Draughty PVC Windows

dumbo

Hi
We bought our house in 2005, this house has had a 2 story extension, with pvc windows fitted to the extension only. The problem is, we are unable to heat the extension on both floors, we have reinsulated the loft, the walls & now we think the windows are the problem, as these rooms are like a freezer while the rest of the house is warm. Can anyone suggest someone who could look at these windows who will not try to sell me new windows as I cannot afford to go down that route.
Im in the Newry Area

Flower-power22

It might just be a case of getting the latches adjusted. When the windows are in the closed position you should not be able to fit a card in between the seals. If you can you need them adjusted. A window fitter or someone good at diy could help.

caz2703

Try holding a lighter up to any joins in the windows to see if there's a draught. I've no idea when this house was built but every single window has had or still has a draught. The ex got new runners for one window which fixed that and my dad has put draught excluder on the other ones. It was so bad that on a windy day, the blinds could easily sway a few inches out from the window. I dread to think how much I would have lost heating the outside of the house if dad hadn't fixed it.

dumbo

Thanks, I will try both & see what happens, strangely I went home from work last night & the room was not as cold, I think the wind could have been blowing from a different direction. I will let you know what happens.:)

sheerdelight

Dumbo. You can check for draughts around any window openings when it is breezy. If there are any you will certainly feel the draughts when you run your hand near the frames.

Even with double glazing there will be cool air coming off windows. The more glass you have the bigger the amount of cold air. If you have conservatory size windows there will obviously be more than with a smaller size window.

With walls too there will be a heat loss but not as much as with double glazing. The heat loss can be reduced by cavity wall insulation.

Be it walls or windows if insulation is poor you will get a "zone of discomfort" as cold air comes off the windows and walls. That is why radiators are put under windows to help counteract the cold air.

Indeed the temperature of the room may be a reasonable 21-22 degrees but will feel cold due to the cool air coming from the windows and walls.

Imagine going into a bakery where the heat could be 30 degrees and someone opens a door. You will feel the draft and it may be uncomfortable albieit the temperature of the bakery is still 30 degrees.

If you don't have conservatory size windows I would suspect that you have little or no wall insulation installed. I suggest that a small hole is drilled in various parts of each wall to see/feel if there is insulation board, fibre or beads fitted.

I have had the same problem myself and discovered that the s**t
installation company had not injected glass fibre into an outer wall. While one little used room felt comfortable with the radiator barely on ,this other room felt cold the entire time with a radiator going full blast as there was cold air coming off the outer wall that had no insulation in it.

Please do keep us posted