If the glass has fogged between the inner and outer panes, the glass units can be replaced within the existing frames. Over the past decade, several neighbors had success with Eastern Plate Glass Company in Pasadena, MD (410-761-8800) (not to be confused with Eastern Glass and Glazing!).
If the windows are leaking water, have your favorite contractor/painter/handyman remove the old, cracked, dried-out caulk around the outside of the frames and recaulk.
If the windows are leaking air or stuck and unable to be opened, try the following:
If you have screens, remove them by pushing the screen toward the side of the window frame, against the springs as shown here.
Once the screen is free of the frame, opposite the springs, gently pull the plastic tab towards the room and remove the screen.
Flip up both top and bottom latches at the same time.
Try to crank the windows open. Each crank should be rotated upward on the sides nearest the edge of the window frames (see photos below). Otherwise, you’re just cranking the windows more tightly shut and will be unhappy.
Rotate the cranks until the windows either pop open entirely, or maybe budge at bottom or top but not both, or maybe don’t move open at all.
With the cranks still pushing the stuck windows, and the latches still released, try carefully and gently pounding on the window with the heel of your fist (see photo). You can also use a block of wood and a rubber mallet. If you think you can use a regular claw hammer, you’re on your own.
If the window is still sticking, try taking a couple of thin putty knives (your neighbor has them), slide first one then the other between the window frame and the part that should be moving. This should be nearest the side of the window with the latches, and may be at the top, bottom or side. If you can get one or both putty knives inserted, spread the handles apart to pry open the window. If the window’s not heavily painted shut, it should pop open.
Once the window’s open, lean outside and poke around until you find, all the way around the fixed part of the window frame, the flexible plastic gasket that should be sealing out water and air (red arrows in photo). Don’t expect squishy; the plastic’s pretty stiff.
Take one of the putty knives, or a credit card, or your car’s plastic windshield ice scraper, and scrape the loose paint off the gaskets (see photo below). Don’t get obsessive, some of the paint will be stuck on pretty well. Don’t worry about that. But if some of the dried paint is in thick gobs, you might want to worry about that as the dried gobs may be slightly pushing the gasket aside as a source of air and water leaks.
Find an old, white, wax pillar candle. Rub it all around the surface of the gasket. This is especially beneficial when the window has just been painted. You want to leave enough wax to discourage sticking to the gasket by painted surfaces.
Looking down at the cranking mechanism, you’ll see three Phillips screws fastening the mechanism into the window frame (red arrows in photo).
If they’re loose, the window may not be able to close tightly. Gently tighten these screws. There may be the same screws located at the top of the frame as well. Check them as well.
After you crank the windows closed, close both latches relatively simultaneously rather than one after the other. Re-install the screens (springs towards the outer sides of the window frame). You just saved several thousand dollars for a replacement window. And you didn’t have to submit an ARC application. You’re welcome.
From Harbor Walk Happenings – October, 2018