Why should damage to the window be repaired promptly?
Broken windows can drive up heating costs, cause damage to the masonry due to the ingress of moisture, and, in the worst case, increase the risk of burglary.
But even damage that appears minor at first glance, such as a poorly closing window, can damage the entire window if the defect is not remedied. Initially, low costs for small repairs can quickly increase due to inactivity.
Caution: However, particular caution applies to burglaries, condominiums, or rented apartments. You should first clarify the case with the insurance company, the community of owners, or the landlord (in writing).
In the following chapters, you will learn when you can take action yourself and when you should consult a professional.
Repair windows – you can do it yourself
You should have new or still relatively new windows repaired because as a layman you can cause more damage than good in the worst case. Also, you can check out sash window restoration.
However, you can carry out the following repairs on (old wooden) windows yourself:
Problem: Windows no longer close and opens correctly
Look at the hardware on your windows. Do they seem sluggish and “dry”? Take some household machine oil (possibly sewing machine oil) to your hand. Carefully oil the fittings with a little oil. Check whether the windows open and close more easily.
Problem: Windows no longer close and opens correctly
If your windows still cannot be opened and closed smoothly even after oiling, it may be that the window has warped.
In this case, the screws on the window must be readjusted to bring the window back into the correct position. You should proceed cautiously so as not to aggravate the situation.
Find an Allen key that fits your window. On the frame of the window, you will find a screw that you can turn with the key. Carefully turn the screw until the window is in the correct position.
Problem: Scratches on the glass pane look ugly and could develop into a crack
Note that you should only treat light and very superficial scratches yourself. You can make deeper scratches even worse with a well-intentioned treatment.
If there is a superficial scratch, you can use some glass polishing paste. You will also need a drill and an appropriate polishing attachment for the same. Attach the attachment to the machine and put some paste on the spot. Now very carefully polish the scratch.
Problem: The broken seals cause moisture or moisture to enter
If the windows are leaky, drafts and moisture can get inside. Heat is lost to the outside. This in turn increases heating costs.
The resulting moisture also promotes mold growth. Find out in our article how you can steal your windows yourself.
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As a result of a break-in, the window can be damaged in various ways. If the window can no longer be used or is completely damaged, the first instinct is usually to have it repaired immediately.
Theoretically, that’s correct, but before you hire us, you should first clarify the case with the insurance company and possibly with the community of owners or your landlord. Be sure to put any agreements in writing.
Of course, you shouldn’t leave the window to itself. You can prevent damage caused by incoming moisture or a horrendous utility bill (heating).
If possible, close roller shutters or external Venetian blinds and seal the window with foil – even if this may seem very temporary.
You can usually fix minor defects such as superficial scratches or slightly warped windows yourself. In the following cases, or if you are unsure how to proceed, you should consult an expert.
Well-intentioned attempts can aggravate minor damage and end up costing more than was originally the case.
Deep scratches can quickly develop into cracks, which you should never repair yourself.
If cracks can already be seen in the window glass, there is a risk that the pane will break completely. Furthermore, moisture and cold air can penetrate through the crack(s).
Drafts disturb the living atmosphere and the window glass becomes “blind”. As a rule, the entire pane is replaced here.
In addition to possible damage from moisture and cold air, there is also an increased risk of burglary. In the case of multi-glazed windows, at best only individual panes of glass can be replaced.
The repair or replacement of a broken pane of glass should be left to a specialist. Incorrect installation is easy to do and can cause stresses in the window glass that can lead to new cracks (or breaks) in the glass.
Do your window and the surrounding area feel damp? Is it perhaps even a wooden window whose material suddenly feels soft? The highest alert level is given here.
As a rule, there is already major damage caused by moisture, which you should have an expert rectify as soon as possible. Often only a window replacement helps.
Tilt Turn window almost tipping off its hinges: Your tilt turn window almost tipping off its hinges when you want to tilt or open it? Here, the safety strap and/or the scissor mechanism are usually affected. This should also be checked by a specialist.
If the closing mechanism no longer works or only works very stiffly, this can be due to age or material wear (weight of the window). If the window is made of wood, the problem is often the material itself.
Wood “moves” or warps, but the closing mechanism does not. There are discrepancies between mechanics and material. To repair the closing mechanism, the entire window usually has to be dismantled.
Fittings have to be replaced: If the locking mechanism can no longer be operated, this can also be due to the fittings. An expert is required to replace these in whole or in part. Errors during replacement can result in higher damage.
Window repair costs vary so much that general estimates can only serve as guidelines. Apart from the following factors, the costs also always depend on the pricing of the company:
size of the window
Window type (round window, turn-tilt window, …)
Type of damage (broken glass, defective locking mechanism, warped window sash, …)
Equipment of the window (safety glass, burglary protection, …)
workload
spare Parts
The more special the window and the more it is equipped with functions, the more expensive the window repair can be. Replacing a pane of glass, for example, takes more time than “just” replacing hinges. The higher the workload, the higher the costs, of course.
If the window is still relatively new and airtight, it is worth repairing the window in most cases. However, if there is major damage – for example, due to a break-in, moisture penetration, or age-related wear – it is worth replacing the window.
But even if you want to achieve optimal values across the board – thermal insulation, sound insulation, and burglary protection – you should replace your old window.
In the first step, this means investment costs, but in the long run, it saves you recurring costs for repairs and ancillary costs for heating and electricity.
High-quality, new plastic windows have an average service life of 50 years. If you then compare the repair costs for the old window and the investment costs for the new, high-quality window, the latter argument cancels itself out.
