How to remove an old plastic window from its hinges? Instructions

How to remove a double-glazed window with your own hands

Double-glazed windows in the window block are held in place by short and long glazing beads. They need to be removed in order to carefully remove the glass. It’s worth starting work with vertical beads, picking them up with a knife or a sharp spatula, connecting them along the entire length.

If the sash is an opening one, then dismantling is carried out directly on the double-glazed window itself. With a closing structure, you must first remove the block from the hinges.

All work is carried out wearing construction gloves. After removing the glass, the linings on the frame are inspected. Perhaps they have moved out of place by accident and need to be corrected. The dismantling of a double-glazed window is often carried out due to displacement of the linings, difficulties in closing and opening.

Installation of the comb (opening limiter)

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. A plastic window opening limiter allows you to do without such stands. This device consists of two parts - a bar with recesses and a pin. Because of its characteristic shape, the limiter is called a comb, clamp or crocodile. This is no longer a repair of plastic windows, but their modernization, but this operation can easily be done with your own hands.

This is what a 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 ventilation (see above). A lock is put on the removed handle (look at the photo). It is unfolded so that it sticks out of the window sash.

How to install a ventilation restrictor on a PVC window

The handle with the lock is installed in place. Now you need to screw the locking bar. For it you will need two small screws and a drill with a 1.5-2 mm drill.

PVC window ventilation limiter installed

We place the bar on the window frame so that it “clings” to the protruding stopper. First we apply it, check if it works properly, put marks in those places where holes need to be drilled. You must drill carefully so as not to drill through the frame. Next we screw the bar. That's it, the comb (lock) is installed on the plastic window.

How to remove a plastic window from its hinges

Plastic is reliable, durable with a service life of up to 50 years. But in order to replace or repair the glass unit needs to be removed from its hinges.

Actions:

• Unscrew the decorative plastic covers with a screwdriver and release the hinges from them;
• slide the bottom hinge down and open the sash slightly for easy access;
• remove the top loop by pulling it with pliers, then by the bottom part of the linings;
• disassemble the upper loop with a screwdriver, pick it up and pull it down using pliers;
• tilt the frame towards you and remove it from the bottom hinge.

When dismantling yourself, it is important to follow the rules and features so as not to lead to damage to the structure.

Rules and nuances

There are certain conditions for the job to be done correctly . They are aimed at ensuring that the dismantling of double-glazed windows is carried out taking into account the rules. The main ones:

1. 
   Dismantling should begin with preparing the premises.
   To do this, you need to clear the passage to the window opening - move away the interfering furniture, remove the floor coverings.

   If you cannot remove or put away, then you need to protect the items with film or cloth.

2. Two people should do the work. The dismantling technology is not complicated, but the weight of the glass unit can create difficulties during disassembly. This is especially true for large-sized products.
3. Before ordering a new double-glazed window, you should measure the dimensions of the old one. To do this, you do not need to remove it, just measure the distance between the boundaries of the glazing beads. After taking the dimensions, subtract 1.5 cm from each result - these will be the real dimensions of the new package.
4. Before removing the product, number the beads so that there is no confusion during installation.
5. Before starting work, it is recommended to strengthen the glass unit with masking tape.

Note. Also, all actions must be pre-coordinated with your partner so as not to damage the structure.

Can I take it out myself?

You can perform this procedure yourself. The main thing is to comply with all requirements and act as carefully as possible. It is recommended not to take risks during an emergency replacement of a double-glazed window. This happens when work deadlines are tight, when mistakes can be made in a hurry.

The second reason for calling a specialist is a violation of the geometry of the frames, which led to damage to the double-glazed window. And one more factor is removing individual glass from the package. It will be very difficult to restore the sealing of the double-glazed window to the original level on your own. Therefore, when working with one glass, it is better to invite specialists.

Preparatory work

During dismantling, construction dust is generated, so it is wise:

• cover the floor with dense material, for example polyethylene;
• free the room from equipment and household items;
• insulate walls and furniture with protective film.

