Hi guys,
had a couple calls recently about lubricating windows for customers.
Just wandering what you guys do?
What are some good lubes?
Will they void a warranty?
Lubricating a vinyl window I’d use white lithium grease. For wood windows the best bet is a good cleaning since anything you use will cause debris to collect quicker. I know some use a good lubricating wax for wood windows, of course, after they have been thoroughly cleaned.
I’ve never heard of lubricating windows.
What’s being lubricated?..the frames?..the sills?..the tracks?..cranks?
Be careful if they are older windows. I lubed up mine in my house. Well I did it to one an then realized NO NO NO. I used wd40 and sprayed it in the tracks on the springs etc. Not a great idea. 1st check how much play the window has side to side. I know it sounds strange IE Why would one lube a window that has play in its movment. Well even if it has play side to side does not mean it will move up and down easy. Anyway short story short. After I lubed it up. I opened the window and it slammed shut as soon as I let it go. I was very lucky in that my panes did not break. But learned a very good lesson. Lube up too much and you could be putting in a new window anyway.
very good advice jug.
Tony, I will look to get some white lithium grease if these are sliding windows.
John, the idea behind lubing these windows is that these people have neglected cleaning their windows for so long, and now they are hoping for a miracle from a window guy.
I think I’ll just offer an “extreme clean” type of thing where we dismantle the windows give it a good clean.
Thanks guys
I have been there. Do yourself a favor and make sure at some point before you start to clean. You tell this homeowner “You will do the best you can. You can’t take a neglected window and make it look brand new.” It will cover you on the nonfixable glass. I cleaned a 200 year old house here last year. Worste job ever. Customer was selling the property. I sliced my elbow and it still has a 4 inch scare. And the window in the attic that they wanted cleaned fell out. That’s right. Fell out, the entire wood frame and everything as soon as I opened it fell out. It did not break as I was able to stop the window from falling 100%. I placed it in the attic, put it on the floor an cleaned it. I then leaned it against the wall and charged her triple for the glass. But I ramble. Like I said make sure they know you are not restoring the window, only cleaning. You will be happy you did.
KY
Try Spray silicone… does NOT gum up tracks ect,like WD-40
The old double hung, weighted sash windows were lubricated with soap of the ‘Ivory’ variety. Just use a bar that’s hotel size. It fits in there nice - scribble it around. What Tony said is right; you don’t want something that’s gonna attract funk.
Also, you may not want to use a light colored beeswax or bar soap type product if the frames are painted a dark color. Then perhaps you’d wanna try graphite, after everything has dried thoroughly.
‘Truth’ brand casement windows with mechanical cranks seem to be lubricated with spray silicone. The residues around the gears, on new units that i’ve seen, are identical to BG Silicone Lubricant Part No. 416 @ http://www.bgprod.com/products/aerosol.html. i’ve worked with this stuff in the auto bus., quite a bit. It sticks around.
i’ve never had a customer ask me to lube the crank mechanism… (you know, just the part that has the handle; not the gears exposed by opening the unit.) That would require IMO a lube with a higher surface tension as well as corrosion inhibitors such as http://www.boeshield.com/
WD-40 is a shoddy lubricant. It was designed to be a Water Displacer, thus the WD.
Hope this helps…
Thanks great info Doug. Feels like I just took a grease 101 class.
The building is 50+ years old. The windows should be replaced but owner won’t. They told me to use cooking oil. Stupid. It gets funky & attracts bugs. Will silicone spray help. I do use a light wire brush as well as my vacuum on them, I have never lived in an apt. before. I am 68 & never had such yucky windows.
can I use white lithium grease to lubricate exposed mechanism of crank window.
