ajbrown
05-15-2012, 12:50 PM
This thread is just to share information. If this helps other TOTV users that is great. In summary if your windows are hard to open and your home is less than 5 years old they may fix all windows for free.
We bought our ‘stick frame’ Wisteria home in April 2007. Our windows are double hung windows with white metal casing, not sure if this is standard for all homes or not. These double hung windows have spring loaded sash balances. IMO, these windows have never worked as smoothly as I would like and I always blamed it on the quality of the sash balances, but the windows worked good enough, so you live with it.
Recently we had an issue with one of the kitchen windows in our home. One of the sash balances broke, which prevented the window from opening and closing at all. Of course this happens as I was closing up the home to go to bed. I managed to get the sash back in enough so I could lock the home for the night. In the AM we called the warranty department to see if this type of thing was covered. I assumed no, but it NEVER hurts to ask.
Warranty explained that the windows and window seals were covered for 10 years but the sash was only for five years and we were just under the wire and should be covered. Our window broke and I called in time to be covered :22yikes:? This cannot be happening I thought. I must still be asleep dreaming that I called? There is no way I get this lucky......
As a test to be sure I was awake, I stepped on the bathroom scale and I was still overweight. At this point knew I was not dreaming.......:1rotfl:
They told us we would have to call Custom Windows directly to resolve. The person came and evaluated our windows and replaced all the sashes, not just the kitchen. Seems a pretty common with these windows and they handled it perfectly IMO.
He also told us that a little maintenance would be good for the sashes. Periodically opening and closing each window and a couple of times a year spraying the sash cavity with silicone.
The windows open beautifully now. Better than they ever did even when the home was new.
Looks like a pretty simple DIY job if you are out of warranty, but if your windows are a pain to open it is worth the call if your home is less than five years.
We bought our ‘stick frame’ Wisteria home in April 2007. Our windows are double hung windows with white metal casing, not sure if this is standard for all homes or not. These double hung windows have spring loaded sash balances. IMO, these windows have never worked as smoothly as I would like and I always blamed it on the quality of the sash balances, but the windows worked good enough, so you live with it.
Recently we had an issue with one of the kitchen windows in our home. One of the sash balances broke, which prevented the window from opening and closing at all. Of course this happens as I was closing up the home to go to bed. I managed to get the sash back in enough so I could lock the home for the night. In the AM we called the warranty department to see if this type of thing was covered. I assumed no, but it NEVER hurts to ask.
Warranty explained that the windows and window seals were covered for 10 years but the sash was only for five years and we were just under the wire and should be covered. Our window broke and I called in time to be covered :22yikes:? This cannot be happening I thought. I must still be asleep dreaming that I called? There is no way I get this lucky......
As a test to be sure I was awake, I stepped on the bathroom scale and I was still overweight. At this point knew I was not dreaming.......:1rotfl:
They told us we would have to call Custom Windows directly to resolve. The person came and evaluated our windows and replaced all the sashes, not just the kitchen. Seems a pretty common with these windows and they handled it perfectly IMO.
He also told us that a little maintenance would be good for the sashes. Periodically opening and closing each window and a couple of times a year spraying the sash cavity with silicone.
The windows open beautifully now. Better than they ever did even when the home was new.
Looks like a pretty simple DIY job if you are out of warranty, but if your windows are a pain to open it is worth the call if your home is less than five years.