Windows

[dspiveysr]

While sitting at the sofa of our 2720SL, I can feel wind coming in from the bottom of the windows, does anyone have this problem, and what can we do to solve this?
Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Bill]

First question. When you say "windows" (plural), are you referring to windows in the side wall? Or the slatted window in the front wall, under the stone guard?

If you are referring to a side window, the following troubleshooting questions may help.

Is the sliding pane closing completely? Or not quite? The little plastic latch piece should snap closed over the mating piece. This is sort of common. However, an incompletely closed pane would probably leak along one of the vertical edges, not over the bottom edge.

Onward. When you say the wind is coming in "around the bottom of the windows", do you mean around the edge of the glass within the frame? If so, is the wind coming in around a sliding pane or a fixed pane? The seal around the fixed panes is easily viewed - just check it out. The sliding glass panes ride within a track (slot) which is lined on all sides with a fuzzy cloth-like material - black, as I recall. Can you see this lining in the sides and top of the track? If so, is it missing or compacted in the bottom of the slot?

Or is the wind coming in around the frame where it contacts the wall?

If the wind is coming in around the frame, then either the outside caulking is damaged or missing, or the frame-to-wall seal, either inside or outside, is damaged or missing. The first is easy to visualize, and not hard to fix. Just renew or replace the caulk. It is harder to imagine how the second would occur. But if it has, you will likely need to remove the entire window from the wall (not terribly difficult) and clean off the existing seal and replace it.

If you are referring to the front window, that is a different question. Let us know, and we can continue.

Bill

 

[Kidkraz]

Does the SL version have the wall flaps? Could those be separating from the wall, or some screws being loose? Pictures would be great of what/where the breeze is being felt.

 

[dspiveysr]

Bill,

None of the sliding windows on our unit will 'latch", they never have. This is a 2007 2720SL MFG. date late 2006. I will take some pictures and try to get the wife to point out where she is feeling the wind. I have looked at these windows countless times and unless I am missing something it appears that possibly they were installed incorrectly from the beginning. If someone has seen this in the past and resolved it I would appreciate some guidance on the resolution.

Thanks
David

 

[Shane826]

If they won’t latch there’s probably something in the tracks. Road grime buildup, dirt, something.

Open the window then use a wet q-tip to clean the tracks, especially the corners and vertical areas. Then use a dry lube on the tracks to make the windows slide smoothly.

If the windows are actually damaged, I have a pile of old TM windows by Hehr. Let me know if you need replacements.

 

[Bill]

Bill,

None of the sliding windows on our unit will 'latch", they never have. I have looked at these windows countless times and unless I am missing something it appears that possibly they were installed incorrectly

TM buys the windows as a fully assembled unit from the window manufacturer, and simply drops them in place and screws them down. I can't imagine an installation error that could prevent the sliding pane from latching.

Shane is right. If the sliding pane won't slide quite far enough to click the latch, it is most likely some kind of accumulated crud in the track. And if you have been traveling with the windows slightly open, they have captured even a bit more crud in the track. As Shane said, pay particular attention to the corners, and the vertical part of the track, where the crud tends to collect and pack down.

In my personal experience, cleaning and lubing will help a lot, but you still may have to slide the window closed with a SLAM to get it far enough to latch. But it should do so.

Bill

 

[dspiveysr]

Bill/Shane,

After looking and cursing the windows some more it appears the issue is they were built wrong from the manufacturer, the plastic channel that the window should rest it is installed upside down from what it should be causing the window to stop on one edge of the track. I removed the one from the door window and reinstalled it inverted, or the half I had left after removing it, (They are hard plastic and fixed in place with some sort of sealant) the window will now close and lock. This solves the window not locking mystery and may very well be the cause of the draft my wife speaks of. Last week is the first time we have been out with the weather in the teens to twenties, that is what has exacerbated the wind draft issue.
Does anyone know if the window track is readily available and a vendor that could supply it ?



Thanks David

 

[dspiveysr]

Pictures of window channel

 

[dspiveysr]

I found the track.

https://www.pellandent.com/Hehr-Vent-Guide-3500-Series

 

[Dan3023]

I have 2 windows that don't latch. Looks like I'll have to check it out closer. I know one or two of mine need that channel too. Thanks for doing the leg work on that.

 

[dspiveysr]

I have 2 windows that don't latch. Looks like I'll have to check it out closer. I know one or two of mine need that channel too. Thanks for doing the leg work on that.

Dan,
We purchased or 2007 model in 2010, virtually unused. None of windows have ever latched, the wife has just been inserting a small rubber wedge between the panes to keep the closed during transit.
I retired this year in March and am now trying to get all the bugs and upgrades , "put off until later" resolved so we can start really getting some use out of it.
Good luck with yours.

David