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Plastic windows are good for everyone, but their maintenance is impossible without certain knowledge – 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 – are easy to fix with your own hands. Such repair of plastic windows does not require calling a specialist. How to eliminate the most common “sores” of PVC windows, we will consider further.
Replacing the handle
If PVC windows are not adjusted and lubricated in a timely manner, they 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. They often catch on only after the handle on the plastic window has broken. Then you have to repair plastic windows. But a broken handle is not the biggest problem. The work is very simple. The only difficulty is that before changing the handle on a plastic window, you need to buy it. They are sold in a store that sells plastic windows and fittings for them. They differ only in shape, color and price, but are universal. So make no mistake. There are, however, still handles with a lock. They are useful in families with children: you can open the window only if you have a key.
Having a new handle, you can begin to replace the broken one. If you look closely, you will see that the base of the handle consists of two parts. It is necessary to grab the upper part with your fingers, pull it towards you and turn it “clockwise” or “counterclockwise”.
There are two screws hidden under the plate. We unscrew them, pulling them towards us, we take out the handle. All this is easy – no significant effort is required.
We put a new one in place of the old handle, fasten it with the same screws (the plate moves back 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 finished.
Installing the comb (opening limiter)
Not everyone has a micro-ventilation feature on PVC windows. In order not to open the sash completely, it is propped up with something heavy. To do without such stands allows the plastic window opening limiter. This device consists of two parts – a bar with notches and a pin. Due to the characteristic shape, the limiter 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.
To install the comb on a plastic window, you must first remove the handle on the sash that you will use for ventilation (how – see above). A latch is put on the removed handle (see photo). It is unfolded so that it sticks out behind the window sash.
The handle with the lock is installed in place. Now you need to screw the locking bar. For it, you will need two small self-tapping screws and a drill with a 1,5-2 mm drill.
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, fasten the bar. Everything, the comb (latch) is installed on the plastic window.
Replacing the seal
One of the most common problems is blowing around the perimeter of the sash. There are several ways to treat. The first – it is necessary to strengthen the pressure of the sash, which is done by adjusting the trunnions. If it does not help, the seal may have become inelastic and does not provide tightness. Then the repair of plastic windows consists in replacing the sealing gum. It is installed along the perimeter of the sashes and on the frame of PVC windows, and needs regular maintenance. In autumn and spring, it must be washed, dried, lubricated with silicone grease. But even under such conditions, it loses elasticity over time, it may even crack or tear. Changing the seal on a plastic window is very simple, but first you need to buy the right one. The fact is that it has a different profile for different manufacturers (see photo).
The use of a sealant of a different shape does not guarantee the proper degree of thermal insulation. If you don’t remember what company your windows are, you can take the removed seal with you. So you definitely can’t go wrong. So this time the repair of a plastic window begins with a trip to the store.
Please note that the seal must be intact – 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 with something thin and sharp. She will come out easily. Then the dust that has accumulated there will be removed from the groove.
Laying a new seal starts from one of the corners. Bring a new gum to the groove, insert, pressing down with your fingers. It takes some effort, but not overwhelming. It will be harder in the corners. Here we must try to lay out evenly so that it does not wrinkle, but also does not stretch.
When the seal is laid around the entire perimeter, it can be cut off. Do this with sharp scissors, and glue the joint with good glue for rubber. This is how easy it is to change the seal on PVC windows. Such a repair of plastic windows with your own hands takes about 20 minutes.
How to remove / install a plastic window sash
To replace the seal on the sash, it must be removed. To do this, remove the decorative caps from the hinges. They need to be pulled or pushed up, sometimes towards you. Next, we begin to remove the sash. Just keep in mind that it is much heavier than it seems. Be prepared to receive a solid weight. If there is one of the assistants, it is better that they insure. Actions are:
- With the left hand, hold on to the sash from below. It will take almost all the weight, so be prepared.
- We will work with the upper loop. We need to remove 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 a regular screwdriver (flat, not Phillips), press down the pin. It protrudes a few millimeters below. We 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 pull it out completely, pull it all the way (you will feel resistance).
- Now, with the right hand, we take the upper corner of the sash (the left one is below), slightly raise the sash, simultaneously feeding it slightly “toward ourselves”, remove it from the lower rod. Everything, the sash is free.
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 bottom hinge pin must be cleaned and lubricated. 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 a plastic window sash, the procedure is reversed:
- We put the sash on the bottom pin.
