Virtual Repair Center

In most cases a window that drops is due to the shoes coming off of the pivot bar. This is easily fixed following the instructions below:

1. Use a flat blade screw driver and insert it into the metal part of the shoe that has a “U” shape grove in it. The upright “U” is the locked position for the shoe. In the next step we will be “unlocking” the shoe to allow for adjustment.
2. Using a fair amount of force, turn the screw driver clock wise until the “U” turns into a “C” shape. This is the unlocked position shown in Figure 1.

   

   NOTE: The shoe is spring loaded. Make sure to hold the shoe so that it doesn’t go all of the way up. You may need an additional person to help.

3. Bring the shoe up 3″-4″ and twist the screw driver back counter clockwise to bring the grove back to the “U” or locked position. You can now remove the flat head screw driver that was holding the shoe as shown in Figure 3.

4. 

   Now bring the sash down to the level of the shoe.

5. With the tilt latch, tilt the window open as shown in Figure 4. Please ensure that the sash is level to the floor.
6. Press on the window near the shoe to force it into the shoe.
7. Close the sash.
8. Pull the sash UPWARD to ensure the shoe has engaged. If the shoe has engaged, you will need to repeat steps D through G. If the shoe is properly connected you will not see it any longer and the window will function properly.

   

NOTE: Do not remove the sash unless it is absolutely necessary.

There are many several reasons why you could be having an issue with your window locks. Please review the scenarios listed below to correct your locking problem.

1. Unable to lock the window. To fix this, unlock the window completely. Push the upper sash upward, as far as it will move and pull the lower sash to the bottom of the window. Once both sashes are in their proper positions you will be able to engage the lock.
2. The top sash has dropped from its pocket. Push the upper sash all the way to the top while pushing the lower sash down at the same time. NOTE: You may need an extra person to aid you. This should allow you to engage the window lock.
3. The sashes are not aligned correctly in the channel. Tilt each sash in as if you are cleaning the windows. Push both sashes firmly back into place in the window channel. This should align the sash and allow the window to lock properly in place.
4. Balance shoe is disengaged. If the balance shoe becomes disengaged from the sash, the window will not lock because it is misaligned. To correct this situation, please refer to the section on “How To Fix Dropping Windows.”
5. If the instructions listed above do not correct the problem, please contact us for further assistance.

Household condensation, or “sweating”, on windows is a result of humidity comes in contact with a cold surface such as a mirror or glass window, it turns to water droplets and is called condensation. This is perfectly normal and all homes will occasionally have some condensation on their windows.

Keep in mind that excessive window condensation, frost, peeling paint, even moisture spots on ceilings and walls can be signs of excessive condensation and possibly damaging problems in your home. We tend to notice condensation on window and mirrors first because they are not porous and moisture cannot penetrate these surfaces. This is an indication that you may have a moisture problem that needs to be addressed.

NOTE: Windows do not cause condensation.

You may be wondering why you see more moisture now that you have replaced your old, drafty windows with energy efficient ones. It’s simple really, your old windows were drafty and allowed humidity to escape. Now that your new windows create a much tighter seal, the excess moisture is unable to escape and therefore collecting on your windows. Again, windows do not cause condensation, instead they prevent humidity from escaping and provide an easy surface for condensation to collect.

Where is the humidity coming from?

There are many common things that generate indoor humidity such as your heating/air unit, humidifier, showers, etc. Everything you do in your home that involves water, like mopping the floors, contributes to the problem.

The condensation you see on your windows is more likely to occur where the outside temperature is much lower than the inside temperature. The greater the difference the greater the opportunity for condensation.

Reducing humidity is the key to reducing condensation.

The best way to reduce condensation is to lower the humidity in your home. So, how much humidity is too much? The following table illustrates the recommended comfortable levels of indoor humidity during the winter months.

(Indoor humidities can be measured with a humistat or psychrometer.)

