Sealing A Window Draft

 

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Wednesday, As the temperature was again plummeting below freezing in my house with no heat, I remembered I had a window pane coming lose over the kitchen window. I looked again and the top, right side, and bottom of the window was completely loose with frigid air pouring in.

After the mess Charlie made on the huge window on the back of the house on the larger kitchen window, I was stymied as to what to do. Neither I nor exbf can climb up to the window that is about ten feet from the ground. I can climb it but will just fall off the ladder. Exbf cannot climb it due to his hips needing replacing.

What to do?

What to do?

I am always looking for alternative ways of doing things, either because I cannot do something, cannot afford the "correct" way, or I want to find an alternative. So, after thinking while looking at the window pane, thinking in the car, thinking that it needed to be tight, thinking what I had, thinking how the window pane might just fall out, and thinking about the properties the fix needed to have, I came up with a solution.

Anyone who is crafty, has repaired earrings by regluing a stone or regluing the earring back knows what to use--E-6000. It may have a slightly newer version with an extra letter or number, but E6000 is what I went to the store to buy.

I went to the craft section in Walmart and asked about E-6000. Nope. Out. As I sat in the electric scooter, I spotted something I thought would work. Exbf grabbed it and when he read that the product was impervious to weather and moisture, he said that was the thing to use. So, we got it. Now, I cannot find the tube to show you what I used.

However, the specs were the same as for E-6000.

 Industrial strength, non-flammable adhesive that provides versatility not found in silicones and rubber cements

Safe for applications exposed to dilute acids and dilute caustics

Maintains a flexible bond in cold temperatures and may be used to bond items subject to vibration

Exceptional adhesion to wood, metal, glass, fiberglass, ceramics, masonry and concrete

Made in the USA

Dries clear

Flexible hold

• Industrial strength adhesive and sealant
• Non-Flammable
• Water proof

The plan, which worked, was to apply from the inside of the house the E-6000 in the open spaces where the window was not in place, then apply pressure from the outside. It was easy to run a bead along the bottom of the wood holding the pane, right along where the window pane should sit. When I got to the side, I started at the top and watched the bead of glue run down like cold sorghum, slow and thick.

Before all this started, I explained my plan to exbf. I had him find the longest tool I had and use the tool to apply pressure. He declared the garden rake to be the longest. Not breaking the pane was also part of the plan that I emphasized!

He stood outside the window on the ground as I stood on a stool to be able to really see as I squirted the glue/adhesive. The first place he pushed after I applied the glue on the upper right side of the window actually moved 1/4 of an inch. Nothing else ever moved when he pushed. However, that quarter of an inch also brought the rest closer.

After he pushed the pane into the glue, I filled the bottom area that was not in right with the tacky glue and tried to fill in the side. Only one little open place that is the diameter of a pencil lead remained open. I will put some glue on waxed paper and use a toothpick to fill that hole.

So, the pane will not be sucked out by the wind, fall, and break. I will not have a leaky window for tonight when the temperature will again be 23 F. Yesterday, I put packing tape across the window in many strips, so the glue is tighter and better! (It went down to 20F)

When this can be repaired properly, the glue I used is of the type that can be peeled right off. I know this is NOT the way this is supposed to be repaired, but I cannot get up on the ladder! I own all the supplies a person should use. Charlie did not know how to use the points and had just had surgery on arm, shoulder and needed carpal tunnel surgery.

So, I will be in a little less drafty home tonight. I am sitting here with a thermometer on the table beside me and a lamp is on. The thermometer reads 43 F at about elbow height!

Your turn
Have you ever used E-6000? Probably more women than men have used this. Maybe I would be surprised. Do you have another tacky glue/adhesive that you use? Guys, do you use a thick glue with all the properties of E06000?