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Andersen Window mullion insulation?

floorheater | Posted in General Discussion on December 14, 2005 06:02am

We use nothing but Andersen windows for our new home building and have never given it a second thought when it comes to insulating mullion windows?

The windows are screwed together at the factory w/fasten plates leaving approx. 1/8-3-16 gap for either, side by side mulls or transoms over.

I always figured that Andersen put foam gasket in between them. When we order a mull kit for large circle tops or transoms that we have to assemble because they are to large to ship, it comes with a foam gasket piece!!

We noticed it by accident. I’m now waiting to hear from Andersen regarding this as it is extremely small to insulate effectively afterwards. Just wondering if other window company’s do the same thing or has nobody else noticed. ??

 <!—-><!—->

 

<!—-> <!—-><!—-><!—-><!—-> <!—-><!—-><!—-><!—-><!—-> <!—-><!—-><!—-><!—-><!—-> <!—-><!—-><!—-><!—-><!—-> <!—-><!—-><!—-><!—-><!—-> <!—-><!—-><!—-><!—-> <!—-><!—-><!—-> <!—-><!—->  

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Replies

  1. xosder11 | Dec 14, 2005 08:56pm | #1

    I think your post is a little confusing, although I am interested because andersen is all we use as well. Are you saying that the units that come pre mulled from the factory have NO foam gasket piece between the units?

    1. floorheater | Dec 14, 2005 10:21pm | #4

      That is exactly what I'm saying... I contacted Andersen this morning and was told that I was about the third person to point that out. Ever.They didn't offer a fix but would send the info along to the engineering dept. to see about putting in that piece of foam (which made sense to them)in future mulling jobs. I was appalled!!!! <!----><!---->

       

      <!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->  

  2. 43Billh | Dec 14, 2005 09:05pm | #2

    Floorheater,

    I have a house full of Andersen's ( no insulation between mullions ). Right or wrong I installed them that way with no problems. They are the "TW" series if that helps you any.

     As far as hearing from Andersen I wouldn't sit by the phone and wait. They make a nice window but don't answer complaints well if at all. We had some quality issues with a bay window install, 6 calls and 4 weeks later I gave up on them.

     Bill

    1. mojo | Dec 14, 2005 09:26pm | #3

      I just did about 40 Anderson Tilt Wash (TWs) with many doubles and some triples.  Most we had mulled at the factory but about 4 doubles we did on site with the kits.  The kits do not come with any gasket and I am 99% sure the factory-mulled ones do not have them either.  The plastic piece you slide in the front should be caulked on both sides hopefully preventing any drafts.  Having said that, I'm thinking stuffing a sliver of sill seal in the open space between the units isn't a bad idea.

    2. floorheater | Dec 14, 2005 10:59pm | #5

      Whether it's TW's or solid glass panels mulled together doesn't seem to matter with them (Andersen), But you would think in today's energy consience society that they would do everything they could to make their windows draft free and just fully sealed. Chalking the filler strip would cut down on the drafts but doesn't get rid of the problem. My luck would be to break that strip if I tried to remove it on the factory mulled units.Chances are we are going to do all our own mulling from now on, by just ordering all the kits.
       <!----><!---->

       

      <!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->  

    3. Piffin | Dec 15, 2005 05:13am | #6

      Andersen has excellent seervoice, but they do it through their local stocking dealer. You need to resolve this where you buy the units and not direct 

       

      Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

      1. 43Billh | Dec 15, 2005 06:55pm | #7

        Hi Piffin,

        it's an old issue now and not worth the trouble chasing.

        Basically the installer / dealer pointed fingers at Andersen. In turn Andersen pointed back at the dealer.

        In the end it was my mistake for agreeing to pay in full ahead of time, that was the dealer's requirement for a custom order window.

        I would bet you lunch if I held back 15% or so, my issues would have been fixed.

        live and learn.

         He who holds the money wins!

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