Five Easy Steps to Controlling Indoor Humidity

1. Make sure all sources of ventilation to the outside are working. If bathroom exhaust fans, attic vents and laundry room vents are not working excess moisture is building up.
2. Air out your home periodically. Opening windows for just a few minutes a day lets excess moisture escape and the fresh dry air enter.
3. Check your humidifier setting. Make sure you are following the instructions for your humidifier.
4. You can even open your fireplace dampers to allow excess moisture to escape.
5. Do your best to not over-water your house plants.

Seal Failure is when condensation makes it’s way between the two panes of glass. This is very rare, in fact most of the time the condensation is either on the inside or outside of the glass.

To get started, let’s confirm your windows have seal failure. Seal failure occurs when condensation gets between the two panes of glass. Luckily, this is very rare. Most of the time, condensation is either on the inside or outside of the glass. Before filling our Warranty Claim Request Form, make sure to use a cloth and clean both sides of the glass.

If you still see the condensation inside after a good cleaning, it’s time to fill out the form. You must have purchased your windows with a warranty that covers breakage & seal failure in order for replacement to be available.

If your window is broken, you will also need to fill out the form. To prevent injury, we recommend that you tape the broken window with a clear duct tape while your claim is being processed.

Glass breakage and seal failure replacement is only available if you purchased your windows with a warranty that covers breakage & seal failure. Once your claim has been filed it will take 2 or more weeks to receive a new sash. While your warranty is being processed we recommend that you tape the broken window with a clear duct tape to prevent injury. We will notify you as soon as the new sash has been received.

1. Broken window glass
   While we don’t typically replace window glass or individual panes on their own, we may be able to help provide you options for an entire window replacement at a cost very comparable to, or even less than, what you’d pay to have just an individual piece of your window repaired for. You might be surprised. Ask your consultant what options you’ve got available. We’ll always be honest and straightforward about your options and give you a sound recommendation.
2. Can’t clean my windows
   This is one of the most common complaints we hear from our customers before they have Window World windows in their home. Unfortunately, in the past, windows weren’t made with some of the same technology and conveniences they are made with today. Whether big or small, long or tall, all of our Window World windows are easy to clean from inside the home. No more standing on ladders or reaching dangerously to clean your windows. Anyone at any age can easily clean our windows!
3. I feel air coming through my windows
   If you can feel noticeably colder or hotter temperatures right next to the windows in your home, relative to the rest of the area the windows are in, it’s likely that you’ve either got single-paned windows or double-paned windows without insulating glass in them. Both scenarios are making your home more uncomfortable and costing you a lot more money each month in utility bills. We have glass options that will remedy both unwanted situations.
4. My windows are foggy, and I can’t see through them
   Can’t see through your windows anymore? Can’t clean that moisture off of them because it’s between the panes of glass? This is one of the most common service issues, complaints, and reasons why a window may need to be replaced or repaired. Typically, you will see fog or moisture in your window as a result of seal failure around the glass itself. Keep in mind that this moisture and fog is inside the two panes of glass in your window where it cannot be wiped off. It is important to make this distinction, because this is separate from the scenario where you see condensation accumulating on the interior-facing surface of the glass on your window. That is an issue related to excessive humidity levels in a home, which we will cover next.
5. My windows have moisture or condensation on them
   Unlike the scenario where you see moisture trapped between the glass where you can’t wipe it off, if you have moisture or condensation on the interior-facing surface of glass on your window and you can wipe it off, you have excessive humidity in your home. Maybe this just started to happen or maybe it’s been occurring for a while, and is the very reason you’re in the market for new windows. To be sure you understand why this is happening, please make sure you visit the section of our website titled “How to Prevent Window Fogging and Condensation”.
6. I can’t close my crank-out windows
   Having trouble getting your crank-out windows to close all the way? Is the wood on the inside of your windows rotten? Unfortunately, if you have wood crank-out windows in your home, you may be experiencing these frustrating issues. As with any wood surfaces in your home, moisture has a detrimental effect on wood over time. It is extremely difficult, and time consuming, to properly maintain wood surfaces. Inevitably, over time, moisture warps, swells, cracks, rots, or otherwise damages wood surfaces. Generally speaking, vinyl is simply better than wood with regard to maintenance and upkeep. Without question, wood windows have their place. In some scenarios, you just can’t stray away from that classic wood look. However, most of the time, a replacement window made of vinyl is a much-appreciated improvement over its high-maintenance wood counterpart, and with Window World’s extensive design options, the look of real wood can be easily imitated to match existing woodwork around the rest of your home.

