Wind and windows

[R D S]

We have bog standard uPVC DG, and when the wind gets up, as it often does, I can't help but go around shutting all the windows as the noise unnerves me.

What sort of wind can an open window cope with?

[Graham.]

It's an ill wind that blows nobody good.

[The Natural Philosopher]

All but a double vindaloo and 7 pints.

[Chris Hogg]

Why do you have all the windows open all the time? You won't suffocate with them shut. Does your house suffer from severe condensation (possibly because you dry a lot of washing in the house or have a paraffin heater or a flueless gas fire of some sort filling the house with water vapour)? Do you not have trickle vents above the windows or a 'cracked open' setting on the window latch? We live on high ground overlooking the Atlantic and it's windy here most days, often very windy. We have all our uPVC DG windows shut except on warm sunny days in summer. We also have an open fire in the sitting room that we light once or twice a week in the winter; we burn only logs. On those occasions we open a few trickle vents to allow the chimney to draw and not fill the room with smoke. Otherwise we have the vents shut, as well as the windows.

I don't understand the question. Do you mean before it rips off its hinges? It's a HLIAPOS question. It depends on the size of the window, how it's hinged, the strength of the wind and the direction it's coming from.

[R D S]

I like fresh air. And i'm often too hot.

Indeed. But I wonder has anyone ever had an open window damaged in a storm, or are they engineered to withstand any likely amount of wind.

[Andrew]

I think he must be refering to normal casement windows with reflex hinges top and bottom. These rely on an adjustable friction setting on the hinge mechanism, but during windy weather this is insufficient to stop the window being sucked open or blown shut. Old fashioned timber windows had a mechanical stay that held the window at a specific position. UPVC windows don't have this.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Sounds like you need to turn down the heating, then, at this time of the year?

I'd say it would depend on many things. If a casement type and opened fully against the wall and locked, chances are the wind couldn't catch it. If partially opened with no lock and the winds smashes it against the wall, many would break. Sash windows seem ok.

[R D S]

I have a penchant for languishing in a very hot bath.