Drafty Andersen windows
#1
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Drafty Andersen windows
Most of the Andersen casement windows in my house feel like there's cold air coming in at the bottom. They're all cranked shut all the way and locked. They were installed in 1985; is this normal? Are there seals that I can replace to fix this?
#3
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You might want to verify exactly where the draft is. Hopefully it's the weatherstripping but if the air is coming in below where the sash meets the frame it could be lack of or improper insulation when it was installed. 20 yrs ago I painted a new house that on some of the windows the only thing that stopped air flow at the windows was my caulking

#5
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Hi slade
There is some physics involved that may help you isolate the source.
Cold air will always be cascading down a cold pane of glass. But one of those windows installed on a second floor, if leaking to the outside, would be leaking air out. Installed on the first floor it would likely be leaking air in.
If you turn on a couple of exhaust fans (blowing air out), if that is a leak, it should leak more. If it is cold air flowing down the surface of the glass it will be mostly unchanged. If you have a window fan that you can install to blow air in, then your leak should decrease if it is from the outside. More step by step is unnecessary as I'm sure you see what I'm doing.
Some painters tape could quickly seal suspect areas and then you could judge whether it has any effect.
Bud
There is some physics involved that may help you isolate the source.
Cold air will always be cascading down a cold pane of glass. But one of those windows installed on a second floor, if leaking to the outside, would be leaking air out. Installed on the first floor it would likely be leaking air in.
If you turn on a couple of exhaust fans (blowing air out), if that is a leak, it should leak more. If it is cold air flowing down the surface of the glass it will be mostly unchanged. If you have a window fan that you can install to blow air in, then your leak should decrease if it is from the outside. More step by step is unnecessary as I'm sure you see what I'm doing.
Some painters tape could quickly seal suspect areas and then you could judge whether it has any effect.
Bud
#6
The smoke from a fireworks punk is a good way to figure out where drafts are coming from... just pick a windy day, move it around and watch the smoke.