This can happen when the window is often open or is very abruptly opened and closed. In this case, some parts of the fittings holding the sash may loosen or be slightly deformed. Nothing fatal can happen to the armature, but the problem should be eliminated by adjusting the position of the entire leaf. The manufacturer's emblem can be found on the fittings.On his website there is an instruction for setting up accessories, after reading which you can confidently take on self-adjustment.
To adjust the sash position, adjusting bolts with a hexagon head are used, which are located on the lower canopy and on the “scissor” system at the top. In addition, if the metal-plastic windows are too massive or we are talking about doors, then there are special closers that raise the sash at the moment of closing by one or two millimeters to ease the load on the awnings. With any change in the position of the sash, the position of these door closers should also be corrected, if necessary.
In order to adjust the installation height of the sash and its rotation in the lower part, adjusting bolts on the lower canopy are used. Having removed the protective platband, it becomes possible to insert a hex key into the hole on top of the canopy along its length (vertically), a bolt is hidden inside that regulates the height of the sash. By scrolling the key clockwise, the sash will rise, counterclockwise - it will lower.
To move the lower part of the sash to the right or left in the plane of the window installation, there is a bolt located parallel to the window in the lowermost part of the canopy. For easy access, the adjusting bolt has two exits with a key recess. From the side of the sash and from the side of the slope. The first can be reached with the sash fully open, if, due to the close-located slope, it is impossible to get to the second option to the window. By turning the adjusting bolt clockwise or counterclockwise, the bottom of the sash moves to the right or left, respectively. In any case, when changing the position of the sash, after each half-turn or turn, check the operability of the window. If the correct result is not achieved, repeat the adjustment procedure.
The adjustment of the upper scissors mechanism takes place in a slightly different way. Open the window sash fully. On the side of the mechanism, slightly recessed, is the head of a bolt for a hex key, with which you can adjust the displacement of the sash to the right or left in the plane of the window.
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Plastic windows are good for everyone, but without certain knowledge, their maintenance is impossible - they are controlled by complex fittings, and there are many little things that their owner is simply unfamiliar with. Many breakdowns - a broken handle, replacement of a seal and a number of others - can be easily eliminated with your own hands. Such repair of plastic windows does not require a call from a specialist. How to eliminate the most common "sores" of PVC windows, we will consider further.
If PVC windows are not timely adjusted and lubricated, they will close worse and worse. It happens smoothly and imperceptibly. It's just that you constantly have to make more and more efforts to close or open the sash. Often they only remember after the handle on the plastic window has broken. Then you have to repair plastic windows. But a broken pen is not the biggest problem. The job is very simple. The only difficulty is that before you change the handle on the plastic window, you have to buy it. They are sold in a store that sells plastic windows and accessories for them. They differ only in shape, color and price, but they are universal. So you can't go wrong. There are, however, also handles with a lock.They will come in handy in families with children: you can open the window only if you have a key.
Plastic window handles differ in shape and color
Having a new handle, you can start replacing the broken one. If you look closely, you will see that the base of the handle is in two parts. You need to grab the upper part with your fingers, pull it towards you and turn it "clockwise" or "counterclockwise".
The upper part of the handle base must be pulled and rotated
There are two screws hidden under the plate. We unscrew them, pulling them towards ourselves, take out the handle. All this is easy - no significant effort is required.
There are two screws under the plate
We put a new one in place of the old handle, fasten it with the same screws (the plate moves in the same way) and put the plate in place, check the work. That's all. The replacement of the handle on the plastic window is complete.
Not everyone has a micro-ventilation function on PVC windows. In order not to open the sash completely, it is propped up with something heavy. To do without such supports allows the limiter for opening a plastic window. This device consists of two parts - a strip with notches and a pin. Due to its characteristic shape, the stopper is called a comb, retainer or crocodile. This is no longer the repair of plastic windows, but their modernization, but this operation can be easily done with your own hands.
This is what the PVC window opening limiter looks like
To install the comb on a plastic window, you must first remove the handle on the sash that you will use for airing (as - see above). A retainer is put on the removed handle (look at the photo). It is turned so that it sticks out of the window sash.
