Three main reasons why you need to remove your mosquito net for the winter

In summer, mosquito screens protect against insects and poplar fluff, but it is not clear what to do with them in the cold season. Owners of small apartments often leave mosquito nets on their windows for the winter, thus solving the problem of lack of free storage space. There is also an opposite point of view: many people believe that low temperatures harm the materials from which the frame structure and the mesh itself are made. Let's try to figure out who is right.

What is the mosquito net made of?

A classic frame mosquito repellent consists of two main parts: a frame made of hard plastic, and a mesh - a synthetic or natural fabric with a cell size of 0.8 to 1.2 mm.

Frame

The plastic from which frames are made comes in two types:

• Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) - the most common option.
• Metal-plastic - due to its high cost, it is not in demand among the population and is rarely found on sale.

Both polyvinyl chloride and metal-plastic are resistant to moisture - neither prolonged autumn rains nor winter snow are a hindrance to them. However, both plastics do not tolerate low temperatures - already at -15 ° C they begin to collapse. Naturally, this process is not quick. After being exposed to mild frost for several months, the frame will not fall apart and, most likely, will retain its presentable appearance, except that the fasteners screwed into the frame will hold less well.But after two or three such winters, the mosquito net will become unusable. If you want the structure to last longer, the mesh must be removed for the winter.

Net

The fabric can be made of cotton, polyester, nylon or fiberglass. All of these materials are relatively resistant to frost, as you can see by looking at the composition of your winter clothing. However, a mosquito repellent left outside the window is exposed not only to the cold:

• periodically during thaws it becomes saturated with moisture and then freezes, causing the canvas to deform - stretch marks and tears appear on it;
• Often in winter there is a strong wind - the mesh, having lost its elasticity, cannot resist its pressure and often breaks.

What condition the mesh will be in in the spring depends on the quality of the fabric and the material from which it is made, as well as on the thickness of the threads. As a rule, after the first winter, the owners find only minor damage to the mesh, which can be easily repaired with tape and other available materials. But the second and subsequent winters are more “traumatic” - often the mesh has to be changed.

Take it off or leave it on?

If you live in a region where winters are relatively mild - temperatures rarely drop below -5 °C, and strong winds do not occur very often - the mesh can be left on the window. But remember: this is considered a violation of the operating rules, which means you voluntarily deprive yourself of the right to free warranty service. Any damage, even if it does not occur in winter or due to exposure to cold, will have to be repaired at your own expense.

But if you live in a region with harsh winters, leaving the net outside is out of the question.The likelihood that it will lose its functionality is too high.

Questions and answers

How to store the mesh if you still have to remove it?

You can place it vertically or put it on a flat horizontal surface. If you choose the second option, make sure that the mesh does not experience pressure from above - placing anything on it is strictly prohibited.

What to do with anti-mosquito roller blinds?

There is no need to dismantle them for the winter, but the canvas must be rolled up inside a special box. You cannot leave the mesh stretched - it can become deformed, just like the mesh in a frame structure.

Now you know for sure whether you can leave a mosquito net on the window during the cold season. If you still decide to take a risk, remember: even if the structure looks reliable, wintering outside the window could damage its fastenings. If the frame falls off the brackets and falls down, it can cause harm to other people’s property and health, and you will have to bear responsibility for this, including financial responsibility.