Protect the workplace by pulling marking tape, which is important during large-scale work on replacing window openings on the street side in order to prevent construction debris and elements of the old frame from falling on passers-by.

Features of glass fastening

The glasses are hermetically connected to each other. It is very difficult to maintain tightness when replacing glass, so experts recommend replacing the entire glass unit, and not its individual elements. There is not the most ordinary air between the glasses. This may be an inert gas or thoroughly dried air. Such design features prevent the formation of condensation inside the windows. Many manufacturers place a special filler inside the structure - silica gel. When dismantling glass, silica gel is intensively saturated with moisture from the surrounding air, which it subsequently releases. As a result of this process, drops appear on the inside of the glass.

Manufacturers did not split hairs and invent a new way to fasten double-glazed windows. The basis was taken from the same fastening method that was used to create wooden windows many years ago. These are glazing beads. In our case, PVC is used for their production, as well as for the production of the frame. The beads are installed close to the frame, capturing part of the glass along its perimeter. To remove the double-glazed window from the window, you need to dismantle the glazing beads - this condition is mandatory. E

Tools

Independent removal of double-glazed windows requires the following equipment and tools at hand:

• pliers;
• putty knife;
• chisel, screwdrivers;
• knife with a folding blade;
• medium sized crowbars;
• hacksaw for metal and plastic;
• chisel, hammer;
• screwdriver;
• hammer drill

History of appearance

Soviet people first learned about plastic windows in the 80s of the last century. In the Union, polyvinyl chloride (hereinafter referred to as PVC) windows were not produced at that time - these were single deliveries from Germany. People were quickly able to appreciate the advantages of plastic over wooden frames, and in the early 90s, based on profiles imported from Germany, we began to produce plastic windows. The first such products were incredibly expensive; they were not accessible to everyone.

Over time, domestic manufacturers also learned to produce the main elements of PVC windows, which became worthy competition to their German colleagues.

In the struggle for buyers, the design of plastic windows is constantly being improved and undergoes various changes. Often, proper maintenance of plastic windows can only be carried out by a specialist who thoroughly knows their structural features.

How to remove a sash from a regular plastic double-glazed window

If previously old wooden frames were removed from the canopies by simply lifting them up, the situation with plastic structures is different. The sash rotates exclusively on the upper canopy, which must be pulled out by removing it from the rod holder.

Working stages of dismantling:

1. Close the transom so that it does not tip over while pulling the rod out of the upper canopy.
2. Remove the decorative panels from both canopies by picking them up with a knife, inserting the tip into the gap between the panels and the frame, and then remove them by hand.
3. Remove the rod from the upper canopy. Press the protruding edge with a hard object and lightly tap the tightly seated pin with a hammer.
4. Press with pliers and pull towards yourself when the edge at the bottom is visible.
5. Open the lock while holding the glass door with one hand.
6. Hold it with both hands, slightly lifting it up, removing the rod from the lower canopy.

Why film

Installing sliding frames on balconies and loggias allows you to significantly save space, ensures ease of opening for ventilation, but creates some problems in caring for them. Part of the glazing on the outside is simply impossible to wash while inside the room. Ordering professional treatment using lifts is expensive and difficult. That is why manufacturers provide the ability to easily dismantle such glazed structures in order to clean them from dirt accumulating outside.

Window elements are removed manually, but using the tools available in the arsenal of every home craftsman. To clean glazed areas, use special products recommended for their care.

Sliding doors also have to be removed for other reasons. For example, when debris gets into the opening, jamming, or broken fittings. Sometimes they are completely dismantled when replacing the entire unit. In this case, the order of work will be the same.

If the transom is folding

The canopies of the folding model are located horizontally, so you need to start the work process by disconnecting the limiters. Usually a lever is mounted at the edge on the window side directly on the door. You need to turn it so that the limiter bar comes off the slot on which it is held.

To remove the first stop:

• turn the lever clockwise;
• remove the bar by prying it up with a screwdriver.

