How To Fix Howling Sound On a Double Hung Window (key Tips)
People often have the problem of whistling out the window in strong winds. From strong gusts of wind, a thin whistle becomes audible, sometimes the window hums so much as if about to fall onto the street. A whistling noise can indicate the following problems in the window system:
- incorrect installation work;
- Violation of assembly and manufacturing technology;
- unadapted mounts, moving elements;
- long service life and material wear.
if your double-hung window has annoying and monotonous sounds, it is most likely due to one of the following.
6 Main Causes of Howling on a double-hung window
1-Weather
To start off with the most obvious things, some weather conditions can cause window howling. The wind blowing through a double-hung window can cause your windows to make a strange noise. This can happen in the winter and even in summer, but the howling is loudest during stronger winds.
Due to the occurrence of a large difference in pressure with respect to the street and room, the movement of air currents forms a whistle, which can be heard even with the windows closed.
2-Loose Windows
If your windows are loose or have gaps between them, air will be able to blow through. It might not sound like much when you’re sitting in your living room, but if you go outside to listen, you’ll hear a noticeable howling sound.
If you’re hearing this strange sound and it’s warm outside (or getting warmer), there may be a gap in the window that needs to be filled.
3-Paint Buildup
Paint buildup can also cause strange noises for a few reasons. If it isn’t completely dried by the time you cover it, some will be pushed into small crevices. If you’re working in an older house, some windows may even have layers of old paint that are cracked and flaking.
Some of this paint can get caught up in old window frames, creating air currents that cause a strange noise when there’s wind outside.
4-Window Leaks
Window leaks can cause many different sounds, but if it is persistent, they may be annoying. Windows need to be sealed tight so that cold air doesn’t enter your house and warm air doesn’t escape. If there are leaks around your windows, you’ll hear them whistling or howling.
Every three years, the silicone sealant, with which all joints are abundantly lubricated, begins to deteriorate. Voids appear, slits through which air flows with a whistle.
5-Foundation Issues
If your windows are close to your house’s foundation, they can also make strange noises. If there are gaps between the foundation and your windows, you’ll hear a howling noise. It may not be too noticeable during the summer, but in the winter and when there is wind, it can be a very annoying sound indeed.
6-Low-quality material
If an independent external audit did not reveal any errors during installation, the reason may lie in the quality of the materials used to manufacture the window profile.
Poor quality material can be the reason why a window bursts. So, in the cold season, excessively soft plastic can deform, which can lead to unpleasant noises: crackling, humming, whistling. This annoyance is known as the “sail effect”.
Low-quality plastics can expand (contract) significantly with a sharp drop in temperature, which is typical for certain Russian regions.
In addition, the materials from which the slopes and the frame are made have different densities, which aggravates the situation.
According to the installation technology, a special stabilization angle is installed to solve this problem.
If the noise emitted by the window is caused by the wrong choice of material, then the problem can only be solved by dismantling the structure and installing a new high-quality window system.
How to Fix Double-Hung Window Sound
If your double-hung window is making strange noises, there are a few things you can do to fix the problem. The first option is the easiest and requires no money, so it’s great if you’re on a tight budget. However, the most effective way may cost some money.
Repair Gaps in Your Windows
If your windows aren’t perfectly sealed, this is the best way to fix them. It is also surprisingly effective as long as you have decent weather stripping on hand and know how to work it.
When you repair your windows like this, they will no longer allow wind to come through at all, which will help eliminate the sound entirely.
Replacing the Sealant
Sealant Replacement sealant can be very expensive, but it is much more effective at keeping the cold air out and the warm air in. This will significantly reduce howling and other noises that your windows make.
Keep in mind that this option may not be possible if you are renovating a house or if you aren’t close to a professional window repair shop.
You will need to find someone who’s able to install this product properly and can maintain a close eye on the windows’ hinges to ensure they are sealed properly.
Seal the Gaps
Sealing the gaps between the glass and the frame is the best way to eliminate sound, but if you don’t do this properly your windows will continue making noise even after you’ve taken care of those gaps.
Repairing the windows
If your old double-hung window is making all kinds of noises, it might be time to start thinking about finding new windows. Installing new ones is usually expensive, but you will be able to live peacefully without any noise.
However, if you don’t want to spend a lot of money or if you’re not ready to let go of your old windows just yet, you’ll need help from an expert because it involves breaking into the window and repairing it on the inside.
Professional Help
If the other ways don’t help, consider looking for a professional window installer. This will help you eliminate the howling entirely. While this may cost a lot of money, it is the most effective way to get rid of the noise and make your windows silent.
If you hear noises that you don’t recognize, it may mean that your windows are improperly installed, it could mean that the air is not being pushed through them in the right way and as a result, they aren’t closing properly and have become stuck open.
This puts excess cold air into your house, which can cause you problems with drafts.
If you notice that your windows howl when there’s not any wind outside and they are made of glass then they may be defective. If this is the case and they are new then you should return them to get them replaced.
The howling of double-hung windows is a serious problem to deal with, and it can make a house far less quiet than it needs to be. Luckily, you can easily fix these kinds of problems on your own by filling in the gaps with weather stripping or caulk.
You can also adjust your windows if they aren’t closing properly by using dials to tighten them up if this is a problem that you have.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, a howling sound on a double window can be very irritating. If you’re hearing strange noises coming from your old windows, it might be time to look into finding new ones.
However, if you don’t want to spend a lot of money or if you’re not ready to let go of the old ones just yet, fixing the gaps may do the trick. In any case, if your windows are making strange noises, the fixes above can help.
