Child Item

Popping noise from aluminium windows

We have recently built a house and have low e glass and large aluminium frame windows. The windows make continuous clicking/popping sound when the sun is out and same in the evening as the temperature cools down.

I understand that this is expansion/ contraction but I have never experienced this before. The house is double brick construction.

Is there anything that can be done to silence this apart from shading the windows.

Find more posts tagged with

Building and Construction

Doors and Windows

Comments

EricL

Hi @norms

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's wonderful to have you join us, and thank you for sharing your question about popping aluminium windows.

You're absolutely correct about thermal expansion. Unfortunately, we are talking about microns of movement from the alumnium, but this movement is loud enough to get your attention. Since the windows are newly installed perhaps you can contact the seller and inquire if they've encountered this situation before and were they able to come up with any solutions to the popping.

I suggest as a possible stopgap measure to put silicone in all the joints of the aluminium. It will at least muffle the sound as the metal expands and retracts. Please make sure to clear this with the window manufacturer so it does not void your warranty on the windows.

Let me tag our experienced members @ProjectPete, @tom_builds and @TedBear for their recommendations on how to possibly eliminate the window popping.

If you have any other questions we can help out with, please let us know.

Eric

norms

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/18449#Comment_18449

Thank you Eric for your reply, the window manufacturers unfortunately is at a loss to suggest anything. I believe that the installation is too tight, the joints are extremely thin, I will not be able to put in silicon in, do you think silicone spray will help?

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/71878#Comment_71878

HI @norms

It's worth a shot, anything to help lubricate the expansion should at least lessen the noise. I suggest using Inox 300g Heavy Duty Aerosol Lubricant. Or at least a lubricant that will stay for a long period of time. I recommend trying it on the worst offenders before doing the entire house so that you at least have a test group to see if the lubricant is working.

Please keep us updated with your progress, we look forward to hearing your popping noises eliminated.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

TedBear

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/99248#Comment_99248

Great suggestions @EricL . I have never come across this situation.

If the spray or sealing of the joints doesn't do the trick I suggest that @norms tries phoning another window installer to discuss the problem (don't tell them it's a new install or they may lose interest in talking to you about it) to see if they have any experience to share on the issue.

ron12880

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/71878#Comment_71878

Hi @norms，

I am experiencing the same issue like yours at the moment. The manufacturer and the builder also have no idea at all. Did you find a solution to fix it? If yes, can you share it? It would be much helpful!

Thanks in advacne!

norms

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/100682#Comment_100682

Hi Ron

Sorry can’t offer anything to fix the problem. We never got that fixed.

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/100682#Comment_100682

Hi @ron12880

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. Thank you for joining the discussion.

It's great that @norms has given us an update on their aluminium window issue. Unfortunately, they still haven't found an effective solution to the overly tight assembly of their window frame. I suppose in time the window frame will work its way loose and the expansion noise will eventually go away.

In the meantime, I suggest trying Loctite 222 10ml Threadlocker Adhesive on the joins. It should at least dampen the sound of the grinding aluminium when they expand. I recommend testing it on the window that's generating the loudest noise and seeing if it decreases its noise level.

Please keep us updated with your progress, we look forward to seeing your window frames fixed.

Eric

pc007

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/117225#Comment_117225

I have same problem. I tried spraying silicon lubricant but no luck. From another windows installer, I got to know that aluminium windows might be screwed too tightly and there is no space for expansion. That's why there is noise.

The installer advised me to get it reinstalled but that is not possible. Did anyone found another way to fix the issue or if there is a way to loosen it a bit rather than completely removing it and reinstalling. That would be very costly.

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/127348#Comment_127348

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @pc007. It's sensational to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about noisy aluminium windows.

From reading through the comments, no one had found a solution to the issue. Let me tag @ron12880 to see if they ever solved the problem.

It could be that the windows are screwed too tightly or not secured well enough, or there is not enough clearance on the fixings holding them in place. I'd recommend having a professional glazier assess the situation and provide specific recommendations based on your windows and their construction.

Installing weatherstripping or foam tape around the window frames could help absorb some of the movement and reduce the noise. Or, perhaps a glazier could loosen the frame fixings and add spacers to provide a gap for movement around the frame.

Is the noise being generated so frequently that you can track down where it's coming from on the frame? If you could determine its exact location, it would be easier to identify the issue causing it.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

pc007

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/133493#Comment_133493

Thanks @MitchellMc. Weatherstripping or Foam tape will not help as Popping sounds seems to be coming from inside the wall.

I have searched for people but couldn't find anyone who can really understand the issue and provide a fix.

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/137279#Comment_137279

Hi @pc007

Unfortunately, the sound is travelling through the timber frame of the wall and is acting like a conductor transferring the sound to a point inside your wall. I'm afraid the suggestion of taking the aluminium window apart and increasing the spacing between the window joins will be the only way to compensate for the movement.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

NicoleSy

Hi @norms, any chance you have a recording of the sound? Having the same issue but cannot pinpoint if it’s coming from the windows! Thanks

norms

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/29567#Comment_29567

Sorry I don’t, and my daughter has now sold the house, we have never been able to get to the bottom of it.

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/29567#Comment_29567

Hi @NicoleSy

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's fabulous to have you join us.

If it is happening regularly and is caused by the heat of the sun, I suggest looking at the window fixings that get the most sunlight. As the aluminium heats up, it begins to expand causing that popping noise as they push against one another. Another possible cause of the popping noise is your timber framing. If the framing has been built in too tightly against one another, these two frames will expand into each other creating noise.

I propose looking for decibel apps on your phone that can measure noise, you'll be able to measure the level of sound when you are in a certain part of the house. By taking measurements from each room daily, you'll be able to track down where the loudest noise is coming from.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

NicoleSy

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/77291#Comment_77291

The noise has been driving me up the wall for close to a year now, and I am getting to a point where we’re going to sell. Thanks for replying!

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/29567#Comment_29567

Hi @norms

I'm sorry to hear that you never got to repair those popping windows. It is however an interesting thing to learn, you'll now be aware to tell the window specialist to allow space for expansion when you have new windows built and installed.

Eric

NicoleSy

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/77292#Comment_77292

Thanks Eric, I’ll do that! I even thought it might be the plumbing where the pipes are loose and cause noise. We’ve had so many trades come in and no one has been able to get to the bottom of it!

NicoleSy

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/77292#Comment_77292

Thought I’d add that the sounds seem to come from closer to the ceiling than from the actual windows if that helps at all? Thanks!

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/102626#Comment_102626

Hi @NicoleSy,

Do you hear the noise when operating taps?

If the noise appears to be coming from the ceiling, it could be from your roof cavity and the timberwork. It's not unusual for the roof structure to creak if the roof cavity is heating up and timbers are rubbing together. We'd really need to hear the noise, at least, to try and determine what could be making it. I know it is hard to describe in text, but is it a creaking, popping or thudding noise?

Mitchell

NicoleSy

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/118317#Comment_118317

We get noise from the pipes as well which is a different noise altogether, but the noise from the ceiling is a popping, similar sound to a loud dripping water sound or even sounds like a pressurised popping sound. It’s not consistent so it’s really hard to isolate the noise.

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/127562#Comment_127562

That's a difficult one @NicoleSy. Any particular time of the day you hear them? Are they particularly noticeable in the morning when the sun starts warming the house up or in the evening when it starts to cool? How often would you hear these sounds? Several times a day or perhaps every other day?

Mitchell

Child Item