How to put a restrictor on a PVC window for ventilation
The handle with the lock is set in place. Now you need to screw on the locking bar. It will require two small self-tapping screws and a drill with a 1.5-2 mm drill.
Ventilation limiter for the plastic window installed
We place the bar on the window frame so that it "clings" to the protruding stopper. First, we apply, check if it works normally, put marks in those places where holes need to be drilled. Drill carefully so as not to drill through the frame. Next, we fasten the bar. That's it, the comb (retainer) is installed on the plastic window.
One of the most common problems is blowing around the sash. There are several methods of treatment. First, it is necessary to increase the clamping of the sash, which is done by adjusting the pins. If it does not help, it is possible that the seal has become inelastic and does not provide a tight seal. Then the repair of plastic windows consists in replacing the sealing gum. It is installed around the perimeter of the sashes and on the PVC window frame and needs regular maintenance. In autumn and spring, it must be washed, dried, lubricated with silicone grease. But even under such conditions, over time, it loses its elasticity, it may even crack or tear. It is very easy to change the seal on a plastic window, but first you need to buy a suitable one. The fact is that it has a different profile for different manufacturers (see photo).
Forms of seals for porch and double-glazed windows of different companies
The use of a seal of a different shape does not guarantee the proper degree of thermal insulation. If you do not remember which company you have windows, you can take the removed seal with you. So you definitely can't go wrong. So this time too, the repair of a plastic window begins with a trip to the store.
Please note that the seal must be whole - one piece. Composite of two or more pieces do not give normal tightness.
First, remove the old gum. You can simply pull it with your fingers. If it doesn't work, pry it off with something thin and sharp. It will come out easily. Then, dust that has accumulated there will be removed from the groove.
Laying the new seal begins from one of the corners. Bring a new rubber band to the groove, insert, pressing down with your fingers. It takes some effort, but not prohibitive. It will be more difficult in the corners.Here we must try to lay it out evenly so that it does not wrinkle, but does not stretch either.
Install the seal from one of the corners
Once the seal is installed around the entire perimeter, it can be cut. This is done with sharp scissors, and the joint is glued with good glue for rubber. This is how it is easy to change the seal on PVC windows. Such a do-it-yourself repair of plastic windows takes at most 20 minutes.
To replace the seal on the sash, it must be removed. For this, decorative caps are removed from the hinges. They need to be pulled or pushed up, sometimes towards yourself. Next, we begin to remove the sash. Just keep in mind that it is much heavier than it seems. Get ready to take on a lot of weight. If there is one of the assistants, it is better that they insure. Actions are as follows:
With your left hand, hold on to the sash from below. It will carry almost all of the weight, so be prepared.
We will work with the upper loop. We need to take out the metal rod that holds the sash. It protrudes a few millimeters at the top.
Upper hinge on which the sash is held
We take an ordinary screwdriver (flat, not Phillips), press down on the pin. It protrudes a few millimeters below. Insert a screwdriver into the resulting gap and squeeze the rod even lower. Now you can grab it with your fingers (pliers) and pull it down. It is not necessary to fully pull it out, pull it all the way (you will feel resistance).
How to remove a plastic sash from its hinges
Now we grab the upper corner of the sash with our right hand (left at the bottom), slightly raise the sash, simultaneously feeding it slightly "towards ourselves", remove it from the lower rod. That's it, the sash is free.
This is the bottom pivot of the sash. He's mobile
Further, the process of replacing the seal is similar: we take out the old one, wipe the groove from dust, dry it, insert a new seal. Just before putting the PVC window sash in place, the pin of the lower hinge must be cleaned and greased. This simple maneuver - with cleaning and lubricating the pin - allows you to get rid of the annoying squeak that is heard when opening and closing a plastic window or door.
When installing the sash of a plastic window, the procedure is reversed:
We put the flap on the lower pin.
We set it vertically, aligning the upper loop.
Finger (with a screwdriver blade) press on the rod until it pops out from above.
