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Draughty double glazing windows

  • 05-07-2008 7:20pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20


    Hi,

    I've got a double glazed window that has a bad draught when the wind blows. From what I can tell by myself the window seal is not good at all about 1/2 way up the window on the side opposite the handle.

    My problem is that I don't know enough to know whether there is anything I can do short of getting a new window fitted. I've attached pics of the hinges and what I call the plastic thingies (??) in the hope that somebody can say 'oh that's a XXX window and you should do YYY'. The house is about 10 years old and I believe the window is the original installation.

    thx in advance,
    nb1967


Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 938 ✭✭✭the GALL


    I had the same problem last year (I Think). If you look at your window there is a black rubber seal and It's shot. What i done is I got some window/door sealer It comes in a coil and is stickey on one side and put it under the black rubber seal. This raised the black rubber seal just enough to form a seal again.:D


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,921 ✭✭✭2 stroke


    oh that's a XXX window and you should do YYY


    Sorry couldn't resist.
    I've heard theres a guy in the portlaoise area that services pvc windows.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2 gordys


    The plastic thingies are called 'keeps'. When working they should pull the window to the frame. Perhaps yours are wrongly positioned or too small? Had the same problem myself at the bottom corner of the windows and an extra set of keeps solved it.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20 nb1967


    Thanks for all the replies so far. :)

    gordys - any idea where I would get these keeps ? Woodies, B&Q ?

    the GALL - same question - where can I get the sealer you're talking about.


  • Registered Users Posts: 938 ✭✭✭the GALL


    you should get it in any diy place woodies atlantic etc etc


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20 nb1967


    Update: -

    What I referred to in my original post as 'thingies' I discovered through internet searching were more commonly known as 'locking wedges'. I didn't see any in Woodie's etc. but I didn't spend too much time looking locally. I was able to order a pack from a shop in the UK via ebay - <5 euro for a pack of 10 +p/p. Installed them tonight and now my windows seal as tightly as the proverbial duck's bottom:):)

    There's nothing like the satisfaction of feeling like you've fixed a DIY problem without calling in a professional - now for the other 197 jobs on my list !!

    thanks to all who replied with tips and suggestions - much appreciated


  • Registered Users Posts: 938 ✭✭✭the GALL


    any chance you could post a picture of them installed....and the site you got them from
    Cheers
    Roy


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20 nb1967


    The original wedges had a height of about 10mm and the new ones were about 17mm. I read somewhere that you should lash a bit of petroleum jelly on to help it close easily. That worked very nicely.

    The new screws you see in the pic were just double threaded 4mmx20mm that I got in Woodies. The original ones were the kind used with power tools and there wasn't enough penetration depth with the new bigger wedges. I guess that when the house was originally built the installers just did a crappy job and the previous owners just burnt more gas as a result to keep the room warm.

    The ebay shop is http://myworld.ebay.ie/ctippnewconnections and the wedges were under the home security section


  • Registered Users Posts: 938 ✭✭✭the GALL


    I cant figure this out.....you had a draught on the side with the hinges and they solved it, was there a DRAUGHT anywhere else on the window mine seems to be all round the window thats why i was saying use the sealer/that the rubber bead was gone. Anyone any ideas on how to fix this?. it seems to be more on the side where the handles are as in the corners.
    Cheers


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20 nb1967


    My hinges are on the top and the bottom of the window - you can see in the photo I posted originally. The draught was on the side opposite the handle.

    I've now figured out that the reason for the draught was that the existing locking wedges were too small. This meant that when the window was closed it was snug to the frame on the side of the handle but the opposite side was loose.

    If you imagine the window as a rectangle with three guys each pushing it on one side against the frame - that's the handle and the two hinges. The side with nobody pushing is going to tend to push away from the frame. The locking wedges act as the fourth pressure point.

    Perhaps one thing you could do is fit some locking wedges near the corners where you have the draught. As the window closes the wedges will automatically force the window towards the frame and you should get a tighter seal.

    One thing that might be causing this problem is if either your window or the frame has become slightly warped so it's no longer flat. Then when the handle closes you'll have a tight seal at the handle but the warping would cause a gap in the seal at the corners and hence a draught. Maybe you could run a flat ruler along the window and frame edges to test whether this is what's happening. Good luck.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 9 Millennium bug


    Hello nb1967
    How did you work out where to put the wedges so that they would close tighter, or did you just replace the old wedges with thicker ones?


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 15,858 ✭✭✭✭paddy147


    Hello nb1967
    How did you work out where to put the wedges so that they would close tighter, or did you just replace the old wedges with thicker ones?


    mate,the thread is 3 years old at this stage.;)


  • Registered Users Posts: 9 Millennium bug


    So you think maybe they've moved on with their lives?:eek:

    Thanks paddy 147


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 175 ✭✭hopalong_ie


    Hi.

    Just for anyone who may have found this thread afterwards. The issue with the windows was most likely not the wedge, a larger wedge simply pulled the window tighter, the issue seems to be the use of top hung hinges on a side hung windows.

    We have an 8 unit apartment block with the same problem confirmed by two glazing companies. A total of 8 windows in each unit and 90% leaking air due to incorrect hinges. We replaced all the hinges and sourced them from DGS Limitied in the Westlink Ind Est in Ballyfermot Dublin who supply most Windows Supplies in Ireland so cost was minimal.

    The rubber seals don't shrink, normally its play in the hinge.


  • Registered Users Posts: 9 Millennium bug


    Thank you hopalong ie

    Do you , by any chance know any links where I could see a picture of a side hanging hinge?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 175 ✭✭hopalong_ie


    Hi.

    If the hinge is 10" long then it's tophung. Basically we couldn't locate any 10" sidehung hinges and called in two well know companies to quote for replacements and were informed it's a well know money saving method by the window companies to use the one type for all windows. Just Google Standard 10" Top Hung Hinge. There are many types of sidehung hinge but they basically begin at 12" as smallest, after that it depends on they features you want so there is no standard image. One reason they use top hung on side hung is it allows the window to open out 90 degrees and the same features in a proper side hung hinge is quite expensive compared to just using tophung.


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