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3 double glazing issues

Hi,

Can anyone offer advice on the following?

  1. The espag(? ah google is a wonderful thing) handle on one glazing unit (not titl and turn) has failed. The sprung button wasn't springing and the key was getting difficult to turn. One day after fiddling with the key the button popped out with two tiny, delicate springs a little shard of metal etc. It's buggered, terminally, basically. Now doing a bit of googling this seems to be an esapg handle - about =A35 for one - but there are at least 20 diffferent types. Apart from the spindle length, and appearance difference and maybe spacing between the fixing bolts are they all interchangable and it doesn't matter which one I buy? I'm prepared to spend =A310 on this and fail rather than not try and pay =A350 for fitting of a =A35 part (mean or what?)

  1. Two (!) glazing units have misted. Is this inevitable, and all double glazing eventually fails like this, or can I buy a particular "type" of glazing unit that is less vulnerable to misting?

  2. One tilt and turn unit no longer opens (different property, my mother's, and window type to those in question 1). when I turn the handle I can "feel" some mechanism (gearing ?) "resistance" and some sliding and clicking sound which I guess is the gearing(?) trying to slide the bolts away from the keeps(?). Is this something I can unjam or, as the wise man said, this is well buggered andneeds an "expert"?

Regards

Clive

Reply to
Clive
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Just take the old one with you. Use a screwdriver to shut the window mechanism while you're out.

It happens. There are different edge seals, but it still happens. The usual solution is replace the sealed glazing unit, but there are a couple of repair approaches that are debated. One is to drill the outer glass at the bottom, let it demist and plug the hole. The glass shatters if its toughened, some are some arent. Another is to drill the bottom seal and do likewise, its more doable but means taking the unit out. There's also a company using a totally different aprpoach.

Sounds like its jamming. Waggle it back and forth, force it till its open. Then clean up and lube the mechanism. Things can break, if so blame me.

Reply to
NT

Can anyone offer advice on the following?

  1. The espag(? ah google is a wonderful thing) handle on one glazing unit (not titl and turn) has failed. The sprung button wasn't springing and the key was getting difficult to turn. One day after fiddling with the key the button popped out with two tiny, delicate springs a little shard of metal etc. It's buggered, terminally, basically. Now doing a bit of googling this seems to be an esapg handle - about £5 for one - but there are at least 20 diffferent types. Apart from the spindle length, and appearance difference and maybe spacing between the fixing bolts are they all interchangable and it doesn't matter which one I buy? I'm prepared to spend £10 on this and fail rather than not try and pay £50 for fitting of a £5 part (mean or what?)

  1. Two (!) glazing units have misted. Is this inevitable, and all double glazing eventually fails like this, or can I buy a particular "type" of glazing unit that is less vulnerable to misting?

  2. One tilt and turn unit no longer opens (different property, my mother's, and window type to those in question 1). when I turn the handle I can "feel" some mechanism (gearing ?) "resistance" and some sliding and clicking sound which I guess is the gearing(?) trying to slide the bolts away from the keeps(?). Is this something I can unjam or, as the wise man said, this is well buggered andneeds an "expert"?

Regards

Clive

They mist because humid air gets in. Newer ones are a bit better in this respect. There is no cure that I know of. If you look at the aluminium spacers inside the units, they have little holes. They are filled with a dessicant, When the dessicant is expended (ie wet), the windows start to mist up.

Re the tilt and turn, you will be lucky to get parts. Few manufacturers do them any more.

Reply to
harryagain

Years ago, someone posted their DIY technique that involved a vacuum cleaner and some silica gel. It was rather a lot of effort I thought. Replacement seems a better option to me though. It's not that expensive really, though worth shopping around IME

Reply to
chris French

Whatever is done is only a temporary repair unless the cause is fixed. If you let the interpane air have access to exterior air, it should always stay above dewpoint, permanently. A new sealed unit is only a semi-permanent repair, ie it may last ok or may fail over the years.

NT

Reply to
NT

Espag handles are fairly interchangeable IME. I had some spare ones lying about here that I used as a temporary solution until I got a new set. Bolt spacing matched, square shaft was a little short. Bought one top quality replacement, bolt spacing matched again, shaft a bit too long - had to saw off a few mm. Bought a complete set from the same supplier.

Some handles have a small location peg concentric with the bolts - if your frames don't have these, another minor mod may be necessary.

Reply to
dom

The espag handles are surprisingly a standard across the aluminium and plastic window industry. The only variation is the length of the shaft.

Jonathan

Reply to
Jonathan

Can anyone offer advice on the following?

  1. The espag(? ah google is a wonderful thing) handle on one glazing

Take old handle and note tickness of frame to any local window parts compnay .. and they will match it ... easy done.

  1. Two (!) glazing units have misted. Is this inevitable, and all

DG is crap .... I have had 11 failed units on a new house, and even 5 which were reaplced failed within 6 months.

Not sure if the firms who clkaim to come clean & reseal/repair your units are any good or not .......... currently have another 5 to replace. Anybody who tells you DG saves you money is talking Bol***ks they don't kast long enough to reach payback.

I had all this happen in previous house as well .... current units made by major manufacturer - no better.

  1. One tilt and turn unit no longer opens

Probably just needs ne mechnaism ... again unscrew it and take it to local window accesries company ..... there are several in my araea ,,, sure yellow pages will turn them up for you

Reply to
Rick Hughes

Well something is crap but it may well be the "quality" of installation of the frames stressing the sealed units and/or crap quality sealed units.

There are many sealed units here, in timber frames, that are at the very least 12 years old and may well be over 22 years old. A couple have failed but they are a weird shape, forming part of arch.

If the failure rate was the 50% you have suffered every house with DG would have 2 or 3 failed units. They don't...

Reply to
Dave Liquorice

That seems to ring a bell - I came across this while looking at other things.

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this the one you were thinking of? Mike

Reply to
docholliday

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