That's it, the sash of the PVC window is put in place, the repair of the plastic window is finished. The process is simple, but for better assimilation, watch the video.
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It is sometimes necessary to disassemble a plastic window to replace a double-glazed window - the glass cracked or broke, it became leaky (condensation settles between the glasses). Sometimes it is necessary to change the rubber seal, which is located along the perimeter of the glass from the side of the room and the street. Over time, it loses its elasticity, and begins to blow from under the glass. For all these works, the double-glazed window must be removed.
The glass unit is held in the frame by glazing beads - thin plastic strips. To remove the glass unit, they must be removed. There are four shtapiks on each double-glazed window - two long vertical, two short, horizontal. We start shooting with long ones.
To work, you need a spatula with rounded corners or an old knife with a thick blade, some other similar tool. This tool is inserted at an angle into the gap between the glazing bead and the frame.
There is a small gap between the glazing bead and the frame. We put the edge of the tool into it
Turning the blade slightly to the right or left, detach the glazing bead from the frame. It locks into the groove, and when pressed, it is quite easy to separate. Swiping the tool up and down, we separate it at a greater length. Now, grasping the glazing bead with your hand, you can easily remove it. We carry out the same operation with the second vertical and horizontal strips.
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To prevent the glass unit from falling out, it is better to remove the upper glazing bead last. In this case, you slightly need to hold the glass with your hand (just keep in mind, they have a solid weight).Slightly pulling the glass towards you at the top, take it out of the frame.
A new or refurbished glass unit is installed in the reverse order. First, pads are exposed - rubber plates that soften contact with the frame. Expose the glasses, aligning them relative to the center - the gaps on the right and left should be equal.
Glazing beads are installed in place. But this time, they put the top one first, then the bottom one, then the side ones. The procedure for installing glazing beads is as follows: we put one edge into the groove, we start the second edge. We knock in the middle with the palm of our hand until it clicks.
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Sometimes the repair of plastic windows also includes glass replacement. This is much more difficult. First of all, you need glass, cut strictly to size. You can, of course, cut it yourself, and then process the edge so as not to get hurt. You can also order glass from the workshop, asking for the edges to be sanded.
Then the glass unit is removed from the frame of the plastic window, laid on a flat surface. It is more convenient on the table, but also on stools. If you will be working on the table, cover it with something.
Then, with a sharp knife (you can use wallpaper), the silicone is cut along the perimeter. Then the damaged glass is finally separated from the glass unit and removed. In its place, a new washed to a shine is laid, leveled. It should match up to a millimeter in size.
Next, we cover the glass with silicone sealant (not acrylic). We insert the tube with the sealant into the construction gun, go along the perimeter of the glass, making sure that the seam is filled evenly. We are waiting for the silicone to dry, then we take an adhesive tape 40 mm wide, glue the glass unit around the perimeter. The glass in the double-glazed window has been changed, you can put it back.
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Sometimes the plastic window fittings do not work correctly. When this happens the first time, the window appears to have broken, although it usually isn't. This situation cannot even be called a repair. You just need to return everything to working condition.
Sometimes in some position the handle of a plastic window "gets stuck" and does not want to turn. Usually the reason is the blocker being triggered. This is the plate that sits near the handle on the side of the frame. The shape of the plate is different for different manufacturers of accessories.
Types of blockers on PVC windows
To correct the situation with the handle, it is necessary to return the blocker to its normal position. If it is in the form of a long plate, pressing on the movable part, it is placed vertically, then the handle is turned. Then everything should work fine. Sometimes a plastic window blocker looks like a small tongue. We also press on it, turn the handle to the required position.
If this "treatment" does not help, you need to check whether the blocker enters the counterpart (pictured above). Sometimes, due to heat or cold, inconsistencies begin. If the tongue does not reach the mating part, you need to move it a little closer. The counter plate is unscrewed (there are two bolts), a plate the size of the counterpart of the blocker is cut out of white thin plastic, and it is installed between the frame and this plate. If the plastic sticks out somewhere, it is carefully trimmed with a sharp knife. The window should now close.
