It can be really frustrating to try to open a window and find that it is not moving. Windows freeze for several reasons: the wooden frame has deformed due to humidity, the house has stabilized or someone has painted the frames and glued them together. With a little patience and some useful techniques you can open most locked windows.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Leverage
Step 1. Examine the window
Look at both sides, the inside and the outside.
- Make sure it's an opening window. Some new models that are installed in the office or at home are stationary. If there are no hinges or the window consists of a single panel that has no slide rails, it is likely that it will not open.
- Check that it has not been secured with screws or nails for safety or energy saving reasons.
- Make sure all locks are open.
- Look at the frame to see if it has recently been painted.
- Determine which direction you should open the window: up, out, or to the side.
Step 2. Loosen all the paint that "glues" the fixtures
You can usually open the window by removing any dried paint that has accumulated between the frame and the window itself.
Run a cutter along the edge of the window frames and fixtures. Trim the paint around the entire perimeter of the window. You will also need to check the exterior to make sure it hasn't been painted on both sides
Step 3. Insert a spatula between the window and the frame
Move it back and forth to loosen any dried paint that has built up. Go through all the edges, in order to unlock the four sides.
Step 4. Hit the edges of the window with a hammer to break the seal created by the paint
Use a piece of wood to cushion the impact and avoid denting the frame. Be careful as you hit so as not to break the glass. Aim at the frame and not at the glass.
Step 5. Push with your hands
Try to loosen the window, one side at a time.
- Apply pressure to each corner to see if there is movement.
- Gently press the window to open it a little at a time.
Step 6. Force it with a crowbar
Place a small piece of wood on the window frame to provide the tool with more leverage. Gently push the window up.
- Move the crowbar along the entire lower edge of the window to raise both sides.
- This technique could damage the wood of the window and door and should be used as a last resort.
Method 2 of 3: Lubricate a Blocked Window
Step 1. Rub the end of a candle along the guide on which the window opens
Sprinkle it completely with wax; this allows the window to scroll up and down, preventing it from locking again.
Step 2. Remove moisture from the frame
The wood may have swollen due to moisture blocking the opening. By drying it, you are able to open the window more easily.
- Operate a hair dryer by directing the airflow around the perimeter of the window for several minutes. After drying the wood, try opening the window.
- Put a dehumidifier in the room with the windows blocked. By reducing the humidity in the environment you can minimize the swelling of the windows.
Step 3. Use a block of wood and a hammer to widen the slide rail
If the window has wooden frames, place a block in the channel along which the window slides and tap it gently with the hammer to lower it. By widening the guide, you allow the window to move more freely.
Step 4. Spray some grease, such as WD-40, on the edges of the frame
Be careful when using these products, as they can stain some surfaces and damage certain types of paints.
If the window opens outward and pivots on hinges, spray the grease onto the hinges to aid in movement
Step 5. Open the window repeatedly
When you have succeeded in your intent, open and close it several times, to make the movement more fluid. If you notice any resistance, check the window and frame to make sure they are not deformed or damaged by water.
Severely damaged structures must be completely replaced
Method 3 of 3: Remove the Window Panel
Step 1. Remove the stops
These are small elements inserted in the windows that block the movable panels. Inspect them to understand how they are attached to the structure.
- Use a utility knife to remove the dried paint that "sticks" the stops to the window frame.
- Remove the screws holding the panel in place.
- Gently pry up the stops using a flat screwdriver or paint scraper.
- Pay attention at this stage, because the latches break easily; in that case, you will need to buy spares and put them back on the window.
Step 2. Unscrew each element on the panel
Remove any handles or latches you use to close the window. Check that there are no curtain fixtures or other accessories on the fixtures or panel.
Step 3. Tilt the top of the bottom panel inward
First, remove the bottom panel by tilting it towards the inside of the room. As you go, pay attention to the ropes that connect the window to the pulleys in the structure.
- Remove the string on one side of the window by pulling the knot down and out of the panel.
- Detach the second string on the other side by doing the same movement.
Step 4. Smooth the edges of the panel
Once disassembled, sand the edges to remove dried paint or reduce the size of the puffy wood, both of which block the window. Smooth the surface evenly, avoiding creating additional bumps or abnormalities that could make the problem worse.
Step 5. Remove the top panel
If you are dealing with a sash window, you can also disassemble the top panel. Remove any paint blocking the window to proceed with this operation.
- Use a paper cutter to cut the seal created by the paint along the edges.
- Slide the panel to expose the pulleys that are on the side of the post.
- Pull the right side of the window inward to detach it from the post.
- Remove the rope that connects it to the pulley inside the post and frame.
- Pull the left side of the window out and remove the string.
Step 6. Sand the edges of the top panel
Check them for signs of dry paint or warping. Smooth the perimeter to allow for smoother movement.
Step 7. Also smooth the internal part of the window
Remove any dried paint that has accumulated along the guides using a scraper and sand the guide.
Step 8. Reassemble the panels
Follow the steps described above in reverse to put the panels in place.
- Attach the cords to the top panel and thread it into the guides, one side at a time.
- Connect the cords to the bottom panel, insert the base first and then push the top.
- Put the latches back in their original position by locking them with screws or nails.
Advice
- Work slowly and carefully instead of applying too much force quickly.
- If you can't fit a crowbar between the window base and the frame, put two small screws in each corner of the base, letting the head protrude slightly over the edge. Use them to create a slot in which to insert the lever and force the window. This method can mess up the fixtures a bit.
- There is a special tool for removing paint from windows and it is available in hardware stores. It can damage the paint near the window and sill, but is a good solution when you need to unlock more than one window.
- You can replace the putty knife with a kitchen knife or a butter knife with a stiff metal blade.
Warnings
- Wear work gloves and safety glasses when trying to unlock a window, as the glass could break.
- If the house has been abandoned for a long time, has been damaged by a storm or other natural disasters, the window frames may be too warped to be able to open the window safely. In this case, it is necessary to replace or repair the entire structure.
- When you force a window to open, you can break the glass by lifting one corner too far in relation to the other.