- We expose it vertically, combining the upper loop.
- Finger (blade screwdriver) press on the rod until it pops out from above.
That’s it, the PVC window sash is put in place, the repair of the plastic window is completed. The process is simple, but for better understanding, watch the video.
How to remove and replace double glazing
It is sometimes necessary to disassemble a plastic window to replace a double-glazed window – the glass has cracked or broken, it has become leaky (condensate settles between the glasses). Sometimes it is necessary to change the rubber seal that stands along the perimeter of the glass from the side of the room and the street. It loses its elasticity over time, it begins to blow out from under the glass. For all these works, the double-glazed window must be removed.
The double-glazed window is held in the frame with glazing beads – thin plastic strips. To remove the double-glazed window, they must be removed. There are four glazing beads on each double-glazed window – two long vertical ones, two short horizontal ones. We start shooting with long ones.
To work, you will 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.
Slightly turning the blade to the right or left, disconnect the glazing bead from the frame. It is fixed in the groove, and when pressed quite easily separates. After swiping the tool up and down, we separate it at a greater length. Now, holding the glazing bead with your hand, you can easily remove it. We carry out the same operation with the second vertical and horizontal bars.
To prevent the double-glazed window from falling out, it is better to remove the top bead last. At the same time, you need to lightly hold the glass with your hand (just keep in mind that they have a solid weight). Slightly pulling the top of the glass towards you, take it out of the frame.
A new or repaired double-glazed window is installed in the reverse order. First, they put out linings – rubber plates that soften contact with the frame. Expose glass, aligning relative to the center – the gaps on the right and left should be equal.
Install the staples in place. But this time, they put the top one first, then the bottom one, then the side ones. The order of installation of the glazing bead is as follows: we start one edge into the groove, we start the second edge. We knock the middle with the palm until it clicks.
Replacing glass in a double-glazed window
Sometimes the repair of plastic windows includes the replacement of glass. It’s already 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 a workshop by asking for the edges to be sanded.
Then the double-glazed window is removed from the plastic window frame, laid on a flat surface. It is more convenient on the table, but it is also possible on stools. If you work on a table, cover it with something.
Then, with a sharp knife (can be wallpapered), silicone is cut around the perimeter. Then the damaged glass is finally separated from the double-glazed window and removed. In its place, a new one washed to a shine is laid, leveled. In size, it should match to the millimeter.
Next, cover the glass with silicone sealant (not acrylic). We insert the tube with sealant into the construction gun, we pass along the perimeter of the glass, making sure that the seam is filled evenly. We wait until the silicone dries, then we take an adhesive tape 40 mm wide, we glue the double-glazed window around the perimeter. The glass in the double-glazed window was changed, you can put it in place.
Removing blockages
Sometimes the fittings of a plastic window do not work correctly. The first time this happens, the window appears to be broken, although this is usually not the case. This situation can not even be called a repair. You just need to get everything back to working order.
Handle not turning
Sometimes, in some position, the plastic window handle “gets stuck” and does not want to turn. Usually the reason is the operation of the blocker. This is a plate that is located near the handle on the side of the frame. The shape of the plate is different for different hardware manufacturers.
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, by pressing on the movable part it is placed vertically, then the handle is turned. After that everything should work fine. Sometimes a plastic window blocker looks like a small tongue. We also press it, turn the knob to the desired position.
If such a “treatment” did not help, you need to check if the blocker enters the counterpart (in the photo above). Sometimes, due to heat or cold, inconsistencies begin. If the tongue does not reach the counterpart, you need to move it a little closer. The reciprocal plate is unscrewed (there are two bolts), a plate is cut out of white thin plastic the size of the reciprocal part of the blocker, it is installed between the frame and this plate. If the plastic sticks out somewhere, it is carefully cut with a sharp knife. The window should now close.
The sash hangs only on the bottom hinge
This situation occurs if the window is opened simultaneously in tilt and turn mode. We do not panic, leaving the sash open, we press the upper edge to the frame. Aligning the upper edge with the loop, turn the handle to the “open” position – horizontally. If it does not turn, turn off the blocker.
Close the sash, turn the handle down to the “closed” position. 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 through adjustment, and how to adjust the plastic window is written here.
We have described the most common problems with plastic windows, which you can solve on your own without involving specialists.