To fix some of them you will have to call in professionals, but most of the breakdowns can be fixed on your own.
If used incorrectly, problems may arise with the window handle, then the consumer is faced with the question of how to open a double-glazed window without a handle.
The rough way to open a window
You can break a double-glazed window with a hammer, a brick, the heel of a work boot, or any other strong, heavy utility material. Stick your hand inside and open the door. This method is used if the house or dacha is located away from people, somewhere in the forest or on the outskirts. No one will hear the sounds of the break-in.
An experienced thief is unlikely to use this method, since no one needs the extra noise and will have to tinker with the double-glazed windows. Modern PVC windows consist of several chambers and you will have to break each of them in turn.
Consumables
In order to open the sash using improvised means, you need to find some consumables. The necessary tools and equipment, as a rule, are available in any apartment.
So, if you need to open a double-glazed window from the inside, you need to have on hand:
- a set of tools, namely four- or hex keys;
- straight flat screwdriver;
- metal ruler or similar object;
- a new pen if the old one is lost or damaged.
If it happens that the sash needs to be opened from the outside, it is advisable to have on hand:
- a thin plate or metal ruler made of metal;
- straight long screwdriver;
- drill;
- crowbar or chisel.
Important! It is recommended to carry out any manipulations with double-glazed windows carefully so as not to injure yourself or completely break the product.
How to open by pressing
It's time to talk about the design of a plastic window. The window has a fixed part - a frame with metal plates inside. The frame is attached to the window opening with metal anchors. The moving part is the glass unit itself. Attached to the frame using hinges. At the end of the window there is a metal plate with moving pins. The trunnion is driven by a handle installed from inside the window.
The number of trunnions depends on your order and the size of the window. The very first plastic windows were made with one pin near the handle. But the window did not press evenly, complaints began to arise and manufacturers began to install more trunnions to avoid cracks and freezing of the window in winter.
The window closing mechanism is as follows. By turning the handle, a metal bar with trunnions is set in motion. The window is closed when the trunnions go behind the metal plates on the frame. So, you can press on the place on the window between the frame where the pins are supposed to be. The plastic frame is flexible and can bend. Therefore, by using force, you can simply press the window away from the frame to the distance of the axle, so that the latter can be behind the retaining plate from the outside. The same operation must be done with the remaining trunnions. It is more difficult to press out the very first pin. A strong screwdriver, crowbar, nail puller, chisel, thick table knife and other similar tools are suitable for this method.
Difficulties and errors
In the process of opening a PVC window without a handle, especially when it comes to extreme opening methods, some difficulties may arise. The worst thing that can happen is that if you work carelessly, you can accidentally damage the double-glazed window , which will lead to unexpected expenses.
When carrying out extreme opening of the sash, it is necessary to ensure that there are no strangers, especially children, in the work area.
Well, the most offensive mistake that can happen in such a situation is using an extreme method of opening a window instead of a gentle one. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to first carefully examine the area of work, if possible, consult with a specialist, and only then take specific actions.
Pulling method
If the second method can be called dynamic, then this method is static. But strength will still be required. The pulling method is based on the window closing design. You can also move the metal plate with trunnions from outside the window. To do this you will need a thin metal plate or ruler, a knife will do.
The plate is inserted between the window and the frame. Driving along the window, the ruler rests against the trunnion. You just need to understand that the ruler rests on the trunnion, and not on the locking plate. Otherwise, your efforts will be wasted due to long and fruitless pressure. Having determined that there is a pin under the ruler, you need to apply force and press on it. The trunnion is connected to other trunnions through a metal plate. Therefore, by moving one pin, the entire mechanism moves. As soon as the pin moves below the locking plate, the window will open.
Design features of plastic windows
The standard filling of window openings is window products in which the sashes open into the room.
But there are options. For example, such samples in which the doors open outward. There is only one advantage of this type of opening - it allows you to save space in a small room, which is occupied by open window sashes.
This design has more disadvantages than advantages:
- when precipitation falls, the entire sash ends up in water, and although such sashes have special drains, this still negatively affects the fittings and the PVC profile itself;
- it is necessary to install special fasteners that fix the sash in a certain position, otherwise gusts of wind can simply break an unattended window;
- There are installation restrictions if the window opening has a quarter that prevents the sash from opening. A window with an outward opening, installed in a quarter opening, will be smaller in size than a window with a regular opening.
They are equipped with:
- the ability of the valves to be fixed in the micro-ventilation position;
- the ability to open in a folding version;
- double-sided handles.
An example of hacking a PVC window with Roto fittings in the video:
Opening mechanism
Since the release of the first samples, plastic windows have undergone major changes. Basically, the design of the shut-off valves changed.
