New UPVC Windows - Drainage Issue

ixwood

I don't understand. Drainage of water from where? Surely they should be water tight and then there's nothing to drain?

I'm intrigued now.. will have to check. I'm sure mine don't have drainage.

thebaldwindowfitter

any water ie rain or internal condensation that gets behind the gaskets against the glass(rubber seal) is drained out of these holes

heretohelp

hello ive just looked at your picture and i think that this must be the top of the window (water running out of the holes). ive fitted a couple of upvc windows and the only holes ive seen like that have being on the bottom of the window frame before the glass goes in, in case the seals break down it lets the water out. if the window opens there will be a hole there to let the water out. if the water is coming in from the top you must have in a hole in the top of the window frame that is letting the water in. also check he has not installed the vent on the outside upside down as this will let water in.

thebaldwindowfitter

those holes are in the bottom of the sash water is running down out of them.

heretohelp

thanks a6windows now i know what im looking at

bogtrotter4

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Last year I hired an installer to provide and fit 5 windows. 2 are long narrow ones, 2 are 6 feet wide and 4 feet high with half the width non opening, the other half is divided into 2 top hung opening and the remaining window is 4feet wide by 4 feet high.All the openings are top hung and it is one of the large windows with which I have the problems. (The others have shown no problems.)
It faces SW into the prevailing wind. Last year nothing untoward was noted but this Spring when it got warm I opened the 2 openers fully when water dripped out of the beading and even out of the lock.They had been off the vertical for some time prior to opening fully.
Recently during this wet but warm weather on pushing them full out water has "gushed" out
The installer ignores all telephone calls and may no longer be working for himself but for another company. Being desparate I investigated the inside of one by removing the beading and found the glazing sitting in 4 or 5 mms of water which was green(stagnant?) The glass was sitting on blue flat packer halves but I didn' measure its thickness. The drainage slots were in the front of the frame and were clear which I also checked from below.
The 2nd opener was exactly the same but the packer was grey and 4mm in thickness. I cleaned up them both and replaced the 1st as it was. The 2nd I placed on top of the packer 4mm of perspex to try and raise the glass out of any water.
My questions are these-:
How can water drain out of top hung windows unless they are vertical as with the drainage slots at the front of the frame water cannot go uphill if the window is raised from the vertical?
Is this a design fault with tophung windows?
Should I replace the flat packers with bridge packers and if so what thickness?
To get the beading to go back into place I lubricated it with Fairy Liquid.Was this wrong and if so what lubricant should I have used?
I will be very grateful fo your advice and help.

thebaldwindowfitter

the water will only drain out when the sash is near vertical .you could try drilling some holes just as they are in the bottom of the sash(were glass sits)do this in the area above the glass it will help equalize the air trapped in the sash

bogtrotter4

I will certainly try your suggestion

home_alone

I had windows put in by a famous company and not long after I had signs of damp around a few of the downstairs windows it took me years to finally realise that it was the upper widows that leaked through into the cavity and ran along the top of the lower windows, once this had been acknowledged by the company they put in cavity trays that stopped the leaks, I think all upper windows should have these trays fitted, its a cheap option when fitting the windows but more expensive later on.

gary

thebaldwindowfitter

Mozkowitz wrote: »

While theres nothing wrong with slots or drainage holes, which are only there to let out small amounts of excess moisture and condensation, they certainly should not gush from every hole like Pete_G's do.

agreed but when the sash hasnt been drained correctly the whole of the sash can fill up with water this is why peter gs are pouring out