How To Fix Vinyl Window Spring

Vinyl windows, also known as PVC (polyvinyl chloride) windows or uPVC (unplasticized PVC) are a ubiquitous part of the residential window landscape, and not only that, there are a lot of them out in that location.

There are many satisfied vinyl window customers and I have seen many good installations, however there can too be issues with vinyl windows. Some problems are common to all windows, others stem from the unique properties of PVC. Some problems occur in the window itself, some come from the manner windows are installed or joined to one another or to adjacent materials.

What is PVC / Vinyl?
PVC is a thermoplastic polymer synthetic of repeating vinyl groups (ethenyls) having one of their hydrogens replaced with a chloride grouping. That's information technology! Take hold of a tweezers and brand some yourself. Seriously, folks, PVC is the third most widely produced plastic and is expected to exceed forty million tons by 2016.

PCV is made upwards of 57% chlorine by weight. The remainder is the petrochemical ethylene. Windows and plumbing pipes are fabricated from rigid, or unplasticized PVC, too called "rigid PVC" or "uPVC". Shower curtains, 4 bags and sex toys are made from plasticized PVC due to their demand for flexibility.

Properties of PVC
The skillful news well-nigh vinyl as a window textile

Section through vinyl double hung window frame sill. (1)frame jamb (2) insulated glass (3) operable sash (4) lift rail (5) sill insert (6) frame sill (7) insect screen (8) screen frame (9) screen track. — Section through vinyl double hung window frame sill. (1)frame jamb (two) insulated glass (3) operable sash (4) lift rail (5) sill insert (six) frame sill (7) insect screen (viii) screen frame (9) screen track.

By and large, PVC has better resistance to thermal conductivity than thermally broken aluminum.
The color of the product is inherent in the material, and then if the window window frame is scratched, y'all still run across the same colour. This is groovy if you like white windows considering the vast bulk of vinyl windows are white.
PVC is a thermoplastic and tin be fused at frame corners. If the frame extrusions are designed and then that sill, jamb and head are similar to one another, they can be mitered and fused. First the window frame parts are cut at a miter (45 degrees), then the cut ends are pressed against a hot metal plate to melt the ends. Then the ends are pushed together to form a (commonly) watertight corner. The aluminum and wood window guys haven't figured out how to cook and fuse corners with their materials yet.

Backdrop of PVC
The bad news virtually vinyl as a window material

PVC is not as rigid every bit woods or aluminum. More often than not, PVC is used only for relatively modest windows every bit a result. It tin can be fitted with internal metallic frame stiffeners.
PVC is a thermoplastic with a relatively low melting betoken, about 212°F (100°C). It begins to soften 149°F (65°C). If whatsoever part of the vinyl window frame heats up too much, information technology can bend and then "take a ready".
PVC has a greater coefficient of thermal expansion than does wood, aluminum or drinking glass. This means it shrinks and grows more with changes in temperature. I of the worst areas where this tin take an effect is at the glazing area, where the glass engages into the sash or frame. Glazing sealants can shear considering the PVC is moving against the relatively stable glass. Leaks around the glass can result.
PVC is a niggling catchy for sealant adhesion – sometimes caulk doesn't stick to information technology. When working with whatsoever substrates, and especially PVC, yous must exercise adhesion tests two weeks earlier doing the piece of work.

Hither are some issues I have seen with vinyl windows.The numbering does not reflect frequency of the trouble, but rather an try at creating the illusion of organization.

1. Water leaks through window frame joinery
Back in the twenty-four hour period earlier vinyl window manufacturers establish out how well the fused corners worked, they but screwed and sealed the frame corners together. To make things worse, the corner joinery was in some cases not conducive to constructive sealing. Add in the bug with sealant adhesion, and you take a leak at the lesser of the window, assuasive water into the edifice. You can determine if your vinyl windows have this problem past performing water testing.

Water damage beneath leaking vinyl window frame. Leaks rusted out the steel opening liner, then went on to attack the wood. — Water damage beneath leaking vinyl window window. Leaks rusted out the steel opening liner (left), went on to set on the wood (right), ran down inside the wall and destroyed a wood floor.

Top left: Two older style vinyl windows being pulled apart at the stacking mullion. The joinery is — Summit left: Two older fashion vinyl windows being pulled apart at the stacking mullion. The joinery is "straight cut and screwed" and is prone to leakage. Top correct: With the jamb removed, the end of the sill is visible. This is where a disquisitional, too-difficult seal is needed. Bottom: Much better particular where similar frame members are fused together.

ii. Water leaks through glazing

Because vinyl changes in dimension with changes in temperature much more than glass, long term movement can shear glazing sealants and bring about glazing leaks — Considering vinyl changes in dimension with changes in temperature much more glass, long term movement can shear glazing sealants and bring about glazing leaks

Thermal motility of PVC is seven times that of glass. Equally the temperature changes, the PVC frequently slides confronting the glass. This tin puts stress and vesture on the glazing sealant, which might be only i/xvi″ thick, eventually shearing information technology. I have seen vinyl window sash overflow with a low-cal water spray.