The operating principle of a conventional window opening and closing mechanism is simple. The window handle moves the cylindrical slider (trunnion) along the edge of the sash in the closed position, placing it behind the bar fixed to the frame.
Before the modernization of the mechanism, the slider was singular and was located opposite the handle - this greatly simplified access to the apartment from the street through the window. It was enough to simply press the profile opposite the slider with a pry bar, and the window opened access to the room in a second.
But the presence of only one trunnion runner had a negative impact not only on the safety of the apartment. The negative phenomenon was that the sash was pressed tightly against the frame in only one place - where the trunnion was located. At this point, plastic's virtue of bending became its disadvantage.
By eliminating the loose connection, the reliability of the window has also increased in terms of safety. Now it has become somewhat more difficult to bend the pillar profile from the frame in order to open the window from the outside. After all, this action has to be carried out opposite each pin. In this case, you need to know the exact location of the trunnions, otherwise the arching profile will not pull them out from behind the bar.
You should know that in window mechanisms with simple hinged (without tilting) opening there are several trunnions, but they are all located not on different sides of the sash, but on one, which is located opposite the curtains.
Another way is to call the Ministry of Emergency Situations
This method is the easiest, but the most flawed. Firstly, the guys from the Ministry of Emergency Situations need a good reason for breaking the window. Either the children were left at home or the weak people. Otherwise, the Ministry of Emergency Situations will not go. Secondly, the goal is to open the window, not save it. That is, the window will be opened, but it will have to be subsequently replaced or overhauled. Again, the Ministry of Emergency Situations has a retractable ladder and they will be able to reach windows on high floors. In many cases, this method is the only one, since our houses grow upward, not lengthwise.
Closing mechanism
The door in a modern double-glazed window is locked with a very ordinary latch, similar to those installed on interior doors. It does not serve as a security element.
Then the sash is pressed out, and all you have to do is press the latch for it to open. It takes a little more time to “hacking” using an iron ruler or a plate. It is also inserted into the slot and brought to the latch.
Because the plate is narrow, this is easy to do. Then they pick up the device with a ruler and pull it down. For windows, this method is the least traumatic.
A metal-plastic window is easier to open than an old wooden structure. But if anti-burglary fittings are installed, the question of how to open plastic windows from the outside becomes much more difficult.
Typical tools for opening a window
- Ruler . The ruler must be metal with sufficient rigidity. School tin rulers will not work. The length of the ruler should be from 10 cm, width from 2 cm to 5 cm, thickness up to 3 mm. The main thing is that it fits comfortably in the palm of your hand to press the pin.
- Screwdriver. The screwdriver must be flat. Length not less than 15 cm, thickness not less than 5 mm. The main thing is that when you press on the window, the screwdriver does not bend and press off the plastic structure.
- Drill . The drill, as mentioned above, can be any drill that comes to hand. Whether for metal or wood. Plastic is a fairly soft material and any drill will make a hole in it. The length must be at least 3 cm. The number of holes will depend on the diameter of the drill. The main thing is that there is enough charge on the cordless drill.
Types of handles for plastic windows
Depending on the set of tasks performed, the following types of products are distinguished:
- Window handle without special functions. It allows you to easily control the window sashes.
- The handle is equipped with anti-burglary elements. The design of such fittings blocks the sash mechanisms and prevents the window from opening from the outside.
- Simple handles that can be quickly removed and installed.
- Handle equipped with a lock to securely lock the window.
- Handle equipped with a button. This mechanism is an alternative to a lock on a window handle.
- Double-sided handle. Such fittings are mainly used for balcony doors. It can be simple, with a lock or with a button.
Handles vary in shape, function and material
Ways to protect against hacking
Considering the ease of opening plastic windows, I want to somehow protect my home. If the windows are in an accessible place, then you should think about protecting them. Let's start with metal gratings. Reliable, but not entirely aesthetic protection. There are more aesthetically pleasing grilles - forged, custom-made. Beautiful, but expensive.
There are more modern protective structures - roller shutters. It is possible to install roller shutters with mechanical or manual closing. A choice for every budget. Any window can be made burglary-proof
Useful tips
How to strengthen doors and not provoke criminals?
Iron doors are the most reliable
The iron door frame must be welded around the perimeter to iron pins embedded in the wall, the distance between which is less than 700 mm.
The door should swing outwards
Install two locks of different designs (locking and mortise) on the door, at a distance of more than 150 mm from each other, also a personal internal locking bolt and an anti-burglary anchor system.
Mortise lock thickness
The thickness of the mortise lock should not exceed half the thickness of the door; otherwise, additional methods of strengthening the door leaf are required. Installing an expensive lock has less impact on the strength of the door, and in this case it is advisable to use iron plates.
