Handles for plastic windows: how to repair and replace them?

Plastic windows are gaining increasing popularity, and therefore the quality of these products is being improved, but there are some elements that can make the operation of the product problematic. Poor-quality hardware will impede the process of opening the window and its full use.

Handles for metal windows have a fairly simple structure, which at the same time makes it easy and comfortable to use them. The metal rod is filled with plastic in the desired form, which gives the finished product. This production version becomes an advantage, because it allows the handle to be:

• as strong as possible;
• reliable;
• durable;
• wear-resistant, even with very frequent use.

The handle is resistant to mechanical, physical and chemical type, they are not afraid of blows, the best UV exposure, heating, the use of household chemicals in the cleaning process.

If we talk about the metal from which the base is created, then this is galvanized steel. This choice was made thanks to good wear resistance in long and active use. To protect this metal base, it is placed in PVC coating, which gives the handle a complete look, making it more comfortable and beautiful.

Choosing accessories for a plastic window, you should evaluate its quality, appearance and performance. If there are any, even the most minor defects in use at the time of installation, you need to pay attention to it, correct the installation or change this element. External characteristics of PVC fittings may differ, which helps to choose the option that is appropriate in a particular room.

If the window is made in a standard color scheme, then the handle should be white, in order not to stand out, but to create a finished composition.

The structure of all the handles for plastic windows is the same, but there are small differences in appearance. Since there are a lot of manufacturers of these products, everyone wants to win his buyer, and therefore makes his products a little different. From differences it is possible to note such:

• the variety of the handle itself - its shape may have a straight, curved outline or the presence of grooves for fingers;
• various options for a cap that closes fasteners;
• color variations of products.

When choosing a handle for a plastic window, it is important to pay attention to the quality of the plastic with which the product is coated, because this is the first indicator of the duration of operation. It is better to choose products of well-known brands that have proven themselves in the market for these products, although their value is usually slightly higher than the products of those firms that are just emerging.

The price will also depend on the color - standard whites are cheaper than any color counterparts. And the last criterion that affects the appearance and cost is the presence of a lock in the product, which helps to block access to the opening elements, which is especially important for those who have children.

In order to maximize the possibilities of an ordinary handle from a window, Various additions were invented that led to options such as:

• The ability to protect the premises from penetration inside. To avoid outside interference, it is better to install a reinforced hardware kit, which differs from the standard one by the presence of a reinforced aluminum alloy. Handles that are installed on such windows must have locks that can be opened only with a key.
• Protective mechanism for child safety. Such a variant of the fittings involves installing a handle with a button that must be pressed to use the opening part of the window. It is not difficult for adults to do this, and for kids this option will become an obstacle to exploring the outside world outside the apartment.

• The ability to install the handle outside and not indoors. In this case, the appearance and structure of the product will be different. Instead of plastic that covers the core, the outer handles use a mixture of acid and metal oxide. Such products are additionally protected from moisture, which will affect them all year round. Paint in this case is used powder, which helps to increase the service life of the handle.

When choosing a handle for plastic windows, it is important to pay attention to all sorts of details that can say a lot about the quality of the product. Let the metal component remain invisible, under a layer of plastic, but even the top cover helps to distinguish a quality product from a bad one.

If there are damages on the body of the handle, even the smallest ones, such as scratches or cracks, then this indicates a poor quality plastic. The presence of yellow spots on the product may indicate prolonged storage in inappropriate conditions, which will also lead to a negative result during use.

Buying a handle for PVC windows in hardware stores, you can ask for a quality certificate for any product; if there is one, you can safely take the goods without fear of a poor-quality option. When a purchase is made at spontaneous points or even is made out via the Internet, it is often impossible to verify product certification. To make the right choice, you should know a quality brand or a manufacturing country that has established itself in the industry. The sales leader is Turkey and a number of developed European countries.

Installing the window of one brand and manufacturer, it is not necessary to put the same accessories, because sometimes it happens that the company does the main product well, but the smaller components make it worse, and vice versa. When making a choice, it is important to consider all the nuances. Selecting the handle to the window, you need to clearly understand what needs to be put, what appearance the product should have and what functions it should have.

If there are children in the house, you cannot do without a lock or lock button, because this is a guarantee of their safety. The use of such additional elements makes the use of the window a little more difficult, but it helps parents feel confident if the children stay at home themselves.

