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A plastic window, even the highest quality and correctly installed, requires periodic maintenance. It can stand for several years without any problems, but over time, friction can be felt when opening or closing. The second problem is that it blows from under the seal, and the third is that the handle turns with effort. All these breakdowns are not complicated and are easily eliminated and it is not at all necessary to call the master: adjusting plastic windows on your own is a matter of minutes. All you need to do is tighten or loosen a few screws. The main thing is to know where and how. More on this later in photo and video format.
Winter and summer mode
Most often, adjustment of plastic windows for the new season is required: in winter, complete tightness is desirable, and in summer you can let in some fresh air. This is achieved by adjusting the sash pressure density. It’s easy to do it yourself. When you figure it out, you will be surprised how elementary everything is …
The window sash is pressed against the frame with the help of trunnions. These are such movable metal protrusions on the side surface of the sash. When the handle is turned, they go behind the reciprocal metal plates mounted on the frame. In order to be able to adjust the tightness of the fit of the sash and frame, they have an eccentric – either they themselves are made oval, or there is an adjustment with an offset center in the center of the round protrusion. By changing the position of the pins (see photo), you change the degree of pressure, that is, you eliminate the draft from under the sash.
As you can see, the shapes of the locking ledges can be different. Various tools can be used to adjust them. If your window has such eccentrics as in the picture on the left – oval-shaped protrusions – their position is changed with the help of pliers: clamp it and turn it in the right direction.
If the locking lug is round, as shown on the left, it can be slotted for a screwdriver or hex wrench. After examining them, you can easily understand what tool you need: a regular screwdriver or a #4 hex key. Insert a key or screwdriver into the slot and also turn it to the desired position.
Expose all the protrusions to the same position. Please note that they are not only on one side of the sash – the outer one, but also on the inside (at least one, but there is), and can also be at the top and bottom. Here you set all the available locking protrusions to the same position, otherwise the frame will warp and it will blow out from under it.
When adjusting the fittings of plastic windows, remember that a weak pressure corresponds to the summer mode of closing plastic windows, a standard or strong one corresponds to the winter one. If you carry out maintenance work in the winter, first set the standard position and check if there is a purge. It is not recommended to immediately pinch the rubber bands on new PVC windows. In this position, the rubber seal installed around the perimeter is strongly pressed. Because of this, it loses its elasticity over time. The guarantee for a normal seal is 15 years, but still … If you immediately set the maximum pressure, the rubber will deteriorate faster. As a result, once again setting the winter position on plastic windows, you will find that it is still blowing from under the sash, and the rubber is all cracked. This means it’s time to change the seal. This is also not very difficult, but it takes more time, and tires still need to be bought.
So: the winter and summer position of plastic windows is set by changing the position of the locking ledges – trunnions. Everything is detailed in the video below. After viewing, adjusting plastic windows on your own will finally cease to be a problem.
How to install a mosquito net on a window, read here.
How to adjust the window so that it does not blow
Sometimes, plastic windows, even after moving the trunnions to the position of strong pressure, are not airtight – it blows from under the sash and replacing the rubber band does nothing. This usually happens when the house shrinks. In this case, the window is said to be sagging. When this happens, contact between the locking lug and striker plate is lost. When the handle is turned, the protrusion-pin should go behind the plate, pressing the sash. If this does not happen and drafts occur, heat is blown out of the room.
When a plastic window sags, the adjustment is different: you need to move the sash in a groan so that those protrusions that do not reach the plates catch on them.
First you need to decide which of the pins do not reach the locking plates. This is done mechanically. First, inspect the sash, remember where there are protrusions. Close the window. Grab the sash frame at the pins and pull it towards you.
If there is contact, the frame remains stationary; if not, it moves. So you check in which places there is no contact and determine in which direction you need to move the sash. Do this by adjusting the lower and upper loops.
Bottom hinge adjustment
If the PVC window does not close somewhere below, we will move the sash with the help of the lower hinge. There are two adjustments here: one in the horizontal plane – moves closer to the hinge or further from it, and the second – in the vertical one – raises or lowers the sash by a couple of millimeters.
To move the lower part of the sash closer or further to the hinge, it is opened. At the bottom of the sing there is an adjustment hole for a hex key (sometimes for an “asterisk”).
A hexagon is inserted into it, by turning clockwise the lower corner approaches the loop, against it it moves away. Move the sash a little, try to close / open it. Once the result is achieved, stop. If the resource is turned out to the stop, but there is no result, return everything to its original position: this is not the right adjustment.
This screw can correct the situation if, when closing the window, the sash touches the frame below. Slightly bringing it closer to the loop, you will eliminate this malfunction.