The harder the key, the better the lock. The use of locks with multi-row security mechanisms is better because their security is significantly higher than that of single-row ones.
When placing door hinges on the outside, it is necessary to exclude the possibility of knocking out the axial rods of the hinges. Door hinges must be strong, made of steel. They should be fastened using self-tapping screws.
If you're leaving forever, ask neighbors to pick up mail frequently or sign up for a special mailbox at the post office. Store valuables in a safe deposit box.
In order to simulate presence in the apartment, leave the broadcast receiver on or purchase a special device that turns the lights on and off from time to time, imitates a conversation, or a dog barking.
If possible, install doorbells with your neighbors. If you open the door and there are strangers in the apartment, quickly close the door with the key, leave it in the lock, call the police and notify the neighbors. Don't try to stop them without the help of others!
Anti-hacking methods
Rough protection
Of course, “there is no trick against scrap,” but we must try. There is a special film that is glued to the glass and protects against flying objects. Yes, this is a car protection film that is sold in car stores. It's not expensive. Of course, it will not protect the window 100%. Rather, with film, opening the window will last longer for some time. But maybe this time is not enough for the burglar to achieve his goal. Disassembling shards of glass hanging on film is not a happy prospect. There are different films: from simple to armor-piercing. Such a film will not save you from burglary, but it will protect the window from objects flying into the window from the hands of hooligans.
Pressure protection
With this method, the window is pressed away from the frame so that the trunnion extends beyond the locking plate. There is anti-vandal fittings. When pressing the window away from the frame, the pin does not extend beyond the locking plate. The secret is all in the design of the trunnion and the locking plate. The axle is not made in a round or oval shape, but in a mushroom shape. The locking plate is not just a flat metal plate, but has a wavy profile.
When the window is pressed away from the frame, the trunnion clings with its mushroom-shaped shape to the profile of the locking strip. Thus, the trunnion does not extend beyond the locking frame. The window is not open. Special fittings must be agreed upon in advance at the stage of ordering window installation. The price of the window will be more expensive. If the window is already installed with conventional fittings, then the option of reconstructing the window is possible. The frameless window will need to be removed and new hardware installed.
Pull protection
Installing special anti-burglary fittings on a window is also suitable against the pulling method. Indeed, with this method, the attacked pin moves along with the entire metal strip and other pins relative to the locking strip. The mushroom-shaped shape of the pin and the curved locking bar will prevent the pin from coming out of the grooves of the bar.
It is possible to install a handle with a locking lock. The metal bar with pins cannot be moved with the locking device in the handle. You can also immediately order a lock in the handle when installing the window. Or reconstruct an already installed window. Installing a lock in the handle will also save you from the rude method of breaking into a window. After all, if you break a window, it is impossible to open the handle without a key. But the lock in the handle will not save you from the pressing method. If the trunnion and locking plate are of a regular shape. By pressing, the trunnion will come out beyond the locking plate even when the handle is closed.
Mechanical protection
Installing a security lock in the handle will initially prevent the lock from being opened from the outside. But, if the burglar goes further, he will have a metal drill of sufficient size to drill out the opening device along with the lock. In this case, a protective plate made of carbide metal is needed. Such a plate is installed in front of the lock cylinder from the outside and is securely attached to the internal elements of the window. But if a burglar suddenly has a working grinder at hand, then no security device will help. He just cut the window from the outside and takes it out.
It turns out there is a simple and cheap device that can make it much more difficult to break into a window, and maybe even save it from being hacked. These are ordinary bolts. One part of the latch is screwed to the movable part of the window, the second - to the non-movable part. It makes no difference which part belongs to which. In appearance, the latch looks somewhat rustic and does not fit modern apartment styles.
But there are bolts of modern design and color. This is exactly the option when it’s cheap and cheerful. It will be especially effective to install several bolts around the perimeter of the window. Currently, more modern protective fittings are offered on the market. The principle is the same as that of the latch. Pivot latches are drilled around the perimeter of the frame. In operating condition, the latches are closed and do not allow the window to open.
In what cases is it necessary
It often happens that a small child closes the balcony door behind his parents and responds to all persuasion to open it with a cheerful laugh. Or the property owner slams the front door himself, forgetting the keys inside. A simple draft with open windows throughout the house can also cause it.
In such cases, the person is lost and experiences a feeling similar to shock. In addition, the fear of damaging the frames and the lack of tools seriously limit the choice of how to enter the room.
Of course, the most reasonable thing would be to call the Ministry of Emergency Situations, but sometimes this is not possible. The situation is quite deplorable, but fixable if you know how to proceed and what available means can be used.
