Make Your Windows Like New! <$100!

No, it's not some sleazy ad for a gimmick! We have rehabbed our original windows and thought I would pass along the info for this inexpensive fix.

We have Patriot windows, installed by our builder, Ryan Homes, when the house was built in 1999. Over the years, they've gotten tired and lazy: hard to open, won't stay open, noisy when opened/closed.

We knew this was mostly due to the sash springs failing, so we took apart one window to investigate. Turns out, the springs are fine - it's the "shoes" that have disintegrated. Fortunately, a cool online vendor, Swisco www.swisco.com, carries replacement parts for these windows (and many others). They also have some great videos with instructions on how to fix this yourself.

In short, you need to replace the gizmo that holds the bottom of the window and slides up and down in the track - the shoe. These are plastic, so as they get old and brittle, the tension from the spring causes them to crack and break, so the spring comes loose. We ordered new shoes and a spring winder from Swisco.

Hubby removed the old shoes and springs, cleaned the track, and cleaned and greased the springs. He then installed the new shoes and replaced the springs - cranking some tension and clipping them back on the shoes. Reinstall the window and WOW! it's like new! Easy to open and stays open!

To do all 18 windows in our place cost $81.66. Sure beats buying replacement windows.

If you want more details, hit my inbox.

 

We also went through this .....replacing all the parts of our incredibly cheap, inefficient windows.
A few years back, we replaced out windows with modern, vinyl clad, low-E windows. What a difference!
The house is more energy efficient, quiet, and the windows slide up and down easily with one finger.
Had I known years ago what I know now, I would have done it many years ago.

 

Thanks for the info. I did a similar repair in a house we owned in Baltimore, but lost the link to parts and supplies.