There is a second adjusting screw on the bottom hinge. To get to it, you need to put the sash on the air and remove the decorative trim. It is removed easily, you need to pull the lower edge slightly towards you (by 1-2 mm) and pull it up. After removing the protective cap, you will see a recess in the upper part. A 4 mm hexagon is inserted into it. By turning clockwise, the sash rises slightly, against it, it lowers.
It is described in detail how to remove the decorative trim on the hinge, how and how to adjust the lower hinge on the PVC window in the next video.
Top hinge adjustment
If the upper corner on the plastic window does not close, you need to move it. To do this, open the window at least 90 °. It is possible and less, but it will be inconvenient to work. There is a loop on the sash at the top. By design, it differs from the bottom, but it also has a hole for the hexagon.
The adjustment screw is on the side. By rotating it, we move the sash further from the hinge (if the trunnions farthest from the hinge do not close) or closer to the hinge. One point – there should be a gap of several millimeters between the sash and the hinge: it is necessary for the tilt-and-turn mechanism to enter there. Therefore, turning the key half a turn, check how the window opens / closes.
Sometimes this adjustment does not help either. Then it is required press the top corner to the frame. There is another screw for this – on the swing-out mechanism. To have access to this screw, you will have to open the window in two positions at once. To do this, the sash is opened, the blocker is pressed. It usually comes in two designs – in the form of a locking loop or a tongue (see the photo below).
The blocker is retracted to the stop, holding it, turn the handle to ventilate, pulling the upper edge of the sash slightly towards you, open the rotary mechanism. A device that holds the sash open. On one of the plates there is a ledge for the same hex key. By turning it, you can adjust the tightness of the upper corner of the sash. It is necessary if the upper corner of the plastic window does not close.
Once again, you can see how to adjust the plastic windows yourself in the video. Explanations on the case, available and without further ado.
Plastic window won’t close
Sometimes the geometry of the window opening changes so much that even by moving the sash to the maximum, we do not get the desired result: the plastic window does not close. What to do in this case? If there is an adjustment on the counterpart, as in option a and b in the photo, try to get by with a little blood – tighten it up here. The principle is the same: insert the hex key and rotate it clockwise, pushing it to the maximum.
If a few millimeters are missing not in depth, but to the side, then will have to be installed under the mating part of the lining. They are cut from a piece of white plastic. The maximum thickness is 3-4 mm. First, by unscrewing the screws, the stops are removed. Two gaskets are cut out: one is installed from below, the second is from the side. As a result, the stop moves 3 mm deeper into the sash.
They are first installed at the right place of the lining, on them there is an emphasis, which is screwed with a self-tapping screw. The protruding pieces of plastic are cut off with a sharp knife. Check if the window is closed or not.
If this does not help, there is another way: move the sash frame. It is quite elastic and can be moved about 5 mm. The procedure is as follows:
- On the side that needs to be moved, the glazing bead is removed (only one).
- Between the double-glazed window and the frame, just below the place where we will move it, a plastic or wooden (not metal) smooth and narrow object is inserted. A flat spatula or ruler works best.
What to do if the plastic window does not close? How to adjust - Press the frame, insert a plastic strip that will bend it.
- Pull out a ruler or spatula.
- Install the bead in place.
If you look closely, you can see that the frame is slightly curved. The main thing is that the window is now closed. In 99% of cases this is enough. If you are unlucky, and all these tricks did not work, you need to remove the slopes and also bend the frame.
You can watch all the steps described above in the video.
How to make slopes on plastic windows on windows with your own hands, read here.
Adjustment and replacement of handles
A fairly common problem: the handle turns with difficulty. If the problem is not fixed in time, due to the excessive efforts applied, it breaks down, leaving a short stump, which you definitely can’t do anything about.
First, how to make the handle close easily again. Locking mechanisms must first be cleaned and lubricated. First, accumulated dust and dirt are removed, wiped dry, then all moving parts are lubricated. You need to use pure oils, without alkalis and acids. The best option is engine oil, you can use any analogue or a modern product from a can.
Having lubricated all the rubbing and moving parts, open / close the sash several times, turn it on its hinges. Everything should move smoothly, without jerks.
If there are problems even now, most likely in the process of adjustments or changes in the geometry of the window, the blocker has shifted. It should easily enter the mating part and press firmly against the frame. Then the handle turns easily. Move the sash and try again.
Now about how to change the handle. The fasteners on which it rests are hidden under a decorative overlay. If you look closely, you will see that there is a thin cap. Grab it with your fingers or hook it with your nails, pull it slightly towards you and turn it to one side. Two bolts open. They are unscrewed, the handle is removed, a new one is put in its place.
We’ve covered the most common problems and how to fix them. Now, not only adjusting plastic windows is not a problem for you, you can also make minor repairs on your own. You can also carry out service yourself (lubrication once a year).