Safety double-glazed windows are a strong argument for a thief
Thieves, being unable to remove the plastic window sash, sometimes decide to break the double-glazed window. There are double glazed windows on the market today that make this much more difficult. A glass unit with burglary resistance class P4 consists of two sheets of glass, rigidly connected to each other using four layers of transparent PVB layer with a very high tensile strength coefficient. This allows it to withstand being hit several times by a steel ball weighing more than 4 kilograms, and even if the glass breaks, its fragments are held in layers of film. This solution helps to ensure that a burglar does not get into the house so easily. According to the police, a burglar gives up his intentions if he cannot gain access to the inside of the house within 3 minutes. Thus, a secure double-glazed window is a strong argument in the eyes of a thief to abandon his intentions.
Complete dismantling
If you have to remove not only the sash, but also the entire plastic window, then the process consists of several stages:
- Removing a window door.
- Sawing the frame with removal.
- Removing low tide.
- Removing the window sill.
It is worth knowing how to dismantle the door, because installing a new unit will not work. The work will require:
- chisel;
- large flat screwdriver;
- pliers;
- hammer.
First, the window transom is set to the open position
Pay attention to the junction where the loop passes, i.e. top of the window
From there, the sash begins to be removed using a small Phillips screwdriver and a hammer to carefully knock out the rotary shaft or spindle. Then the fromomug is pulled up towards itself and released from the fastenings.
If you cannot insert a screwdriver and knock out the spindle at the top due to the installed slope, then you should pull it out with pliers at the bottom
When working, it is important not to damage the coating on the plastic. This means that it is reasonable to lay down a plank or plywood and hit it with a hammer
Sawing of a structure with several cuts in a double-glazed window is carried out if it is not possible to quickly dismantle the panel. You can make 2 cuts for the width of the frame and 3 for the height. Then move on to the next working stage.
Removal of double-glazed windows. Using a cut, the frame is removed in parts, picked up by a hammer drill with an attachment, a spatula and a spray can. If the structure is mounted on bolts and screws, with the help of which it is fixed to the window opening, then you can try to unscrew them from the grooves. Next, remove the frame piece by piece. Interfering polyurethane foam can simply be cut with a shoe knife.
Removing the tide is a stage when you need to act extremely carefully so as not to damage the window elements. Especially when the ebb is separated from the surface of the opening. If the ebb is attached with bolts or screws, then they are removed first. Then the ebb is removed using a little force.
Dismantling an old PVC window sill is not difficult. The material is light and it will turn out beautifully if both the window sill and window blocks are made entirely of plastic. Dismantling is similar to low tide. If the window sill is made of wood, it is cut in several places with a hacksaw. Then it is removed piece by piece with a crowbar. You can try cutting it with a grinder.
It only takes 30 minutes for craftsmen to replace old double-glazed windows with new ones. Remove and install one door. But you can also carry out partial dismantling yourself if you have available equipment at hand. Situations vary. Perhaps the glass was damaged or cracked, there was a desire to install a new double-glazed window with the largest number of cameras and the best characteristics.
It happens that you need to remove the transom from the sliding structure on the balcony in the summer. In general, the dismantling process is not very different from a simple plastic window, if you know the main points and act in stages.
Doesn't close when ventilated
One of the most common problems. Most likely the so-called scissors have broken. Carefully turn the handle, while clicking the lock, if there is one. If turning the handle was successful, check the operation of the window in all modes.
The most common problem is that the handle does not turn down. The window does not open. Most likely this happened because the handle was pulled too sharply.
What to do:
- disable the lock
- press the blocker against the sealing part and adjust it parallel to the sash
- put the handle in the required position
- check the window functionality is correct
To avoid such problems in the future, try to make smoother movements.
Ruler, knife or metal strip against PVC window fittings
Plastic structures provide excellent protection from cold and noise, but they will not protect against penetration from the outside. In this regard, PVC windows are inferior to their wooden counterparts, which were difficult to open quietly without breaking the glass. A thin and durable metal strip or ruler will help you unlock the hardware if necessary.
As you advance the flexible ruler, try to engage the latch and move it out of place. If everything works out, the path is clear. This method has less impact on the window structure than squeezing with a screwdriver, so the chances of damaging the mechanisms are minimal
If you carelessly pull a metal strip across the plastic, scratches may appear, but these minor troubles will not ruin your mood when you have the opportunity to return home
Related article: Sink in front of the window in the kitchen
If there is a lock on the window handle, the listed methods will not work; there is a more radical method, but it will partially damage the structure. You will have to use a drill and drill a hole in the area of the locking device.