   You may very well have limited functionality or visual appeal on wood windows that operate up-and-down (single-hung or double-hung windows), but the functionality of a wood crank-out window can be more severely impaired than almost any other type of window. Because of its many moving parts and its need to close and seal tightly, the crank-out window needs to maintain very straight, uncompromised edges all the way around. However, over time, the wood sash frame of the crank-out portion of the window (the sash) and the part of the window that sash rests in can become distorted by years of moisture exposure. This alters the edges of the window, the seals in the window body, and even the size of the window’s components. Often times, this swelling, twisting, warping, and rotting ultimately renders your crank-out window unable to function. Once your crank-out is this far gone, there is usually not much to be done at this stage other than to replace the entire window.

7. The top or bottom part of my window won’t stay up
   If this is your complaint, then it sounds like you’ve got either a single-hung or double-hung window. These types of windows have either one or two sashes which slide upward and downward. On a double-hung window, both the top and bottom sashes slide up and down, whereas only the bottom sash is able to move on a single-hung window. Either way, if one, or both, of those sashes are not able to remain in the spot where you’ve positioned them, and simply fall or slide down as soon as you let go, then you’ve got a problem with that window’s balancer(s). Each single-hung or double-hung window has a balancer system, which allows for those sashes to stay right where you let go of them if the window is working properly. If this isn’t the case with your window, it may be time to get it replaced.

1. Do you have a drafty, hard-to-shut, or unsafe entry door or storm door?
   Many homeowners just don’t realize how worn out their entry doors and/or storm doors become over the years. Worn out components can result in your doors being out-of-square, hard to shut, drafty, or even unsafe. You may have an old wood door that’s been susceptible to the same moisture issues we spoke of above, and no longer operates properly. We have solutions for all scenarios, including the industry’s safest entry door, accompanied by the thickest and most secure storm door available on the market. Make sure you ask your consultant about our Therma-Tru Entry Door System, as well as our full line of Larson Storm Doors to compliment the entrance to your home.
2. Patio door isn’t sliding smoothly or patio door isn’t locking
   There are a few reasons why your patio door isn’t operating smoothly. Especially if you have a metal track sliding patio door with metal frame patio door sashes, you’ve likely experienced some functionality issues with your door. Operation problems aren’t limited to metal track sliding patio doors though. Wood and older vinyl doors may give you the same type of headaches. Vinyl window and door technology has come a long, long way in the past 20 years, so be sure and ask your consultant to explain!
3. Creaky, loud, garage door that doesn’t even keep my garage warm
   If your garage door is original to your home, and these symptoms sound familiar, it’s probably time for replacement. We have a huge selection of insulated, heavy-gauge steel garage doors with a variety of solid color and stain options. To ensure your garage door operates free from those irritating creaks and loud grinding noises, we can also outfit your new garage door with a super-quiet belt-driven opener as well!

1. I have rotten siding, woodpeckers are ruining my siding, I’ve got hail damage to my siding, my siding is faded, etc.
   There are many reasons why you may feel it’s time to replace the siding on your home, and many of the most common have just been named above. Whether you’re wanting to replace your siding for any of these reasons, or because you’re tired of painting your siding, or because you just moved into a home that has siding that’s just plain ugly, there are many options available to you when it comes time to replace what you’ve got. Maybe you’ve currently got a brick home, and you think it would look nicer with siding. Maybe you’ve currently got steel siding or fiber cement siding (commonly referred to as HardiePlank® or HardieBoard) on your home, and you want a better insulation value to decrease your utility bills. Regardless of your reason for looking into new siding, we’ve got virtually limitless options for you when it comes to siding profiles. Please visit our siding section of the website for a full list of available options. Don’t forget to have us take a look at your gutters and down spouts. If your gutters and downs are leaking, or if you’ve got water problems in your basement, you may be long overdue for replacement of your gutters and downs.