During the manufacture of your windows, drafts will appear after a while, or the sash, when opened, will begin to cling to the frame or begin to cover poorly. All this means that windows need to be adjusted. This procedure is also performed when transferring them to the winter or summer position. To adjust metal-plastic windows, you only need a hex key.

Window sash adjustment.

In order to adjust the window sashes, you need to figure out where to move them. Take a simple pencil and circle the entire sash around the perimeter. Then open the window and measure the distance from the line to the cut of the profile, as shown in Figure 1. This size should be between 6 and 8 mm. A smaller distance can cause drafts, a larger one will cause the sash to cling to the window frame.

Picture 1

Sash height adjustment.

Adjusting plastic windows in height is not difficult. To do this, the key rotates the adjusting screw in the upper part of the lower canopy. Clockwise rotation will raise the sash. Accordingly, on the contrary, to lower the sash slightly, turn it counterclockwise. Figure 2.

Figure 2

Adjustment of the upper part of the sash along the plane of the window.

This type of adjustment is carried out by turning the adjusting screw on the upper canopy. In this case, the sash moves further from the hinge or closer. If you need to pull the sash closer, then rotate it counterclockwise. And vice versa accordingly. Figure 3

Figure 3

Adjustment of the lower part of the sash along the plane of the window.

Performing such an adjustment of plastic windows is identical to that described above, only now attention should be paid to the lower hinge. Clockwise rotation will move the sash away from the canopy and vice versa. Turning counterclockwise will pull the sash up to the hinge. Figure 4

Figure 4

Switching windows to winter and summer modes.

This type of adjustment is quite complicated, so it is better to entrust it to specialists. But if for some reason it is not possible to invite a traffic controller, then you can do this work yourself.

The force with which the sash of the plastic window is pressed is regulated by a 4 mm hex key. In the winter period of the year, the pressure is required stronger, in the summer you can slightly loosen the force. This allows you to additionally ventilate the room and relieve internal stresses in the sealing gum.

Adjustment is carried out by rotating the eccentrics of the clamps, which are located along the perimeter of the sash. They have special sockets for a hex key. To transfer the window to the winter mode of operation, the eccentrics are set so that the larger radius is on the side of the room in the closed position of the sash. In this case, the clamp will be stronger. Figure 5

Figure 5

The transfer of a plastic window to summer mode is carried out in a similar way. Only the eccentrics should be set to the position where the smaller radius faces the room when the sash is closed. In this position, the pressure is somewhat weaker and there is a micro-ventilation effect. Figure 5

As you can see, there is nothing complicated in this procedure. Now it will become clear to everyone how to adjust plastic windows. But the work should be done very carefully and remember every step, so that if necessary, you can return everything to its original position.

Reading 7 min.

Modern double-glazed windows provide a comfortable indoor climate. However, they also need periodic adjustments. So, it is possible to adjust the degree of pressing the canvas to the frame depending on the season, which few people know about. It is not difficult to do this with your own hands using a hex key, screwdriver or manually, depending on the type of locking devices.

Why regulate

Different modes are needed for one simple reason - the change of seasons. Accordingly, there is a periodic drop or increase in temperature. The ability to close windows more tightly (or, conversely, less tightly) increases the flow of fresh air into the room in summer period and reduces the outflow of heat to the outside in winter.

If the window is constantly operated in the "winter" mode, this will lead to rapid wear of the seal due to the constantly high pressure on it. If you leave the summer mode on cold period, then there will be drafts and significant heat loss in the room. As a rule, during installation, windows are set in a neutral mode (spring/autumn), and when the season changes (that is, 2 times a year), it is recommended to make appropriate settings.

Leak test

It is necessary to prepare plastic windows for the winter before the onset of the first frost. It is necessary to carry out a preventive inspection and check the tightness in the following ways:

Types of adjusting mechanisms

The degree of pressing the sash to the frame is adjusted using locking mechanisms (pins) located on the side and upper ends of the sashes. Appearance, the number and location of these devices may vary depending on the manufacturer and price category double-glazed window.


The most common include:

  • Round. On such trunnions there is some kind of mark (dash, risk, dot, asterisk). If it is directed towards the room, then the window is set to "winter" mode, to the street - "summer", up - "neutral".
  • Oval. Vertical position - "summer", horizontally - "winter", diagonally - standard "neutral".
  • Turnkey eccentrics. Shift into the room - "winter" mode, outside - "summer", strictly in the middle - "neutral".

To fix the problem, you need to adjust the plastic windows. To do this, you can call specialists, or you can do everything on your own, following the instructions.

