[Seabrook1983$]

We had Pella casement windows installed in out home in, IIRC, 1984 and have loved them. That said, I am wondering what the service life is -- particularly the frame-to-sash "gasket" or seal" -- and if there is a way to replace the part and not the entire window. It recently felt a bit cold around a window and while I do not feel a draft (perhaps just radiated cold), I might try a draft test, perhaps using incense as I do not smoke.

If I do find any draft, does anyone make replacement gaskets/seals? I do know that once when I contacted the local distributor about a broken crank actuator, I was told Pella no longer provides parts; yet, I found the item elsewhere on-line. I presume if I contact the Pella distributor I'll be led in the general direction of replacing all the windows, and they still look great (we were thinking it's about time to do a light sanding and fresh coat of polyurethane on the interior wood). A corollary concern is that the inner pane, of two, is attached to the sash in a removable way and there's another gasket/seal there, perhaps I should be thinking about how long those last too.

 

[chandler48]

Yes, Pella makes gasket replacements as the originals will become brittle and break with the weather. They are fairly simple to replace as they slip into a groove around the window. Now, as far as where you would get them, we don't know where you are located. I found mine through a millworks company that dealt with all sorts of windows. You may use your search engine to find them, not sure.

 

[Seabrook1983$]

Now, as far as where you would get them, we don't know where you are located. I found mine through a millworks company that dealt with all sorts of windows. You may use your search engine to find them, not sure.

I'm in MD, outside DC. There's a Pella distributor not far away; I think half the battle is knowing that "sorry, you are going to need new windows" is just a sales ploy (sorry, I am just being cynical in advance). There are probably millwork places in the region, and I guess if the replacements are actually made by Pella the factory can steer me to a source.

 

[dd57chevy]

I have never seen a Pella window primary seal fail . The secondary seal ( exterior) sometimes gets a little ragged , but is not of critical importance .
Since you asked for advice , I'll give it : don't mess with your OEM primary seal unless it is literally in pieces .
You could end up with a whole new set of problems......

 

[Seabrook1983$]

I have never seen a Pella window primary seal fail . The secondary seal ( exterior) sometimes gets a little ragged , but is not of critical importance .
Since you asked for advice , I'll give it : don't mess with your OEM primary seal unless it is literally in pieces .
You could end up with a whole new set of problems......

Thanks for the warning! I'll tread with care. I just went and looked at a window and only seen one seal (not counting the one between inner and outer panes in the sash); I am guessing what I am looking at is the primary seal. It seems rather hard/firm but uncracked; it does yield a little under pressure from a finger (very slightly). Anyway, I am just trying to be proactive, I know even a good window has a lower R-factor than a wall -- moreover, I recently put cellular shades on all windows in the house and when I first open them up in the morning, the space behind the shades feels rather cold so perhaps the cellular shades are doing a good job (???) Again, a smoke test or some other test might reveal more. I know for the door on our pellet stove, they often discuss a "dollar bill test", closing the door on a dollar bill and if you can readily pull the bill clear, the gasket needs replacing. True of casement windows too?

 

[dd57chevy]

The primary seal (the one that is designed to prevent air penetration) should be on the inside of the window frame . The sash simply seats against it .
You could try a dollar/piece of paper resistance test .

 

[Seabrook1983$]

You could try a dollar/piece of paper resistance test.

Well, once I found a dollar bill () I tried a couple of windows in a coil of random locations. Mixed results; in several places I could pull the bill through, with some resistance. Not sure that's conclusive evidence either way, but at least I could say I tried it.

Hmm, as I said, I was thinking of more polyurethane on the windows, perhaps in the spring. A built-up layer of a couple of coats would decrease the sash-to-frame dimension a tiny amount, making the seal tighter? (Wow, that's grasping at straws...)