The invention of plastic windows has become a real revolution in the window world, because instead of two frames that were difficult to open, wash and care for a large number of glasses, one thin and light construction is now put. Instead of constant drafts and insects that made their way during the warm season, now the room is warm, cozy and comfortable. A great advantage is the excellent sound insulation, which allows you to almost completely remove the noise of the street with a tightly closed window.

The window opening system has also completely changed compared to the old one. If earlier it was necessary to climb into the uppermost part of the window in order to reach the small latch, now it is enough just to use a convenient handle, which is located in the middle of the window. It is quite large, it can be used by people of any height and strength, but for kids opening the sash will be a problem.

Different positions of the handle allow for different use of the window.If it is directed downwards, it means that the frame is completely sealed and air from outside is not entering the room. When there is a desire to ventilate the room, not allowing significant heat loss, the handle is set to the ventilation mode, for which it rises completely up. If it is summer outside and it is necessary to regularly ventilate the room with a large exchange of air masses, then for this one window sash is completely torn off, for which the handle is retracted to the right, setting in a horizontal position.

If you choose a more progressive set, then there will be additional options for the ventilation mode, which will allow you to more accurately control the amount of air that goes inside. This is especially true in very frosty regions, where the issue of heating of residential premises is particularly acute and important to save heat, but at the same time let the air masses move and change to fresh ones.

Having established a plastic window at home, it is important to consider all the nuances that can be encountered in the process of using them. For the adult population, such an innovation will only benefit, because the ease of use and the different options for opening the sash make new designs more versatile. But in the case when there are children at home, it is important to consider a protection option for them, especially if it is a multi-storey building.

You can install the outside metal grill, but it is quite expensive and not too beautiful. There are more convenient options. The use of locks that are mounted on the window parts help to block the movable element, which will not be accessible without a special key. There are already quite a lot of such locks, which is connected with fears not only for the life and health of the little tenants, but also for the safety of the dwelling and its protection from burglars.

To date, there are seven types of locks that can be used on plastic windows. Some of them work with the key.

Other options have the following principle of operation:

• Sliding Case Lockwhich has the form of two small structures located on the movable and deaf part of the window. Between these elements there is a cable that can set the length to which the window can be opened.
• Mortise lock system, which is mounted at the bottom of the frame and allows you to completely block the rotation of the movable part for opening.With it, you can freely ventilate the room without fear for the life of the baby.
• Use of comb-lockwhich looks like small blocks located anywhere on the frame. In one element there is a strip of plastic or metal that has notches, and the second part is a kind of constipation, which together allows you to set the opening width of the window so that it is comfortable and safe. This option is considered one of the least reliable.

• Using lock sockets involves the use of not ordinary pens, and removable designs. This option is very easy to use and is the least expensive. The handle must be out of the reach of the child. It is better that the baby did not see where adults take it from.
• Option padlock It is very similar to the mortise, but is, as it were, its simplified version, because instead of being inside the frame it should be screwed to it. The opening sash is blocked with the aid of a handle or a hinge provided by the mechanism. It is an inexpensive, practical and reliable way to ensure the safety of the room where children are.
• The presence of the castle blockade allows you to lock the window sash with two parts that need to be installed under the loop of the sash itself. Both parts are connected by a strong jumper, which does not allow to open the window. To remove such a block, you need to press a special button. Some options include a button, which is also supplemented with a key, without which the unit will not be removed, which is important in the case of very bright and curious children.

• Using the lock on the handle itself allows you to perform all the above actions using the same handle, but with a lock built into it. Such products may have a lever with a lock that opens when the button is pressed or a small lock is built into the handle itself, which is opened with the help of a small key. It is important to keep it out of the reach of children and know exactly where it is located.

It is quite simple to choose a protective option for a metal-plastic window, because practically everyone is a good and reliable way to protect the house from external invasion and from attempts to get outside without permission. The choice will be justified only by ease of use, analysis of the situation and external aesthetics.

Having a plastic window at home, sometimes there are situations when repairing some parts of the structure is necessary. Hardware most often suffers, because the entire main load goes on it. That is why the repair of pens becomes the first question that has to be solved by hand. To remove a broken or damaged item, it is important to know how to properly disassemble it, after which you can assess the degree of damage and the ability to repair everything yourself.

