Windows are the eyes to a house's soul – if your windows are big and beautiful so too is your home, but they can also include a range of challenges as well. With sub par windows, you can look forward to a drafty home with high heating bills. Similarly, there are also moisture issues – for example, if you don't seal the space between your double panes securely enough, you will get a build up of condensation. Having lived in old houses and having helped choose the windows for new houses, I'm familiar with a range of challenges associated with windows. If you want tips and ideas, you've come to the right spot. Please, explore and enjoy.
Older homes are commonly outfitted with wooden sash windows, which have two frames surrounded by two halves. You may find them getting stuck sometimes from age, wood expansion in high humidity, or paint.
You need the window to open and close smoothly in emergencies or weather, so it is essential to fix the problem quickly. Fixing a stuck sash window isn't hard when you follow these tips.
Prepare to Fix the Window
To fix the stuck window, you need:
Check the interior and exterior of the window for obstructions. Look for nails or screws that may have gotten incorrectly installed in the frame. If you find nails or screws, use the drill, the claw end of the hammer, or crowbar to remove them.
Remove Paint
Sometimes, a fast paint job causes paint to get on the frames. Open the sash, insert the 5 in 1 painter's tool in a seem, and tap it with the hammer.
Work along the vertical sides between the stops and sash, and ending at the connecting rail, wiggling the frame. Check the outside of the window for paint. This can also be done with a utility knife. If the window still sticks, insert a putty knife edge between the stop and sash, and tap it lightly with hammer
For stubborn paint, heat the sash with a hair dryer set on low. Keep the air conditioner as low as possible to help the wood shrink, and set up a dehumidifier.
Fix the Sash Cord
Some older windows operate with a rope and weight system to prevent them slamming closed, which may wear with age. Detach the stops and trim, then remove the window to reveal the ropes. Make note of how they attach and pull them out.
Look inside the panels for the weights. Install a new washer on the new rope, and slide the rope over the pulley in the pockets. Secure the ropes on the weights, and tie a knot on the end, and insert it into the pocket.
Use a Crowbar to Open the Window
If nothing seems to work, pry prying the window open. Wrap a rag around a small wood block, and set it on the sill to use as a leverage point.
Insert the crowbar under the sash and sill at one end, and move the crowbar over the wood, and take your time, so the glass won't break. Give the sash a light rattle. If you get it open, run a cloth over the sash, and rub it with wax or silicone spray. Keep the track clean and waxed.
Contact a company for more information about new windows.
Share5 October 2017
