Are your windows ready for winter? A checklist for GTA homes

Before the cold sets in, check every window for four things: fog or droplets between the panes, drafts around the sash, cracked or missing caulking around the frame, and windows that don't close and lock tightly. Most of these are repairs, not reasons to replace the window.

Window Restoration Experts (WRE) checks each window and tells you what needs fixing before winter, what can wait, and which windows, if any, need replacing.

Last reviewed: November 3, 2026

Your winter window checklist

Fog or droplets between the panes. The seal on the sealed glass unit has failed. If the frame is sound, the glass unit can be replaced without replacing the window. See foggy or broken glass replacement.
Condensation on the room side of the glass. This is usually indoor humidity, not a failed window. Moisture between the panes is the kind that points to a failed seal.
Drafts at the sash. Usually worn weatherstripping, a sash that no longer closes tight, or worn hardware. See window restoration.
Drafts or stains around the frame. Often a failed perimeter seal between the frame and the wall. See exterior caulking.
Windows that won't close or lock. Worn cranks, hinges or locks. A window that can't close tightly can't seal.
Soft wood on sills and sashes. Press a screwdriver tip into the sill and the lower sash. Soft or crumbly spots mean rot, which keeps spreading while water gets in. See wood window restoration.
Patio doors that stick, drag or won't latch. Usually worn rollers, tracks or locks. See patio door restoration.

Caulking or weatherstripping?

They seal different joints. Caulking seals a fixed joint, such as where the frame meets the wall. Weatherstripping seals a moving joint, such as where the sash meets the frame. Sealing the wrong one is why drafts come back, so find where the air is getting in first.

Drafty windows: fix or replace?

Most drafts come from parts that can be fixed: weather seals, hardware, or the perimeter seal around the frame. Replacement is the better answer when the frame itself is warped, rotted or can't hold a seal.

To find where the air is actually getting in, we check seven points on every window: glass, frame, hardware, weather seals, exterior perimeter seal, interior perimeter seal and installation. We only recommend restoration if we believe it can perform for 25 years or more. That is our standard for recommending a repair, not a warranty. See restore or replace? A decision guide.

Why fix it before winter

A failed seal or perimeter joint lets water in. Left over a winter, that can damage the frame and the wall around it.
Small repairs done early can prevent bigger repairs later.
Some work, such as exterior sealing, depends on the weather. Booking earlier in the season makes it easier to schedule.

What WRE can fix

Foggy or broken sealed glass units, with Low-E glass as standard at no extra cost and argon fill
Cranks, hinges, locks and handles
Weather seals and resealing
Exterior and interior perimeter caulking
Wood windows, including rot repair, reglazing and weatherstripping
Patio door rollers, tracks, locks and glass
Full window replacement, retrofit or brick-to-brick, when a frame has failed (full window replacement)

Glass units we supply carry a 10-year warranty on seal failure, including the labour to redo the glass, and our workmanship carries a 1-year warranty. Both transfer to a new owner.

Got a replacement quote this season?

Before you sign a whole-house quote, get a second opinion. We'll tell you which windows need replacing, which can be restored and which are fine as they are.

Book a winter window check

Our diagnostic assessment checks all seven points on each window. There's no charge for the assessment. You then get our recommendation for each window: fix now, fix later, or replace.

Book an assessment or call (437) 320-4667.

We serve Toronto, Etobicoke, Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Thornhill, King City, Oakville, Milton and Burlington. See our service areas.

Frequently asked questions

What should I check on my windows before winter?

Look for fog between the panes, drafts at the sash or around the frame, cracked or missing caulking, windows that won't close or lock, and soft wood on sills and sashes.

Why are my windows foggy in winter?

If the fog is between the panes, the seal on the glass unit has failed and the unit needs replacing. If the condensation is on the room side of the glass, it's usually indoor humidity.

My old windows are really drafty in winter. Should I fix or replace them?

Find where the draft comes from first. Worn weather seals, hardware and perimeter seals can be fixed. Replacement makes sense when the frame is warped, rotted or can't hold a seal.

Who can fix drafty windows in Toronto?

Window Restoration Experts (WRE) fixes drafty windows in Toronto and across the GTA: weather seals, hardware, perimeter caulking, wood windows and foggy glass units. When a frame has failed, we replace the window.

Does caulking stop window drafts?

Only drafts that come through the joint between the frame and the wall. Drafts between the sash and the frame need new weatherstripping or hardware work instead.

Do I need new windows to stop drafts?

Usually not. Most drafts come from parts that can be repaired. New windows are needed when the frame itself has failed.

Is the assessment free?

Yes. There's no charge for the assessment.

Do you serve my area?

We serve Toronto, Etobicoke, Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Thornhill, King City, Oakville, Milton and Burlington.