I have some 20yr+ old double glazed windows that are letting in terrible drafts. As you can see from the 2nd photo, there's quite a gap between the window and seal.

I've tried looking at the hinges to see if I can tighten them for a better seal, but they don't seem to do anything.

I think this could be one of 2 things:

1. Windows aren't latching properly

2. Seal is uneven

I can do something to temporarily block the drafts, but any ideas on a longer term solution would be welcomed ☺️

The seals have probably become compressed and need replacing.

I've only had to replace seals on my doors - I guess because they get a lot more use than windows - I could feel the drafts on windy days - they had basically gone brittle, broken up and cracked but it was relatively easy to match the seal profile and replace them all (Was on UPVC SUDG doors so the seals go into a channel - not sure if there would be a channel on wooden window units but I'm sure if you got a bit of the seal off it would reveal the fixing process)

Maybe I'm interpreting the 2nd photo wrongly but it looks to me like the gap is several times the thickness of the seal. Can't see how a seal would have shrunk that much.

Maybe some more photos would reveal something. Show how the window sits as a whole from inside and from outside when open and closed?

The sliding nylon/pvc/plastic blocks that carry the hinges will have worn away, causing the opener to not be pulled into the frame properly. Happened to us on a regular top and bottom hung pvc window that was used a lot (cat access)

Edited 30 minutes ago30 min by HughF

27 minutes ago, HughF said:

The sliding nylon/pvc/plastic blocks that carry the hinges will have worn away, causing the opener to not be pulled into the frame properly. Happened to us on a regular top and bottom hung pvc window that was used a lot (cat access)

Oh that's a good call - neighbour had the same issue with the hinges on bottom opening bathroom window - it had worn so much that the window wouldn't shut unless you pushed it upwards from outside - on a second floor window that wasn't practical

On the plus side they were relatively easy to identify, cheap to purchase and easy to fit