How do you tighten up vinyl windows that stop "catching"?
Question:they are newer windows and they slide down after you put them up...some are just down right slammers..can you tighten them?
Answers:
Some can be tightened ,some can`t.
If you have exposed balances and they are of the tubular variety, they can be adjusted. Bad news is, it`s very difficult to do without a special tool.
If anything other than tubular, chances are there is no adjustment.
Either way it sounds like you might have a pro take a look at the problem.
call the people who put them in , there isnt anything you can do on your own
the balances in the tracks of the windows are bad and they arent something that can be tightened
B.
Yes but it is difficult to explain without graphics. Anyway here is a shot. Each sash, or glazing unit has 2 steal pins that slip into a sliding spring loaded mechanism located in each side of the jambs [ the 2 vertical members of the window frame]. The ones that slam shut have more than likely come clear out of the spring assist. If this is the case then the spring mechanisms will have retracted all the way to the top of the frame. Tricky part is to get the pins on the window into the spring assist mechanisms Lift the window about 6 in. and tilt it in. the spring will lock into place with a cam. Holding the window with your waist force one side of the sash upwards to release it from the spring so that the window will come out. Reverse the process to put it back. If the spring is retracted to the top of the frame then take a regular screw driver stick it in the hole where the pin goes. Pull the spring down until it is in a position that you can replace the window into it then twist the screw driver to lock the spring into place. repeat the process with the other spring and replace the widow sash. hope this makes sense and if you need to tighten the springs then just say so and I will try to walk you through that too. If you have any ? just ask.
Could be they were installed wrong. They are probably replacement windows. Sometimes, the installers tighten the screws that hold them in, too tight thus spreading the jams.
Before trying bene-- very good answer, look at the sides of the frames and see if there are any screws holding the windows in. Try unscrewing them one or two turns counterclockwise. If that does not fix them, do what bene says.
they have springs and catches on the sides, it's better to have a window company come out and take care of it for you. I looked at a house once where the windows had the same problem and I found out that the dumb contractor put sliding windows in and not single hung so no matter what we did they have to be ripped out and replaced.
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