Windows and sealing "drain holes" in winter?
Mitchell Spector
major renovation where all the windows (including frames, and the balcony
door) were changed for modern windows, frames and door. Nice I thought,
until the winter came and I noticed it being VERY cold at times.
Well now it's fall again and temperatures have dropped and I'm finding
the same thing. I've traced the cold air leaks and found they seem to be
coming from small drainage(?) holes in the outter window frames. That is,
each window frame has 3 tiny rectangular slots on the bottom--altogether that
makes up 12 holes in one wall of windows (same thing for my bedroom
windows).
I have horizontal sliding windows incidentally (storm windows I suppose,
since there are two: an outside window and inside window). Each room
has 4 sliding windows (8 if you count the outside set) and two screens.
They just cover the north wall of each room in a straight line.
Anyhow, my plan is to use silicone glue (same type I use for sealing in
my air-conditioner during the summer--it peels off easily) to temporarily
plug up these holes during the fall and winter. My question is, will there
be any adverse effect doing this? I'm assuming they're there for a reason,
like for moisture to escape or for air exchange. The problem is when left
as-is the windows leak cold air, and it gets completely unbareable when
there's a strong wind.
...Just want to see what people thought about sealing these holes
before I go ahead and do it.
Mitchell Spector
mitc...@hotmail.com
Chip
"Mitchell Spector" <mitc...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3db5ddbc...@newsflash.concordia.ca...
: About a little over a year ago the apartment building I live in did
i believe those are the weep holes, that allow the water to drain from the
track on a slider...they shouldnt carry all the way through the
frame...being an apartment, they probably got the cheapest bid on the job,
which the installers may have not insulated around the windows, or caulked
the sill...if you decide to caulk the weep holes, the tracks will probably
fill with water, then freeze, putting stress on the sashes and glass, which
results in cracking the glass...my bet would be the weep holes dont carry
through, never seen even the poorest of windows have holes all the way
through... i believe its just a bad install...
chip
Joe
coming from small drainage(?) holes in the outter window frames. >>
It is doubtful that this is the source of your problem. Sure, there will be
modest airflow through he vents when driven by a strong wind, but some simple
math will show you that exchanging all the air in the room through them over a
short time period would require wind velocities of unreal proportions.
Your chill is as likely to be a poor heating system, lack of effective wall
insulation and similar old apartment problems. Just tell your landlord you need
more heat, and he may find a way to warm your abode. Good luck.
Joe
Mitchell Spector
>"Mitchell Spector" <mitc...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>: Anyhow, my plan is to use silicone glue (same type I use for sealing in
>: my air-conditioner during the summer--it peels off easily) to temporarily
>: plug up these holes during the fall and winter. My question is, will there
>: be any adverse effect doing this? I'm assuming they're there for a reason,
>: like for moisture to escape or for air exchange. The problem is when left
>: as-is the windows leak cold air, and it gets completely unbareable when
>: there's a strong wind.
>:
>: ...Just want to see what people thought about sealing these holes
>: before I go ahead and do it.
>
>i believe those are the weep holes, that allow the water to drain from the
>track on a slider...they shouldnt carry all the way through the
>frame...
Well the weep holes are only on the second/outer frame, but they were
cut so it forms a complete opening. Actually I just had a closer look, there
are ANOTHER set of 3 holes on the opposite side (directly exposed to the
outside). Basically though they're offset diagonally, maybe an inch or so
away from the weep hole on the inside part of the frame. So I guess it
doesn't carry all the way through--if I were to thread a piece of wire in the
first weep hole, I'd have to push it on asharp angle (or even bend it) to
reach the outside and exit the apartment.
>being an apartment, they probably got the cheapest bid on the job,
>which the installers may have not insulated around the windows, or caulked
Probably. They did the entire apartment building at the same time (around
21 floors, with something like a dozen apartments on each). The workmen
who did the job were kind of sloppy in what they were doing. I had to call
them back because the balcony door had a gap underneath and doesn't
close properly in the summer (heat expansion). All they did is lower the
piece of weather stripping...though that still leaks cold air. I'm sure this
isn't helping either, but it's not the only source of cold air leaking in.
>the sill...if you decide to caulk the weep holes, the tracks will probably
>fill with water, then freeze, putting stress on the sashes and glass, which
>results in cracking the glass...my bet would be the weep holes dont carry
>through, never seen even the poorest of windows have holes all the way
>through... i believe its just a bad install...
Hmm, I'll have to keep that in mind. Maybe I can fill the inside holes
and leave the outside ones free, if that helps.
Anyhow, is what I described above normal: the two sets of weep holes?
I suppose I could have the building look at my windows but I doubt they'll
do anything except tell me everything is fine.
Mitchell Spector
mitc...@hotmail.com
Chip
<snip>
: Hmm, I'll have to keep that in mind. Maybe I can fill the inside holes
: and leave the outside ones free, if that helps.
:
: Anyhow, is what I described above normal: the two sets of weep holes?
: I suppose I could have the building look at my windows but I doubt they'll
: do anything except tell me everything is fine.
:
: Mitchell Spector
: mitc...@hotmail.com
the windows i am familiar with (mainly 2 different manufacturers), on the
sliders, they have 2 weep holes on the outer track, and 2 weep holes on the
inner track, for the screen, the track is cut approx 1/8" shy on each end so
water can drain from the screen track, all tracks must be able to drain to
the outside...im sure some manufacturers put more than just 2 per track,
which is probably a good idea...
i would tell management about air infiltration, im sure they wouldnt
appreciate the new windows having air infiltration
chip
Chip
"Bob" <uctrain...@ultranet.com> wrote in message
news:ncaeru44eslkhridl...@4ax.com...
: On Tue, 22 Oct 2002 23:57:28 GMT, mitc...@hotmail.com (Mitchell
: Spector) wrote:
:
: > Anyhow, my plan is to use silicone glue (same type I use for sealing
in
: >my air-conditioner during the summer--it peels off easily) to temporarily
: >plug up these holes during the fall and winter. My question is, will
there
: >be any adverse effect doing this? I'm assuming they're there for a
reason,
: >like for moisture to escape or for air exchange. The problem is when left
: >as-is the windows leak cold air, and it gets completely unbareable when
: >there's a strong wind.
:
: If I understand correctly, you have a single pane window with a storm
: window on the outside ?
:
: If so, you need the drain holes in the outer frame to let any moisture
: out. There should not be holes in the inner frame that go through
: since moisture does not have to drain from inside your house (I hope).
: I can't see any problem with sealing the inner window (only). Of
: course, I can't see your windows, so you have to make the decision.
:
: Bob
I must've been sitting down, and the original post went right over my
head.... ffffftttttttttttttttttt.... cause i was thinking double pane the
whole time and not storm windows... till i read your post, which made me go
back and read the OP... LOL... i didnt think they put storm windows on
anymore, you're probably right with the single pane...
chip