Today, many in search of comfort and warmth for their home prefer to replace wooden windows and doors with plastic. Such designs have many advantages, but there is also a certain feature: after some time, PVC products require adjustment. If you felt that the doors or windows began to close less tightly or require serious efforts, then the time has come. If the warranty period has not yet come to an end, the easiest way is to call a wizard who will do everything quickly and free of charge. Otherwise, panic is also not worth it: adjusting the plastic windows and doors yourself is a feasible task.
When is adjustment required?
An important point: PVC windows and doors have a similar mechanism (except that the first ones allow another degree of opening), so in the future all instructions will be given on the example of windows. In the case of balcony doors, the work is identical.
Understand that urgent and urgent adjustment is required by the following criteria:
- the window sash clings to the frame;
- opening-closing is associated with significant effort;
- the handles are loose or turn too tight;
- windows let in outside air even when closed.
The aforementioned signs indicate that the window is in an extremely neglected state, so it is possible that some parts may require serious repair or replacement. In order not to bring the matter to a similar outcome, preventive measures can be taken.
Determine whether they are needed, as follows:
- Slightly open the door or window. If, in the absence of a draft, the shutters close or open independently, then repair and adjustment are required.
- Circle the entire sash in the closed state along the contour, and then open it. Compare the lines and edges of the window opening. Ideally, they should be parallel. It is recommended to eliminate even the slightest skew.
- Take a piece of paper or newspaper. Then close the window so that the sheet is between the sash and the frame. Now, if you manage to pull it out without effort, it means that a small adjustment is required. Ideally, the efforts to remove the paper should be the same, wherever this sheet is.
Finally, the adjustment of the plastic windows is done in the off-season: in winter they try to strengthen the clamp, in the summer they loosen. Such adjustment helps to avoid rapid wear of individual parts of the closing mechanism..
Tool and basic adjustment mechanisms
For work, you need to prepare the following tool in advance:
- pliers;
- screwdriwer set;
- PVC gaskets;
- a set of hex keys and asterisks;
- roulette.
The main bolts used to adjust windows and doors are shown in the figure. To access some, you will need to remove the decorative caps.
Knob adjustment
First, consider the malfunctions associated with the handle (window or door - there is no fundamental difference here), and methods for eliminating them.
Repair of a loose handle belongs to the category of protozoa. Under the handle is a special decorative plug. It’s enough to pull it a little and turn it a quarter turn. This should be done with your hands, as otherwise you can scratch the material. A pair of bolts is hidden under the plug, which must be tightened a little.
In the same way, the handle is completely replaced: we unscrew the bolts under the plug, carefully remove the handle and insert a working one in its place. It remains to fasten the fasteners.
Most often, the problem of a sticking handle is solved by banal lubrication of the mechanism. It is made as follows: first, the handle is removed, after which the mechanism is cleaned with a vacuum cleaner. It remains to lubricate it. The best option would be a can of WD-40 liquid with a convenient tube that will help you reach all the difficult places.
If the handle turns noticeably tight, you should adjust the clamping mechanism. For this, from the end there are special trunnions. In more detail, this adjustment of plastic windows and doors will be described below.
Adjustment of clamping force of windows and doors
Rubber used as insulation and compaction may lose volume over time. As a result, cracks form, due to which not only heat suffers, but also sound insulation. A similar problem arises due to deformation caused by temperature changes in winter and summer. Often the seal is changed to solve, but in fact, the hardware design itself allows you to eliminate gaps without any replacements.
The key elements are small cylinders, which are located on the side of the window or balcony door in the slots of the plugs. They are called trunnions or eccentrics. Directly opposite them in the frame is a mechanism for which they engage. To adjust the pressing force, it is necessary to adjust either the trunnion or the clamping mechanism - it all depends on the model of accessories.
In order for the sash not to be pressed so hard, the elongated part of the eccentric rotates towards the outer surface, for reinforcement - towards the inside. The method of adjustment varies from the manufacturer of the accessories, but the principle is general: the trunnion has a special slot for a key or screwdriver. In some cases, to rotate, you will need to slightly retract the trunnions onto yourself using pliers. It is necessary to act extremely carefully - there is a risk of damage to the mechanism.
In some cases, the cylinders themselves are not amenable to adjustment - in this case, it remains to adjust the position of the counterpart. In such accessories, it is attached with a pair of bolts. It is necessary to loosen them a little and then move the hook in the right direction.
Canopy adjustment
The following applies exclusively to windows with a fanlight system (it helps to open the window for a little ventilation). On the door, such a system is most often not installed.
Before proceeding with the setup, you will need to remove the decorative platband on the mount. On the mount itself there are several bolts - they are used to set the position of the sash relative to the frame. First, pay attention to the bolt that is perpendicular to the plane of the glass. The design is adjusted when the windows are in a closed state. Adjustment is made with a hex key - it rotates left and right to achieve the desired location.
To fix the upper part of this design, not ordinary hinges are used, but a special system known as “scissors”. Those who want to get to the adjusting bolts will need to open a window. Next, you have to act almost to the touch. On the side surface at an angle to the insulation is a clip that plays the role of a blocker. After pressing (clip slightly springy), it is necessary to set the sash in the ventilation mode. If everything is done correctly, she will hang on the “scissors” and the lower canopy. It remains only to adjust the pressing with a bolt (its location is most easily estimated from the photo). The setup process is exactly the same as in the case of trunnions.
The edge of the sash window or door touches the frame
A similar problem can be encountered if the windows are often open: the fastening of some parts of the hardware is weakened or they themselves are deformed. Critical damage cannot occur, but the problem is solved by adjusting the position. The easiest way is to look at the manufacturer’s logo on the hardware and find a detailed guide on the official website. However, there are a number of general rules:
- If the sash is skewed from the side of the handle in the lower part, it is lifted towards the upper mount.
- If it touches the upper part, it is turned towards the lower canopy or completely lowered down.
- If it touches the handle area, the sash is shifted towards the canopy.
Special bolts with a hexagon head are responsible for the adjustment. They are located on the “scissors” system and in the lower part of the canopy. If the balcony door is skewed, everything will be a little more complicated - it is additionally equipped with closers that will have to be adjusted in parallel.
The sash height and horizontal movement of the lower part are regulated by bolts located on the lower canopy. You can get to them by removing the platbands. The key is inserted inside the part - the required bolt is hidden in its very depths. The flap rises during rotation to the right and lowers if rotated to the left.
The tilt adjustment is similar, but a different bolt is used. The sought-after is located at the very bottom, it is located parallel to the canopy itself. Manufacturers have provided just two ways to get to the desired bolt. From the side of the sash, it is easier to approach the bolt if the sash is fully open. Otherwise, the second option is preferable. The adjusting bolt also rotates left or right to move the lower part in the same direction.
Important: experts recommend controlling the results of work more often - approximately every half-turn. This will help not to overdo it..
Finally, you can move the top with the help of a bolt located on the mechanism of “scissors”. You can only get about it if you open the window completely. You can find the desired hole on the side - it is slightly recessed. Further, the same thing - turn the bolt clockwise or counterclockwise, periodically monitoring the process. After this, it remains only to put the platbands in place and collect the instrument.
Conclusion
As you can see, self-adjustment of plastic doors and windows is quite a simple matter. Even a layman can handle this. Fortunately, if you act carefully, it will not work to damage anything. If you encounter any difficulties, you can always get acquainted with the information on the manufacturer’s official website - you may be dealing with any non-standard fittings with their own characteristics.