This situation occurs if the window is simultaneously opened in tilt and tilt modes. Do not panic, leaving the sash open, press the upper edge against the frame. Aligning the upper edge with the hinge, turn the handle to the "open" position - horizontally. If it does not turn, turn off the blocker.
Plastic window fittings worked incorrectly
We close the sash, turn the handle down to the “closed” position. We slowly check the work in all positions. There are still a lot of nuances associated with blowing from under the window, but they are all solved mainly by adjusting, and how to adjust a plastic window is written here.
We have described the most common problems with plastic windows, which can be solved on your own without involving specialists.
It would seem that plastic windows entered our life with you quite recently, but, as it turned out, they do not serve people forever (or at least a couple of decades) without repair. And since calling the master because of a small problem (the window does not close or the mechanism breaks down) ends up being quite costly, many owners prefer to repair plastic windows, so to speak, at home.
The fittings may differ depending on the manufacturer's brand. Now we will consider one of the options for repairing plastic windows, when at the end of the open sash of your window you see a metal "tongue" located at a slight angle.
The most common situation faced by one in five is the sagging of the sash, as a result of which it begins to touch the bottom of the sash. To fix this problem, you need a hexagon of the correct size. We start repairing:
Sagging sash adjustment We open the sagging sash.
At the end of the window (where the upper hinge is) we find a hole for a hexagon.
We insert the hexagon into this hole and turn it towards ourselves (by a quarter or half a turn) - this movement will slightly raise the outer edge of the sash.
We close and check whether it has stopped clinging to the bottom edge of the window. If there is still slack, we repeat the process (that is, we turn the hexagon another half turn).
Checking the result.
If the window still does not close easily enough without touching the bottom, you should raise it a little more, but already in the hinge.
Remove the protective plastic cap from the lower hinge (with the sash closed).
We insert a hexagon into the loop from above (strictly vertically).
We turn the hexagon clockwise (half a turn or a whole turn).
We check the cleanliness of the closure. If the bottom edge still clings, repeat the last step again.
If the sash, when trying to close it, touches the central vertical part of the window sash:
We open the window.
At the bottom of the bottom hinge of the window sash (look from the side of the end) we find a hole for a hexagon.
We turn the hexagon to one side or the other, thus moving the bottom of the sash to the left or right to the position we need.
If necessary, we adjust the upper part in the same way (through the upper loop).
Repair of a loose sash
The elimination of a not very tight fit of the sash also applies to the repair of plastic windows, which is easy to do on your own:
Adjustment of plastic window fittings Open the window.
Find the "clamps" on the vertical end - metal protrusions of a slightly oval shape.
Take your pliers and gently rotate the clamp:
if you put it horizontally, then it will be the most snug fit,
the vertical position of the "oval" - the minimum tight fit.
By turning the clamp to the angle you want, check if you think the sash is tight enough. You can adjust the hold-down in winter (setting it to the closest fit) and summer (allowing a little air circulation through the fit by setting the hold-down vertically).
Sash adjustment
You can also adjust the fit of the sash using the hexagon and T-bar located on the window pillar.
How to press the sash to the frame
If it blows in the place of the overhang of the lower loop:
Remove the plastic cap from the hinge (with the window closed).
At the bottom of the hinge, find a small star hole (marked “T”).
Take the appropriate screwdriver bit, insert it into the hole and turn it clockwise a little (this will press the flap against the binding).
Carefully rotate the decorative plate at the base (you will see two bolts underneath).
Unscrew the bolts, remove the old handle and replace with a new one.
If the handle does not turn
The reason that the handle stops turning when the window is closed or that a certain force has to be applied to perform this action is the displacement of the turning "tongue" located at the end of the sash relative to its "response" (on the window frame). In this case, you will have to adjust the position (the adjustment methods have been described above) so that the "tongue" when closing the window rests against its "response".
If the handle does not turn when the sash is open, then you just need to press the “tongue” with your finger, pressing it into a vertical position.
But in the case when a glass unit needs to be replaced, and especially if your window is at a sufficient height from ground level (on the second or higher floors of a multi-storey building), it is not recommended to carry out repairs on your own. This is exactly the situation when you should contact the service center and entrust the solution to the problem to professionals.
