vinyl windows are closing properly

[JamesBrasher]

Hello,
I have a ten-year-old house which I bought 4 years ago.
The windows are vinyl and single hung.
Some have one sash lock on them, some have two.
Of those with two, on about half of them, I can only close one of the locks.

There are no foreign objects blocking the windows from closing properly and with a couple of them I took the lower window out and removed all the moving parts. The window still won't get in a position where both sash locks can close. It simply won't fit.

The windows have been like this since I bought the house, I presume they weren't always.

Is there anything I can do to fix this problem, so I can close the windows properly this winter? Or else I will need to call the doors and windows company to check the issue.

I have spent hours googling these types of problems but none of the simple fixes work (balance system etc).


Thank you for any help.

 

[Gunny]

Sounds like they've gotten out of square, probably from house settling (and vinyl windows are particularly prone to show this problem) . If that's so, you'll probably have to remove and replace each window, re-square it up in the opening and fasten back.

 

[NTG]

I don't think you'd necessarily have to completely remove them. I'd check inside them with a speed square first to see if that's the obvious problem. If it's not too far out, you might just be able to remove the trim and then cut through the shims and the nails or screws holding them. Just running a kerf or two through there might be enough to relieve the pressure. Then you'll have to fasten them back however the window is fastened. But to Gunny's point, it may just be easier to take them out and rehang them. If you have to take them out, see if they'll close and lock when they're out sitting on the ground. If the house is settled a lot and the window is completely warped, yes you may have to replace them. Me, I'd probably take off the lower side of the lock, put a shim under that side enough to bring it into alignment and screw it back down as long as the window is tracking ok otherwise. Start with your speed square to see what you can see.

 

[TnAndy]

10 year old house, they are likely the original window. And yes, out of square is most likely.

Problem is, they most likely have a nailing flange now covered by some type of siding. The nails will have to be removed to square it back up, and that means they have to be accessed......so you may be looking at major PITA.

 

[kcflhrc]

A level will tell you a lot. More than likely out of square. When you lower the bottom sash you should be able to tell how it's lining up when you close it by eyeballing it.

 

[Gunny]

I've installed a few vinyl windows. I'd place the window, tack it in place to hold it while I tested up and down and locking -then shim if needed, check again and if all is still good, fasten.

The only houses I've installed them in where the framing was perfect enough to not need shims were new builds. I found most times that eventually I'd get a call about the windows and found the house had settled some. I was only able to correct very few without just doing it all over again.

My house is over 115 years old and it's probably settled as much as it's going to. My vinyl windows have been in 20 years and I've never had to do anything to them.

 

[cdaigle430]

So, fro me I am a troubleshooter and I would want to know why half my windows with double latches wont latch. One or two I can understand settling but not that many. I installed 18 windows5 years ago on my 50 year old home and they all open and close and lock like new. 90% of them are new installation because I wanted bigger windows while 10 are inserts.
What kind of foundation is your home on? Is this happening all year or just winter? Are some doors affected? Before you start squaring or pulling windows out you better make sure you don't have foundation or support issues.

 

[kcflhrc]

Also, sometimes, if the window isn't locked all the way into the track it will do the same thing. Start simple before you call a foundation expert.

 

[TnAndy]

Also, sometimes, if the window isn't locked all the way into the track it will do the same thing. Start simple before you call a foundation expert.

True, but mostly the top sash on double hung (OP has single hung, top sash fixed) because the top of the upper sash goes up in a track you don't see all that well.

I put some in for a lady who called me about mid-winter claiming 'these things are terrible....so drafty it blows my curtains !'....and sure enough, as soon as I got out of the truck I could see while they appeared to be locked, the lock wasn't engaging with the keeper in the top sash because the top sash wasn't all the way up. So I merely showed her how to close and lock the window.

 

[NTG]

Problem is, they most likely have a nailing flange now covered by some type of siding. The nails will have to be removed to square it back up, and that means they have to be accessed......so you may be looking at major PITA.

True, forgot about that.