Gap between window and wooden sill letting in cold air
December 8, 2014 6:21 AM Subscribe
Last night as I was closing the shades I noticed cold air coming in and discovered what I think is a fairly recent gap between the wooden window sill and the vinyl windows. The gap is letting in quite a lot of air, and I am trying to figure out a) what caused it and b) if this is something we can fix (temporarily) ourselves.
We bought this 1920s Boston area house in May, and I know for sure there were no gaps around the windows then because I painted the window sills. I am also pretty sure they weren't there in October when we had the shades installed.
There are three windows in the bedroom and they are all showing some signs of a gap between the window and the wooden frame/sill. The worst one is pictured here (close up). The gap runs along the bottom of the window and is starting to creep up the sides. The other windows aren't as bad, but I am afraid they will get worse since I have no idea how this even happened. I feel like it must've started in the last week or so.
I have been running a humidifier in the room at night because the dry air seriously messes with my nose, but I also run a ceiling fan and the humidifier is about 3 feet from the windows and pointed away. I haven't noticed any moisture on the wooden sills, though there is some condensation on the glass in the morning.
What would cause such a dramatic gap to open up around the windows? Are they in danger of falling out, or is this something we can seal with some caulk? If so, what kind should we get? If we caulk the gaps that aren't as bad as the ones pictured, will that stop them from getting worse?
The windows are approx. late 80s era vinyl, but the sill and frame are all wood, probably original to the house.
We bought this 1920s Boston area house in May, and I know for sure there were no gaps around the windows then because I painted the window sills. I am also pretty sure they weren't there in October when we had the shades installed.
There are three windows in the bedroom and they are all showing some signs of a gap between the window and the wooden frame/sill. The worst one is pictured here (close up). The gap runs along the bottom of the window and is starting to creep up the sides. The other windows aren't as bad, but I am afraid they will get worse since I have no idea how this even happened. I feel like it must've started in the last week or so.
I have been running a humidifier in the room at night because the dry air seriously messes with my nose, but I also run a ceiling fan and the humidifier is about 3 feet from the windows and pointed away. I haven't noticed any moisture on the wooden sills, though there is some condensation on the glass in the morning.
What would cause such a dramatic gap to open up around the windows? Are they in danger of falling out, or is this something we can seal with some caulk? If so, what kind should we get? If we caulk the gaps that aren't as bad as the ones pictured, will that stop them from getting worse?
The windows are approx. late 80s era vinyl, but the sill and frame are all wood, probably original to the house.
Response by poster: Argh--Did not actually link to images: window, close-up, side. Need more coffee.
posted by DiscourseMarker at 6:24 AM on December 8, 2014
posted by DiscourseMarker at 6:24 AM on December 8, 2014
Response by poster: The windows are on the second story, so I highly doubt somebody was trying to get in.
posted by DiscourseMarker at 6:25 AM on December 8, 2014
posted by DiscourseMarker at 6:25 AM on December 8, 2014
Best answer: What probably happened is that the caulking that was used around the windows is sensitive to the cold temp, shrunk and pulled away from the wood.
I would use a can of window and door foam sealant (Home Depot link) in the gaps.
Once you seal the gaps you can then use some acrylic or painter's caulk to make it pretty again.
posted by eatcake at 6:28 AM on December 8, 2014 [2 favorites]
I would use a can of window and door foam sealant (Home Depot link) in the gaps.
Once you seal the gaps you can then use some acrylic or painter's caulk to make it pretty again.
posted by eatcake at 6:28 AM on December 8, 2014 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I don't know what caused it, though I would assume it has to do with temperature changes and things expanding/contracting at different rates. That's my "I sort of remember sixth grade science" answer, not a professional opinion.
Yes, you can fill it with caulk. If the gap is big enough and there's space behind the gap you could fill it with "Great Stuff" foam, which is an expanding foam insulator. It really is great stuff. Wear vinyl gloves when you spray it because it's tough to get off your hands. It will expand after you spray it but you can shave and shape it if comes out of the gap too much.
For the smaller gaps, you could just use regular window caulking.
I would open a window and check the rest of the frame. Give it a shake and see how secure it is. I can't imagine they'd be in danger of falling out as they should be attached to the framing, not the sill.
posted by bondcliff at 6:30 AM on December 8, 2014
Yes, you can fill it with caulk. If the gap is big enough and there's space behind the gap you could fill it with "Great Stuff" foam, which is an expanding foam insulator. It really is great stuff. Wear vinyl gloves when you spray it because it's tough to get off your hands. It will expand after you spray it but you can shave and shape it if comes out of the gap too much.
For the smaller gaps, you could just use regular window caulking.
I would open a window and check the rest of the frame. Give it a shake and see how secure it is. I can't imagine they'd be in danger of falling out as they should be attached to the framing, not the sill.
posted by bondcliff at 6:30 AM on December 8, 2014
You have two choices here: 1) condensation between back of frame and wall made the frame swell and push against the brickwork behind, so a crack forms in the front
2) dry winter air shrinking the air-exposed part of the frame so a crack shows.
Likely a combination of both if I think of it. It's probably happened every winter for many years.
posted by Namlit at 6:31 AM on December 8, 2014
2) dry winter air shrinking the air-exposed part of the frame so a crack shows.
Likely a combination of both if I think of it. It's probably happened every winter for many years.
posted by Namlit at 6:31 AM on December 8, 2014
That can be fixed with a good caulk. Caulking is something that needs to be done periodically, especially in climates with significant swings in temperature.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:32 AM on December 8, 2014
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:32 AM on December 8, 2014
Yep, caulking will take care of this but the first thing I'd do is get on a ladder and inspect the window carefully from the outside. You're looking for any broken flashing or gaps in the outside caulking that might be letting water in. If water is getting inside, it could be swelling the wood, rotting it, then rotten wood particles are falling down inside the casing, swelling up and making more room for more rotten particles to fall down, etc...
posted by bonobothegreat at 6:43 AM on December 8, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by bonobothegreat at 6:43 AM on December 8, 2014 [2 favorites]
Such a large, even gap looks a lot like settling to me. When were the windows installed?
posted by Thorzdad at 7:14 AM on December 8, 2014
posted by Thorzdad at 7:14 AM on December 8, 2014
I've had that problem in my 120+ year old house after new vinyl windows were installed. I have 48" wide windows and on the side of the house that gets full sun the temperature change did a number on the new windows. I bet yours were replaced soon before you bought the house and this is the result of the first round of temperature changes. So caulk, etc.
But maybe there's a one year guarantee or something from the window company? Worth looking in to.
posted by readery at 7:34 AM on December 8, 2014
But maybe there's a one year guarantee or something from the window company? Worth looking in to.
posted by readery at 7:34 AM on December 8, 2014
I bet yours were replaced soon before you bought the house and this is the result of the first round of temperature changes.
No, as DM mentions at the end of the question, the windows date from the late 80s.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 8:04 AM on December 8, 2014
No, as DM mentions at the end of the question, the windows date from the late 80s.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 8:04 AM on December 8, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Dip Flash at 6:24 AM on December 8, 2014