To dismantle the handle, do the following:

• Find the plate that is in the place of fastening the product to the frame. It must be rotated to a horizontal position.
• Under the plate there are bolts that need to be unscrewed with a Phillips screwdriver. Before you unscrew the handle, you need to put it in the position of the open sash.
• When the fasteners are removed, you can pull the handle out of the frame. It is necessary to wipe it well from plaque and dirt, so that you can understand the cause of the problem.
• If you managed to fix the problem, you can carry out the installation in the reverse order. If the pen is badly damaged and needs to be replaced, then a new element is purchased and mounted on the window frame.

The process of replacing equipment on plastic windows is not complicated, the main thing is to follow the instructions correctly, and after some time, instead of a non-working element or problem use, the sash will be mobile again, convenient and easy to use.

At home, quite often something breaks down and fails, and many immediately resort to the help of professionals, although there are things that can be changed on their own without any unauthorized persons. When it comes to plastic windows, repairing them may seem complicated and unaffordable for the average person, but this is not the case. Thanks to the simple design of the product, anyone who knows at least a little what he is dealing with can do anything with it.

Much more delicate work concerns the fittings, on which the performance of opening elements depends, which is central to the use of the window, especially in the hot season. If you need to replace the pen and put a new one, then the algorithm of actions is quite simple. The process is that the old product is removed and a new one is installed instead of it, which has the appropriate characteristics.But behind all this simplicity there are certain nuances that are important to know.

If you find any problems in using the handle, you should take a closer look at them and, if necessary, replace the product.

The reasons that it is time to change the handle may be such problems:

• strong wear of the lock handle;
• significant mechanical damage to the product;
• improper operating conditions.

If there are no above reasons, but it is felt that PVC window fittings do not fully fulfill their functions, you can pay attention to such factors as:

• freezing of windows in the winter;
• seal failure;
• a large amount of dirt and dust in the room with the windows closed;
• the presence of tangible drafts.

The process of replacing the handle is necessary in case of breakage of the plastic part or the appearance of a cracked case, which entails a problem in use and the appearance of undesirable phenomena such as drafts and dust.Being engaged in the installation of a new handle, you should have with you not only the product itself, but also a screwdriver with which it will be installed on the frame, hexagons, pliers and lubricant.

As soon as the cause of the malfunction in the handle was found out and the decision was made to change it, it is necessary to act in a certain sequence. Initially, old equipment is removed so that you can buy a product of exactly the same size. When the product is purchased, it is enough to simply put it, because all the details are exactly on the old points and screwed with a screwdriver.

Repair of the plastic window handle can be made not only due to obvious damage to the outer part of the product, but also because of problems with operation. It is possible to repair an incorrectly working part only after finding out the exact cause of the breakdown. The most common problems that users of PVC products may face are the following.

This happens when the flap is in one position and the handle itself is in the other. If the product does not turn and does not return to the correct position, it is important not to put it in place by force, this will only aggravate the situation. Sometimes this problem happens when the window is closed. But it so happens that the handle is jammed in the open position of the sash, which is highly undesirable when it is cold outside or heavy rain.

In this case, it is important not to panic, but quickly correct the situation. Most often, such failures are due to the rapid and abrupt transfer of the sash from one position to another, which can trigger the locking mechanism to work at the wrong time.

In the normal state, the product must be walked easily enough to open the pack or put it into the ventilation mode.If the pen does not scroll or goes very tight, then it is obvious that there are some problems. The cause may be a dried lubricant or sagging sash. In the first case, you should try to lubricate the handle with a universal or special grease, which should be poured into moving parts, after which you need to move the handle so that everything is evenly distributed inside. This is usually enough for everything to work properly.

If the problem is not fully resolved, it is possible that the reason is dirt, which can only be removed by completely removing the handle. In the second case, it is necessary to adjust the position of the sash, which is possible with the help of adjustment screws. Clockwise the product can be lifted and counter-lowered.

After some time, it will be possible to notice that the sash does not close completely. If the pen really got loose, then fixing such a problem would be easy.To do this, you only need to tighten the bolts that are under the plastic cap, which is in contact with the frame. To get to them, you only need to rotate this plastic element in a horizontal position and you can start work.

If in the process of using a plastic window some problems begin in its operation, then you should pay attention to it at an early stage, while the cause is minimal, and the consequences do not threaten the integrity of the frame itself and its functionality. Hardware most often suffers, but even if the handle broke, there is nothing easier than buying a new one. It is in any case cheaper to buy and install a new window.

The procedure for installing and replacing the handle on the plastic windows, see the following video.