UPVC window problem. Repair or replace?

[Rigan1]

Hi there, have some problems with a window and looking for some advice.

I'll get straight stuck in, the window has a leak, but this gap in the frame is allowing wind to push water straight inside the building, causing rot on the sill which has now been removed.

Here is the window in question;

and a close up;

As you can see the tiny gap is in the lower part of the frame and not where the window actually closes. It may not even visibly show, but this gap causes the entire room to be unusable due to the freezing draught.

I went and took a look outside with the ladder, then discovered this;

As you can see the light shines straight from the outside in, I'm assuming there should be some gap on the outside to allow any water drainage? but should it come straight through like this?

finally, don't know if it helps but when the weather is bad, water collects in window frame, as shown below;

I'm no expert with windows, and due to my schedule I'm unable to get someone to look at it for a good few weeks, so I'm in dire need of advice on how to fix this problem and hopefully it's something I can get done asap in my available time.

You guys think I can repair this? or is the frame knackered and I need a new window entirely?

Thanks for any help here, and I'll reply to any questions asap, newborn occupies alot of time right now

 

[Homerdoh]

It's hard to tell from your pics whether the frame is sat correctly onto the cill, if it is then there should be a small upstand to the back of the cill which forms a barrier against the back of the window frame.
This should be sealed all along with silicone to prevent any possible draught or water ingress. Some installers run a bead of silicone further in on the cill platform so the silicone isn't visible but I doubt this is the case here since you can shine a torch light right under the frame.
The cill should have also been damned off with silicone at each end to prevent water running of the ends and into your walls / plaster, hopefully the installer has at least done that!
First thing to do is get a tube of brown silicone and seal along the back, make sure it's dry before applying silicone.
Regarding the water on the bottom inside, well you have a tilt n turn style window which should have locking points all around the window, these locking points can be adjusted to gain more compression, usually by inserting an allen key into them and turning, a quarter turn at a time is best then try closing and locking with the handle until you feel it being a little tighter to turn the handle. There is a drip bar on the window sash which should deflect most of the water away but wind driven rain will always find a way in if there's a slight fail in the seal.
Don't worry too much about the water on the inside though as the window has a built in drainage system which gets rid of any water that finds it's way in, this drainage system can be tested by pouring water from a jug or kettle onto the bottom inside of the frame, you should see the water run along and through a little slot say 20 - 30mm long, the water should then drop onto the external cill and drain away, hope this makes sense!

Regards

 

[crank39]

The reason the torch light shines straight through is that you have a drainage slot, the hole on the outside should really have a cover cap to tidy it up, google 'face drain caps' to see what they are.

The water you have collecting in the frame SHOULD drain away through those slots, check they aren't blocked with dirt, blow/poke do what you have to to unblock and pour a little water in the frame around the slot and look outside to see if it drains away.

Water will always seep past the outer gasket usually in the corners and settle in there, your gasket may be worn though and may not actually be doing much, from the photos it looks like 'bubble' gasket...

http://www.screwfix.com/p/stormguard-upvc-seal-black-20m/89084#

This just pulls out and new clips in, your gasket may have just flattened off, check that when you lock the window its pulling tight onto the gasket, depending on the type of locking you have this might be adjustable to get a bit more compression, more photo of the locks will show if and how to adjust

Another thing you might benefit from is fitting a drip strip along the bottom of the opener, these are usually found along the bottom of doors and they deflect rain over the bottom and out onto the brickwork

http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/rain-deflector

 

[Rigan1]

Thanks for the responses so far, the silicone sounds like a given so I'll grab some of that and give it a go.

The reason the torch light shines straight through is that you have a drainage slot, the hole on the outside should really have a cover cap to tidy it up, google 'face drain caps' to see what they are

There is no "hole", it's the entire length of the frame which I can shine a torch through and see, as though it's warped or something.

I have only recently bought the property, and these windows have stood for around 14 years now, so I have no idea how the previous owners lived in the property without fixing it!!!


I shall also look at replacing the seals.

Thanks again for the suggestions.