If your handle is stuck open, do not be alarmed. As a rule, this is caused by the activation of the blocker. It is installed on window fittings in order to prevent the window from breaking. When the handle is turned to the tilt-and-tilt or tilt position, a locking device is triggered, so that the handle does not rotate. But due to malfunctions of this device, the window may not close or open. Before turning off the locking mechanism, you must determine the brand of the fittings.
To disable the locking mechanism, you need to set the sash to the vertical position. If it is in the tilt-and-turn position, then the locking mechanism installed on the upper hinge will also prevent the handle from turning. A metal plate with a spring is located in the area of the handle. Press it against the seal with your fingers, and then turn it.
There is a metal plate under the handle. It sticks out at an angle in relation to the frame. To rotate the handle, press on the plate, after which it will stand in a position parallel to the sash.
If the window has not closed, then check if the locking mechanism is in contact with the counterpart located on the frame.
With thermal expansion of window frames, the blocker can slip. To remove the malfunction, you should find a counterpart on the frame, to which the locking mechanism clings to when working properly. Remove the screws that secure this element. Place a plastic backing underneath it. You can also use a lining made from some other material. Then tighten the screws. Thus, the blocker will again engage with the mating element.
Over time, the sealing gum on the sash loses volume, as a result of which cracks form in the windows, leading to heat loss and deterioration of sound insulation in the house / apartment. It may seem that the best solution to the problem would be to replace the seal. But in fact, the tracking force can be increased without these actions.
Change the tension of the pressure mechanism twice a year. This is due to the low and high temperatures during the cold / warm season. Thus, the stress in the work of the fittings will decrease, which will increase the operational life of the rubber gasket.
Special cylinders are installed at the end of the sash. They are located in the slots of the metal plugs. They are called eccentrics or pins. Mating elements / hooks are installed on the frame, into which the eccentrics / pins enter in the process of turning the handle, as a result of which the sash is tightly pressed against the frame. The tension of the clamping mechanism is adjusted by moving the counter hooks or by scrolling the eccentrics / pins.
Clamping mechanism
To adjust the sash closing, turn the protruding part of the trunnion towards the inside of the window. So, there is a weakening of the work of the clamping mechanism. Opposite actions will lead to an increase in this action.
The way to adjust the eccentric may differ depending on the manufacturer of the fittings:
The trunnion has a slot that can be turned with a flat screwdriver.
The eccentric is scrolled with pliers from the end surface. If you have enough strength, then you can do it with your hands.
Adjustment must be carried out carefully so as not to damage the trunnion mounting mechanism.
If the cylinders at the end cannot be adjusted, then change the position of the counterpart / hook. It is mounted on two hexagon socket head bolts. If you loosen the bolts, you can move the hook slightly towards the room, which will reduce the pressure, or towards the street, which will strengthen it.
Fittings adjustment
After weakening / strengthening the clamping device, you can go to the awnings. Consider windows with a fanlight system that allows you to open the window in ventilation mode. In this case, to adjust the clamp, you need to remove the plastic cap of the casing from the lower canopy. On the canopy, you will see two hex bolts and feel for one hidden bolt. With their help, you can change the position of the sash in relation to the frame.
To adjust the frame hold-down you will need to adjust the bolt extending perpendicular to the plane of the window. It is best to configure it when the window is closed. To strengthen the clamping mechanism, turn it clockwise and vice versa.
If the upper part is fixed not to the canopy, but to the structure - scissors, then to access the adjusting bolts you need to open it.
On the side end on the handle side there is a lock lever / clip. Press on it and turn the knob in parallel, setting it to the ventilation mode. The sash will hold onto the bottom canopy and scissor mechanism because it will come out of the groove at the top corner. This will allow you to reach the head, allowing you to adjust the pressure on the top. In the normal position, the mechanism comes to the end. It is located on the underside of the arm that holds the sash. Turn the bolt slightly. The adjustment is carried out in the same way as for the pins. This sequence is described above.
Video (click to play).
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