In the fabrication of aluminum sliding windows, while measurement, cutting, and assembly are highly crucial, there is a small technical task that, if ignored, can cause the entire house to fill with water during the very first rain. This important task is called a water drain hole, or in the language of ordinary craftsmen, "the water hole."
When it rains heavily, water hits the glass and collects in the bottom track of the sliding window. If holes are not made in the correct locations within this track to discharge the water, it overflows inward and enters the room, damaging walls, paint, and expensive carpets. In today's post, we will learn the correct and professional method to make a water drain hole in a window.
1. Essential Tools for Making a Water Drain Hole
To drill holes of the correct size with precision and neatness, it is essential for you to have these tools:
- Drill Machine: A lightweight and high-speed drill machine.
- Correct Size Drill Bit: Generally, a 6mm or 8mm drill bit is used for drilling holes in aluminum tracks.
- Drain Hole Punching Tool or Router: If you have a professional punching machine or a router machine, it creates perfectly oval-shaped holes just like a factory finish.
- Marker and Measuring Tape: For marking the exact location of the hole.
2. Step-by-Step Method to Make a Water Hole in a Window
When manufacturing an aluminum window, holes are drilled into the bottom frame prior to assembly. The technical method for this is as follows:
Step 1: Selecting the Outer Track
Remember, holes are always made in the part of the window's bottom material that faces the outside. A hole is never drilled in the inner room-side track. Start marking inside the outermost channel of the two or three tracks of the sliding window.
Step 2: Marking with a Measuring Tape
The number and spacing of the holes are determined according to the size of the window:
- If the window is small (e.g., 3 or 4 feet in width), it is sufficient to make one hole on each side, moving 5 to 6 inches inward from both corners (a total of 2 holes).
- If the window is large (6 feet or more), mandatorily make a hole exactly in the middle in addition to both corners.
Step 3: Technical Method of Drilling
After marking with the marker, hold the drill machine completely straight.
- The First Hole (In the Inner Groove): Drill straight down into the bottom of the inner groove of the track so that the water can flow inside the profile.
- The Second Hole (The Exit Path): Now, to discharge this same water out of the window, drill a hole outward on the very front face of the aluminum profile. This hole should align perfectly with the inner hole at the lowest level so that water drains out immediately without collecting inside.
Step 4: Cleaning and Installing the Cap
After drilling, fine aluminum shavings remain inside the track. Clean them thoroughly with the help of a brush. If shavings remain inside, they will mix with dust and clog the hole. Finally, for a clean look, install a plastic drain hole cap over the outer hole; this prevents high winds and dust from entering from the outside while allowing water to exit easily.
3. Critical Technical Mistakes While Making Water Holes
- Hole Being Too Small: Never drill a hole smaller than 4mm, because a small hole gets blocked very quickly by dust and debris.
- Hole at the Wrong Level: The front face hole must always be exactly level with the bottom of the track; if it is even slightly higher, half an inch of water will always stand inside the window.
If you prepare water drain holes according to these technical principles during window fabrication, no matter how heavy the rainwater is, it will drain out within seconds without collecting inside the window, and the customer will appreciate the neatness of your work.
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