Drafty windows... BUT they are new!!?

Question

2 years ago I bought new windows. They are wood on the inside, and vinyl on the outside. They have the thick insulated glass and needless to say cost me a fortune. Last year they seemed ok. But this year a lot of air is coming through them and I would like to know why. It is now about -5 degrees outside as I am sure you have seen on the news that we in the northwest are in a cold freeze right now. I mentioned this issue to a friend who said to take a flame and hold it in front of the perimeter of the window. I did that and I was amazed at the result. The flame could not even stand up straight, it was constantly at a 90 degree angle all the way around the window. WHY WHY WHY is this happening? Did I get ripped off on windows, or did they not install them correctly?

Answer 1

A friend of mine had a similar problem in his condo. The windows were of good quality, but were installed with insufficient insulation between the window frame and the rough opening. You could feel a breeze around the perimeter of the window.

This might explain the problem that you're experiencing.

Answer 2

I am having the exact same problem. I had a window company (in the northeast)install 4 replacements in my house (expensive, double pane, vinyl). The reason I had them installed was to save on heating bills and they are dramatically bad. The room is 6 -8 degrees cooler than the rest of the house and I have been jacking my heat up for weeks to temperatures I never had to before I had the windows replaced. The window manufacturer came out to the house and told me that they were not installed with the proper insulation- that they are supposed to have expanding foam or fiberglass insulation around them. My contractor only put 1" of foam tape around the window- like foam weatherstripping- and nothing else. And the result is FREEEZING in my bedroom.

While I intend to take the contractor to Small Claims court, here is something I did that you can do right now. Get the clear insulating film that shrink wraps around the window. You stick it on and blow dry the window. It has made a really noticable difference and my heat has been OK at 4 degrees lower than usual. the room feels usable as well. Suprisingly warm.

Answer 3

Most window installation companies are in too big of a hurry to get the old window out and the new window in. Window installation isn't time consuming. It's sealing the gaps around the window with caulking and insulation. I suggest you take the molding out from around the window and look for air gaps. Buy a couple of cans of spray foam or a small roll of fiberglass insulation and some caulking and go around the windows looking (or feeling) for gaps.

Answer 4

It's not your windows. It's how they were installed. The cold and low humidity is shrinking the window frames and there is not enough insulation around them. I would try carefully removing the trim around the windows from the inside and sealing the spaces between the frames and wall studs with a minimal expansion foam. DAP makes one specifically for windows and doors. Then put the trim back up.

Answer 5

I went into B & Q at present and acquired some glazing action picture. It took a mutually as to locate it as between the servers suggested that they had stopped advertising it, so i bought the final 2 packets. I did word that Homebase sells it for approximately £6. seek for it close to the insulation section. I also have a slatted window in my kitchen and this time of three hundred and sixty 5 days it gets extremely chilly. The %. comes with double sided tape and a few plastic action picture. placed the tape around the window, stick on the action picture (you could decrease it to length), get a hair dryer and since the action picture warms up, it shrinks and provides a stable seal around the window. it works brilliantly.

Answer 6

during dry cold times the wood around the seals in your windows shrinks because of the dryness no moisture , you most likely have a heater that has little or no water in the system if you check the humidifier and increase the moisture. im sure your problem will fix itself. i wouldn't worry it happens all the time with real wood.

Answer 7

who knows? are you still under some warranty? 1st check if the seams between the house and the window are sealed w/caulk. @, check for weather stripping. top, bottom and sides, double hung s/be between the two sashes. do you have storm windows? if you do, check the weep hole on the bottom frame is open. if its clogged, you will get fogged windows, paint failure and rot. good luck.