For the second one, the scheme is identical. Next, nothing should interfere with removing the decorative casings, then the sashes from the horizontal canopies, removing the pins and opening the lock.

Kinds

Glass packages for windows can be of many different types and types. In residential premises, two-chamber options are mainly used.

But other types can also be used.

1. Packages containing the most common glass. Such structures are installed quite often, especially in industrial buildings. Moreover, its popularity is explained by its low cost.
2. Low emission. They let in a lot of light, but at the same time effectively retain heat inside the room. Constructions of this type are popular if the windows face the shady side of the building.
3. Highly durable. In this case we are talking about triplex glass. They are manufactured using special technologies. For example, with a strong impact, glass will not shatter into small fragments, but will retain its shape, but in the form of a web.
4. Soundproofing. Such glass is also of the triplex type and does not allow extraneous noise to enter the room.
5. Self-cleaning. Under the influence of ultraviolet rays and rain, all organic compounds that appear on the surface of the window as a result of operation are simply eliminated. For production, a special technology is used that allows the introduction of this property.
6. Sun protection. In some cases, on one side, the glass does not allow the sun to pass through and hides everything that happens inside from prying eyes, while the room can be viewed outside.

Other door removal methods

It happens that you need to urgently remove the sash in order to repair the ebb or update the external slopes. Of course, if the glass unit or window fittings are severely damaged, it is better to call a specialist. But overall the process is not complicated. And the goals of home craftsmen can be different or unforeseen.

To save on installer services, you can remove one door from a double-glazed window correctly and quickly. Then also install it back without damaging the integrity of the glass unit. The work will require tools:

• thin Phillips screwdriver;
• large flat screwdriver, chisel;
• small hammer;
• pliers.

Algorithm of actions:

1. Remove unnecessary items from the windowsill.
2. Turn the handle of the window block to a horizontal position.
3. Remove the decorative protective pads from the top and bottom hinges by prying them off with a flat knife or screwdriver. They easily click and jump from their homes.
4. If the edge of the pin from the spindle is visible from below, then you should pick it up with a screwdriver and press on top with a wide chisel.
5. Reach the spindle in the upper loop and grab the protruding tip with pliers.
6. Pull it out of the sleeve, holding the sash with your hands, because the upper hinge no longer holds it.
7. Remove carefully from the bottom pin.

Reassembling the window door in its original place after repair is done in the reverse order. But it’s better to work together, because... The design is heavy. It is difficult to get into the holes on the mounting pin alone and to correctly adjust the verticality and pressure so as not to disrupt the previous installation characteristics of the frame.

What varieties are there?

Window sashes for Euro-windows are grouped by type of opening :

1. Rotary with rotation relative to vertical hinges .
   Their advantages include the possibility of ventilation, a lower price of the product than that of tilt-and-turn designs, and they are convenient to clean and maintain. The disadvantages include a small number of pressure points, which can be a source of drafts. In addition, in order for nothing to prevent such a sash from opening, the window sill must be free.
2. Folding with rotation relative to horizontal hinges, open only from the top. The preferred design for small rooms, since the OS does not take up additional room space.
   The advantages of the design include the possibility of ventilation, the tight fit of the OS to the frame, which does not allow air flow to leak through it, you can use a window sill at the discretion of the owner, since it does not affect the operation of the OS.

   Disadvantages include low level of maintenance and inconvenience of cleaning glass units.

3. Tilt and turn - has two types of opening, horizontal and vertical, so it can open in any position.
   This design is the most preferable, since it has absorbed all the advantages of the previous two variants of sashes. Users cite the high cost as a disadvantage.
4. Non-opening , the cheapest option, saves the customer up to about 3,000 rubles per sash.
   Its advantages also include good light transmission and the ability to use a window sill in the form of a shelf. Disadvantages include poor functionality and maintenance, and the inability to ventilate the room.

How not to make a mistake in choosing?