3. Water leaks through trims attached to PVC windows
Trims could be mullions, brick-mold or capping. Generally, these elements must be continuously sealed to the window at the exterior plane. At the interior, screws driven into wet areas of the window volition produce leaks and should be avoided.

Left: Vinyl window mullion is split open revealing an aluminum stiffener and an absence of sealant between the H-section and windows. This assembly leaked. Right: New assembly has sealant present between H-section mullion and adjacent windows at exterior plane (inset) — Left: Vinyl window mullion is dissever open revealing an aluminum stiffener and an absenteeism of sealant between the H-section and windows. This assembly leaked. Right: Looking downwards on the superlative of a pair of windows mulled together. New assembly has sealant present between H-section mullion and next windows at exterior plane (inset-sealant location indicated by arrows)

Gaps between brick mold and window must be sealed continuously — Gaps between brick mold and vinyl window must exist sealed continuously

When vinyl windows are replaced, thin aluminum sheet metal known as capping is formed on site and applied to the perimeter of the window. Left: Capping peeled away to reveal wood far behind so that capping is not supported. This capping was held in place with a face-nail. Right: New capping being installed so that its contour is visible. Outward bend in capping makes a good caulk joint design very difficult. — When vinyl windows are replaced, thin aluminum sheet metal known as capping is formed on site and practical to the perimeter of the window. Left: Capping peeled abroad to reveal wood far behind so that capping is not supported. This capping was held in identify with a face up-nail. Right: New capping existence installed so that its contour is visible. Outward curve in capping makes a proficient caulk articulation blueprint very difficult.

Too often, installers do not understand that water must drain from the top of the steel lintel - the angle that holds up the brick above. So, they clad the lintel with capping so that water goes into the window system, where it is uncontrolled and eventually becomes a rusty leak. At left, the installer is removing the flimsy capping — Too ofttimes, installers do not understand that water must drain from the top of the steel lintel – the angle that holds upward the brick in a higher place. Then, they clad the lintel with capping so that water goes into the window system, where it is uncontrolled and eventually becomes a rusty leak. At left, the installer is removing the flimsy capping. At correct, steel lintel is revealed. Caulk articulation above the lintel on the brick confirms that drainage area of lintel was buried beneath the capping.

4. Bowing or bending of vinyl frame or sash members
Due to their inherent flexibility, framing members should be shimmed and fastened well. Fifty-fifty if this is done, framing members that span a distance should be observed for excessive bending. Such bending will ofttimes issue in reduced performance as can be seen in the photograph below.

The meeting rail of a vinyl double hung window bows in excess of 1/16 — The meeting track of a vinyl double hung window bows in excess of one/sixteen″ along a distance of simply 18 inches. This amount of bowing is visible even without a straight border.

A bowed meeting rail is not just a visual issue. It results in a misalignment between the lower and upper sash. In this picture, the misalignment is fully 5/32 — A bowed PVC meeting rail is not just a visual issue. It results in a misalignment between the lower and upper sash. In this picture, the misalignment is fully 5/32″ (4mm). The weatherstrip on the lower sash no longer weathers against the upper sash, allowing excessive air infiltration and condensation on the glass

v. Poor component tolerances
In vinyl windows, just like any other manufactured product, the parts demand to fit. Sadly, this does not always happen. Window manufacturers use "cutting formulas" to tell them the cut length of each part of a window, given the window'due south overall size. In a simple double hung window there can hands exist most 30 parts that all must exist cutting to the proper length in order to work well. Sometimes in that location tin exist an error in the cutting formula. If assemblers on the constitute floor are non vigilant, poorly fitting components can exist released to the public, resulting in degraded quality and reduced performance.

The horizontal parts on this lower sash are too short, resulting in a large gap between the side of the vinyl sash and the adjacent frame. The weatherstrip is supposed to be compressed 30%. Instead it is uncompressed and has a nearly 1/8 — The horizontal parts on this lower PVC sash are too short, resulting in a large gap between the side of the sash and the next frame. The weatherstrip is supposed to be compressed xxx%. Instead it is uncompressed and has a nearly 1/8″ gap likewise. This is an obvious air leaker.

half dozen. Poor serviceability
Double hung windows apply a pair of jump-loaded balances that help in reducing the amount of force need to raise the sash, and to agree the sash in its raised position. It is not uncommon for this residual to fail and require replacement. Sash balances should be easily replaceable, but on one of the jobs pictured here, ane would demand to cut the frame in society to replace the balance.

7. Insulated glass seal failure
Seal failures occur in vinyl windows, merely as they occur in wood and aluminum windows. Oftentimes, this is due to the long term presence of water in the area beneath the glass.