
If the gasket stays deformed or is damaged, the service team should check whether it needs replacing and which gasket profile fits. The wrong replacement gasket can make the window harder to close instead of solving the problem.
How often to check the windows
Look over the parts you can reach during ordinary cleaning. For the intervals of professional checks, follow the documentation for your hardware and how heavily it is used. A useful household routine is:
- once a year: clean and lubricate the hardware at the points specified in the instructions;
- before the heating season: check the gaskets, how easily the window operates, and any draught;
- at any time: if the handle is stiff, the sash scrapes, or you can see a damaged part of the hardware, do not force the window — call the service team.
If water appears on the inside of the glass in winter, check the humidity, the temperature, and the ventilation. Stronger cam pressure is not a universal cure for condensation. Read more in the article on condensation on windows.
Frequently asked questions
How do I set a PVC window to winter mode?
First establish whether the window is sealing poorly at all. On MACO hardware the manufacturer leaves pressure adjustment to the service team. You can clean and inspect the window and report a fault. There is no universal direction in which to turn the cams on every model.
Is winter mode compulsory?
No. If the window sits correctly and closes easily, it should not be adjusted for the season without a reason. Too much pressure can load the gaskets and make the window harder to operate.
How do I know whether the window seals well?
The paper test gives a rough indication: compare the pull-out resistance in several places. If there is a draught, or large differences in resistance, ask for the hardware, the gaskets, and the joint between the window and the wall to be checked.
The sash scrapes on the frame. Can I adjust the height myself?
Leave height adjustment to the service team. The cause of the catching has to be found, and the parts that carry the sash have to be checked. Do not loosen the hinge screws, and do not force the window shut.
How often should PVC window hardware be lubricated?
For ordinary home maintenance, plan to lubricate once a year, in the places and with the product the manufacturer specifies. After cleaning, check whether the lubricant needs renewing.
When should the gasket be replaced?
When it is damaged, permanently deformed, or no longer sits correctly. The service team should confirm the cause of the leak and the right type of replacement gasket.
Is the window leaking, or is the sash catching? Report the fault: 013 36 77 00 · 060 626 27 10 · office@danito.rs. Opening hours are Mon–Fri 08–17 and Sat 09–13. If you are thinking of replacing old windows, see the price list or book a free measuring visit.