After the block model is selected, the sash is selected primarily by opening type .
The most preferable option for both apartments and private cottages is a tilt-and-turn window with micro-slot ventilation.

Next, they pay attention to the PVC profile, and there are 3 classes: premium, standard and economy. The first ones are the most reliable, but at the same time expensive.

Important! The more expensive the profile, the higher the energy efficiency of the window unit, since thermal insulation is guaranteed by internal air chambers, and strength is guaranteed by metal reinforcement. In addition, the higher the class, the thicker the outer wall.

Easy removal method

If you need to repair a double-glazed window or remove the door to bring bulky objects into the room, then dismantling is simple. Especially when you have already had to deal with window installation or see how craftsmen work.

You will need a simple set of tools. To release one door:

• open the handle, find the loop in the upper corner;
• remove the pin;
• lift the structure up;
• remove after the fastening element has been removed.

Adviсe

When installing windows, the hinge design is chosen by the manufacturer, depending on the type of opening, profile weight, glass unit and fittings.

High-quality hinges guarantee long-term operation of windows. If necessary, the valves must be adjusted to avoid serious damage.

You can lubricate and adjust the hinges yourself. If the warranty period has not yet passed, and a defect is discovered in the window design, you should not solve the problem yourself. You need to contact the installers.

The sash hangs only on the bottom hinge

It happens that a double-glazed window opens immediately in a tilting and turning mode, and the transom dangles and remains in an open, hanging position. It is not normal.

To fix the problem:

• press the top edge of the door against the frame;
• combine with loop;
• turn the handle to the horizontal position – “open”;
• disable the lock if necessary if the handle stubbornly does not want to turn.

Often a problem with a plastic window occurs when the fittings do not work correctly. You can try the following:

• close the glass unit tightly;
• turn the handle down;
• check operation in all positions: closed, open.

Surely it's time to adjust the glass unit. Especially if dust or snow blows into the room.

What does a PVC window structure consist of?

A standard, rectangular OS consists of the following main components and elements :

1. The frame profile can be made from various raw materials and made in a Z-configuration. The upper convexity is responsible for mounting the glass, the lower one is responsible for pressing it to the frame.
2. Double-glazed window.
3. Accessories for the functioning of the sash.
4. An impost that divides the OS.
5. Beads securing the glass unit to the OS.

Important! In addition, the OS is equipped with a polymer seal in the form of a cord, which ensures the tightness of the areas where the sash is pressed against the frame, preventing drafts from entering the room.

The seal needs to be replaced

In some cases, the PVC sash is removed to replace the seal.

Step by step steps:

• remove decorative caps from the hinges by pulling them towards you or upwards;
• grab the door at the bottom with your left hand (it is better to do this with an assistant due to the considerable weight of the structure);
• remove the metal rod from the top hinge;
• press the pin with a regular flat-head screwdriver, inserting it into the gap formed, picking it up with your fingers and pulling it down;
• pull all the way until you feel resistance, although you don’t need to pull it out completely;
• grab the upper corner of the transom with your right hand, lift it slightly, pull it towards you;
• carefully remove from the lower rod.

All that remains is to remove the old seal and replace it with a new one. Before putting it back in its original place, it is necessary to lubricate and clean the lower hinge pin. When installing the transom back, the steps are carried out in the reverse order. In general, the process is not difficult. Watch the video.

Replacing the handle

If PVC windows are not adjusted and lubricated in a timely manner, they will close worse and worse. This happens smoothly and imperceptibly. You just constantly have to put in more and more effort to close or open the sash. Often they only realize it after the handle on the plastic window breaks. 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 you can change the handle on a plastic window, you need 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 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: the window can only be opened if you have a key.

Handles for plastic windows differ in shape and color

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. You need to grab the top 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 turned

There are two screws hidden under the plate. We unscrew them, pulling them towards ourselves, and 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, screw it with the same screws (the plate moves away in the same way) and put the plate in place, check the work. That's all. Replacement of the handle on the plastic window is completed.