Thanks to the careful care of plastic windows, you can extend their life. There are several important procedures that must be performed regularly. The effective prevention of plastic windows is described in the article.
Why is this required?
The main function of a double-glazed window is to preserve heat, protect the room from external noise. It should also prevent condensation from forming. Gradually, plastic and rubber wear out, usually due to changeable weather and a sharp change in seasons.
If you carry out preventive maintenance of plastic windows 2 times a year - in summer and before cold weather, then the service life of products is extended. Procedures prepare structures for changing temperatures.
Features
Prophylaxis of plastic windows must be carried out taking into account the following nuances:
- Now there is a special kit designed for maintenance of structures. It usually includes profile, glass and mechanism lubricants. Sometimes in itincludes a rust remover and a rubber gasket elasticity agent. But these funds can be purchased separately, which will be cheaper.
- Polyvinyl chloride is not as strong and durable as advertised. It is harmful to alkalis, acids, solvents and other aggressive liquids. The design is easy to clean with ordinary dishwashing liquid and a soft sponge. But abrasive compounds are not suitable.
- Any glass cleaner can be used to improve the appearance of windows.
- Moving metal parts are perfectly lubricated with engine oil.
- If you need a liquid to remove rust, then you can use an effective aerosol labeled WD-40. It is also used to lubricate window mechanisms.
- Rubber and polymer seals often deteriorate. The service life of these elements is 3-7 years. If you take care of them, you will be able to extend the service life. Therefore, in the off-season they are lubricated with silicone.
It is necessary to ventilate the room regularly. The PVC profile has a high tightness, so it almost does not let air in from the street. Because of this, moisture regularly accumulates in it. It manifests itself in cold areas in the form of condensation and fogging. In severe frosts, frost is likely to appear. To avoid this, it is required to reduce the humidity in the room with the help of regular ventilation.
Washing and cleaning
Do-it-yourself prevention of plastic windows is easy. Needs to be washed andclean glass and other parts of the structure: profiles, slopes, window sills. To prevent condensation and freezing of the frame, the drains on the street are cleaned with a brush.
You can wash glass, fittings and seals with warm soapy water. To remove dirt from the frame, special tools for plastic are used. It is necessary to pay attention to the composition. Due to gasoline, acetone, solvents, acids, chlorine-containing and abrasive substances, the profile deteriorates and the seal corrodes.
Grease
How to do the prevention of plastic windows yourself? In addition to washing, lubrication is performed. Silicone oil or glycerin is used to wipe the hinges, the handle mechanism and other moving parts of the fittings. They should be operated 2-3 times to check if they are working properly.
For prevention, do-it-yourself lubrication of plastic windows is done as follows:
- WD-40 is suitable for lubrication. It is necessary to open the sash and remove the dirt with a rag. Complex dirt is removed with a hard sponge or a special brush (not very rough, otherwise it will damage the surface).
- We need to lubricate the brackets, bolts and metal parts.
- For hard-to-reach places, a tubular spout is used, which is included with WD-40.
- If a lubricant in a bottle is used, then 2-3 drops of the substance are applied to each part.
This completes the procedure. Do not experiment with the means yourself. For example, sunflower oil is not suitable for this procedure.
The seal needs to be processed. When lubrication is done, it is necessary to inspect its outer and inner sides. Cracks and damage are the main causes of drafts.
Switching to seasonal mode
This is done with pins - small protruding parts at the ends of the window frames. They must be rotated to the right with a hex wrench or pliers - the pressure of the frame against the sash increases. And to the left, it weakens.
Windows in the summer, that is, with a loose clamp, allow more air to enter the room. And keep warm in winter. Prevention of plastic windows for the winter allows you to prepare them for the cold period.
Troubleshooting
Prevention of plastic windows is the timely detection of faults and their elimination. If the window handle is loose, you need to lift the decorative strip under it, turn it from a vertical position to a horizontal one, and tighten the screws for a good fixation.
It is not uncommon for the problem of sagging of the sash and poor closing of the window. To fix the problem, tighten the adjusting screw on the bottom hinge of the window. It can be found by removing the protective plastic cap from the loop. It is necessary to inspect the accessories for malfunctions and get rid of them before the cold weather.
Handle Replacement
Repair and maintenance of plastic windows can be done independently. A common problem is the breakage of the handle structure. The replacement procedure is simple and affordable. Mounting bolts are located under the decorative trim. It is under the handle. It must be rotated 90 degrees - and the screws will open.
In some products, the linings simply cannot be rotated. If you can't do it, don't try harder. It is advisable to pull the handle towards you a little, the pad will rise and turn easily.
You need to buy a new part based on the old one. Therefore, a broken pen is taken with them to buy a new one. It is installed in place of the old one. If you want to install an opening limiter in the new one, then you need to insert a special plate into the base, the ventilation regulator.
Seal replacement
Many people trust specialists in the prevention of plastic windows. "First Window Company" performs all types of work to extend the operation of structures. The seal is also replaced if it is cracked or damaged. Change it with the window sash removed. First you need to release the window hinges from the decorative caps. From the upper loop with pliers, pull the stem of the loop down. Then the sash is slightly deflected towards itself and lifted.
The sash must be placed on a horizontal surface and the damaged seal removed from the groove. The groove must be thoroughly rinsed and, after drying, lubricated with technical vaseline or silicone grease. The new seal must be cut along the length of the groove, leaving a margin of 20 mm.
The seal must be lubricated with petroleum jelly (silicone) and inserted intogroove edge. Then it is necessary to stretch the entire length of the groove, hold the end with pliers. The ends of the sealant are cut with a sharp knife so that they overlap each other - vertical and horizontal. The edges of the seal should be degreased with gasoline and fixed with silicone sealant. At the end, the sash is put in place: the lower loop is put on the stem, then the upper stem is finished off with a hammer. Then the position of the sash and the clamp are adjusted.
Mechanism adjustment
Prophylaxis of plastic window fittings improves the functioning of the entire product. It is necessary to adjust the mechanism of the structure. This work can be done independently. The main thing is to take into account that the screws are tightened clockwise, and unscrewed counterclockwise.
To determine where to move the structure, the frame, movable sash, seals and mechanisms should be examined for wear and clamps. This is the most important point. If abrasions are found on the plastic on the right, then the sash must be moved to the left. According to this principle, the top, bottom and other points of contact are adjusted:
- Movement to the right and left of the bottom of the sash is carried out with a screw, which is located on the bottom hinge on the side. To adjust, remove the trim, insert a hexagon into the screw head and rotate it in the required direction. When twisting clockwise, the sash goes to the left, and against - to the right.
- To adjust the upper part of the sash on the sides, you need to open the sash, where the screw is located not far from the hinge, which is responsible forthis procedure.
- The movement of the sash up and down is carried out with the help of a screw located on the upper end of the lower hinge. There is also a plug, it must be removed and adjusted. When twisting clockwise, the sash goes up, and against - down.
- In addition to the above method of adjusting the pressure with pins, this pressure is adjusted by screws located on the outer end of the sash. The number of screws is determined by the selected model, usually 2, but sometimes 3 screws.
- Sometimes you need to reduce or increase the gap between the frame and the sash in the ventilation mode. This sector is responsible for the adjusting screw, which is located below on the rod that supports the sash when opened for ventilation. Experts call the system scissors.
Thus, the prevention of plastic windows is the regular implementation of effective maintenance and troubleshooting measures. If they are carried out in a timely manner, the service life of the product is noticeably extended.
