Clocks Go Back 2026: What Your Windows Need to Handle This Autumn

Luisa Schleich

October 21, 2026

14 minutes

In the early hours of Sunday, 25 October 2026, the clocks go back an hour, from 3 am to 2 am. We get an extra hour in bed, and in return we switch the lights on earlier in the evening. In Berlin, the sun sets at around 4:50 pm on the day of the change. This is when you find out what your windows are really like. Is there still enough light in the living room, or is there a draught by the sofa? And if there is water on the sill after the first autumn storm, you already know something is wrong.

Daylight: every bright hour counts

Daylight gets scarce in winter. How much of it reaches a room depends mostly on the glazed area, but also on the size and layout of the windows. A bright room also feels larger and more welcoming, especially when it is getting dark outside by half past four.

Driving rain: staying watertight in a storm

In autumn, wind often drives rain hard against the facade at an angle. A window’s driving rain resistance shows how well it stays watertight. It is given as a class under EN 12208. Many people only notice a leak during the first proper storm, for example as a damp patch on the reveal. If you live in an exposed spot, check the class carefully when choosing new windows.

Once the heating is running, you notice how well your windows insulate. The Uw value is a useful guide: the lower it is, the less heat escapes. Double or triple glazing and well-insulated profiles help. Even the best window won’t perform well if it is badly fitted, though. The joints with the wall need to be clean and airtight, which is a job for a professional installer.

Decide in autumn, finished by spring

New windows don’t happen overnight. Measuring, production and installation all take time. If you decide now, you can plan without pressure and have your new windows fitted by spring, instead of sitting by the same draughty windows again next October.
And if you can never remember which way the clocks go: spring forward, fall back.

Which profiles and window types suit your rooms? Try them out!

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