Spring UPVC window hinge maintenance

[Itsallaguess]

A bit of regular spring window-maintenance for me this morning, where another winter of damp weather has conspired to stiffen our most-used UPVC window-openings.

Twenty minutes with a tin of silicone-spray, and I've done all the windows in the house, and what a difference it makes to those hard-to-reach ones that we use regularly.

I've had a tin of Soudal Silicone Spray in the garage for years, and it's surprising just how handy it can be for quite a few jobs around and outside the home. For a job like this, where it's important to get just small amounts of silicone into the hinge slider-channels that we're interested in, a tin with an associated straw-attachment is important, and for this I'd recommend either Soudal or WD40 -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Soudal-SP400-400-Silicone-Spray/dp/B00ILY1TU2

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/engine-oils-and-fluids/lubricating-and-penetrating-oil/wd-40-specialist-high-performance-silicone-lubricant-250ml-366309.html

Opening each window to gain access to the hinge slider-channels, I then spray just a really small amount at each point either side of any sliders, as highlighted on the picture below -



Source - https://www.getenergysavvy.info/post/simple-upvc-window-maintenance-energy-save

A brief touch on the spray-nozzle is really all it needs - and we're looking to just distribute a thin film of silicone into each section of channel.

Opening and closing the window between each separate application allows the silicone to be evenly distributed along the whole section of used channel, and whilst doing so it quickly becomes obvious how beneficial this little bit of window maintenance is, as you again realise just what a detrimental impact our wet and blustery winters have on these often-exposed hinges.

A quick, simple job that rapidly makes a real difference to the operation of UPVC windows that will hopefully get some heavy use over what we hope will be a nice, warm summer...

Cheers,

Itsallaguess

[kiloran]

Source - https://www.getenergysavvy.info/post/simple-upvc-window-maintenance-energy-save
.......over what we hope will be a nice, warm summer...

Itsallaguess

A warm summer which will make those weeds between your paving slabs grow even more quickly. Looks like your next job is lined up

--kiloran

[Tedx]

My hinges are at the top

Also wander around with a can of WD40 (with a straw) and a rag skooshing into front door lock (never used these days - but always handy to keep lubricated just in case!), back door, shed padlock, gate padlock and car doors.

I think it was last year the wife got a friend who had a small business which partly invloved servicing double glazing units and doors to come around and give them an overhaul. I was up to my neck in work anyway so was happy it wasn't me doing it, but what a difference he made. Especially the little used windows and locks which were so smooth after he had finished and all the dips, bumps and gullies had been thoroughly cleaned out.

[Itsallaguess]

My hinges are at the top

Quite a few of mine are too - but the really short bursts of silicone spray manage to stay localised onto the channels, and when I did the lot earlier this morning, I didn't get a single drip or splash-out at all, from any of the 'upside-down' areas tackled.

I think that reinforces the importance of using a tin of silicone-spray with a straw attachment on it, and I certainly wouldn't want to tackle such a focussed maintenance task without it.

I can't imagine the mess if I tried to use a wide-burst, finger-pressed white nozzle that usually sits on most of these types of tins....

I think it was last year the wife got a friend who had a small business which partly invloved servicing double glazing units and doors to come around and give them an overhaul.

I was up to my neck in work anyway so was happy it wasn't me doing it, but what a difference he made. Especially the little used windows and locks which were so smooth after he had finished and all the dips, bumps and gullies had been thoroughly cleaned out.

It's definitely one of those things where a little knowledge about the different areas that benefit from a bit of regular TLC can make a real difference.

I've tackled most things over the years on my UPVC doors and windows, and the internet is such a brilliant source of DIY maintenance information nowadays, that anyone that's even just a little bit handy with a few regular tools and sprays can make a real difference themselves, quite cheaply, and especially if keeping up these types of 'little but often' spots of maintenance.

Cheers,

Itsallaguess

[Mike4]

A warm summer which will make those weeds between your paving slabs grow even more quickly. Looks like your next job is lined up

--kiloran

The Soudal SP400 silicone spray will probably get rid of those, too!

[johnstevens77]

We moved into our present house 11 years ago and all the windows were stiff and difficult to open. We called the original installers for advice and they said that as we are in a seaside location the windows needed oiling with WD40 every year, so maybe the previous owners had not taken care to do so.
Well, I went round with a can of WD40 and the result was amazing, so that is on my yearly maintenance schedule now. Our front door has polished aluminium trim, that gets the same treatment.

john