From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 24 Sep 2025 at 09:06:28 BST, "RJH" <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:

Does anyone know where water that gets inside the frame drains from these windows:
https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B1mGPCdxkG7iWif
They were fitted about 15 years ago and seem like the cheapest and nastiest, installed by the least able.
It's either between the stone cill and the UPVC window frame. Or that gap between the UPVC cill and the subframe that carries the glass.
It matters because I'd like to seal the gap between the stone cill and the window. it looks horrible and can't be helping the insulation. But I won't if it's needed as a drain.

Thanks to you Rob for raisng this subject. I'm no help at all to you, but your queston prpmted me to do some googling, and I now know a lot more about DG windows: principally, that there are lots of different kinds; secondly that there are real holes in them!

I was going to google anyway because I made a horrific discovery in our own kitchen windows just before I saw your thread here!
We have window feeders for the birds on our kitchen windows (the type that sucker on to the glass, holding a little tray).
We very rarely open these windows, but the other day I wanted to let a bit of air in, opened one, and noticed what looked like seeds littering the inside 'gutters' of the frame.
Went outside to open the window wider: it wasn't seeds it was 7 kinds of black s**t from woodlce, slugs, and god knows what. It coated the whole of the lower edges including the "gutter" (the profile of these DG windows is _incredible_!). There was even a 2" slug sitting halfway up *inside* the
frame!
It was then that I discovered the vents/drains (who knew?!), which probably gave these creatures easy access (??? I've no idea how these vents work: I naievly thought the units are sealed unless you open the window.
Terrible job to clean these parts of the winodw, but I've done it now, and
have moved the feeders to the part of the window which does not open (but
maybe that has vents too!

I found two vids which I'll pass on here:
(1) How to keep your vents clean (who knew!?). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv5O27KgC-k
(2) How to clean and renovate an old and sticking sliding unit (though this looks to be in a hot country -- maybe we don't have such units in UK? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBGK3Fb7Nwc

Neither of these is any direct help to you (or me), Rob, but I found it interesting to "watch and learn".

AJ
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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 24 Sep 2025 at 09:06:28 BST, RJH wrote:

Does anyone know where water that gets inside the frame drains from these windows:

https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B1mGPCdxkG7iWif

They were fitted about 15 years ago and seem like the cheapest and nastiest, installed by the least able.

It's either between the stone cill and the UPVC window frame. Or that gap between the UPVC cill and the subframe that carries the glass.

Decided to take the glass out* and replace it with new (went for E glass**),
as the original had blown.

While at it I tested the drain. It is indeed between the cill and the
subframe, and not the stone cill.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

* and nothing like as simple as the online video guides seems to suggest. The glazing strips quite rigid and firmly fixed. The special tool I've got had no effect. Took a hammer and a slender scraper to get them to budge. But once the first one out the rest are easy; a quick clean and wipe with silcone and it's
a 10 minute job.

** About a 50% premium for a 0.9m2 pane (-u60/-u90). We shall see.
--
Cheers, Rob, Sheffield UK
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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

RJH wrote:

Decided to take the glass out
nothing like as simple as the online video guides seems to suggest.

Figuring out which corner to start in, and which way around to proceed,
then remembering what order to refit in reverse, and yes I found a nice
thin clean scraper works well, I don't have a special tool.
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