A prerequisite for the effective performance of functions is the correct adjustment. It maintains the density of the porch, the necessary tightness, the smooth running of the sash without distortions and touching the frame. The primary adjustment of plastic windows is carried out by installers during their installation. After that, they should work without defects and violations. However, over time, small backlashes appear, the sashes begin to sag a little. In the future, these deviations increase, which interferes with the normal operation of the structure.

What tools will be needed?


To perform the adjustment of plastic windows yourself, you will need a fairly simple kit, including:

  • Hex Key #4;
  • Pliers;
  • Phillips and flat screwdrivers;
  • Screwdriver with a set of bits of different shapes.

Tools from this set are usually always available at home. An exception may be the hexagon, without which the work cannot be done - this is the main regulatory tool. If you do not know which key is needed to adjust the plastic windows, and where you can find it, then contact any furniture fittings store. 4 mm hexagons are used in the assembly of any modern cabinet furniture, so finding such a key will not be a problem.

A screwdriver and screwdrivers will be needed to work with screw connections, with which the fittings are attached to the profile. Pliers are needed as an auxiliary tool.

The main nodes that need adjustment

Adjustment may be required for any moving elements of plastic window fittings, which include:


Bottom hinge


Top hinge with swing-out mechanism


Locking pins


Do-it-yourself repair and adjustment of plastic windows may be required at several points. In particular, it may be necessary to adjust the sash vertically, horizontally, adjust its pressure to the frame, correctly set the lower corner

When to adjust plastic windows

Adjustment of windows is required in case of any violations of their normal operation. The following signs may indicate the need for its implementation:

  • Tight movement of the valves;
  • Visible subsidence or distortion of the valves;
  • Violations of the tightness of the closure - cracks appear, blowing from the window;
  • Mode switching is difficult;
  • Loose or jammed handles;

If such signs are found, it is not recommended to delay taking action. In most cases, you can adjust plastic windows yourself and quickly restore them. normal work. If you do not make the adjustment in a timely manner, soon enough you may encounter a serious malfunction of the window structure, which will cause a lot of inconvenience and require significant repair costs.

Adjustment of a clip of a plastic window

Most often, you have to adjust the pressure of the plastic window sash. This parameter characterizes the force with which the sash is pressed against the frame in the closed state. The pressing of the sash is provided by locking pins located in its end part. When the handle is turned, the trunnions move vertically, entering or leaving the counterpart located in the frame opening. When the trunnion completely goes beyond the counterpart, the sash is pressed against the frame with maximum force. The magnitude of this effort is subject to adjustment.

It is recommended to adjust the pressure of plastic windows at least twice a year, to switch to winter and summer modes. The maximum pressure is set for the winter. It provides increased tightness and excludes the ingress of cold air into the room due to insufficient density of the sash cover. However, strong pressure accelerates the wear of rubber seals, so it is recommended to loosen it in summer.

And it is also necessary to adjust the pressure of the plastic window if it blows from the area where the sash adjoins the frame. The reason for this may be incorrectly adjusted pressure or worn seals. You can check the presence of traction using the flame of a match or a lighter brought to the window. If the flame fluctuates, adjustment is necessary.

The plastic window does not close tightly - how to adjust

To ensure the tightness of the closing of the sash, you can adjust the pressure of the plastic windows yourself according to the instructions.

The trunnion has an eccentric that must be turned in a certain direction to adjust the pressure. Depending on the model of the fittings used, there are pins of oval or cylindrical shape. In the first case, the adjustment is performed by turning the trunnion itself with pliers. When the oval is located in a vertical position, the minimum clamping force is provided, and in the vertical position - the maximum.

More popular today are cylindrical trunnions, which have sockets for a hex key No. 4 at the end with an offset from the axis by 2 mm. In this case, you can adjust the pressure of the plastic window by turning the trunnion with a hex key. Turning to the left increases pressure, and turning to the right weakens it. The maximum pressing is achieved in such a position of the eccentric, when the key socket is located on the side of the outer part of the sash. The minimum pressure is achieved in the reverse position of the eccentric - the key socket is located on the side of the inner part of the sash.

Another eccentric is located on the underside of the top hinge swing-out plate. It must be turned in the same way as the eccentrics of the pins along the perimeter of the sash. This will allow you to adjust the pressure in the top loop area. To access this eccentric, the window must be open in two positions. First you need to open the sash and switch it to the ventilation mode by depressing the lock lever.

For uniform pressing of the sash around the perimeter, all eccentrics on the pins must be in the same position. Uneven pressing accelerates the wear of the seal and leads to a violation of the tightness of the closed window.

How to adjust a plastic window so that it does not blow


In some cases, adjusting the window trunnion does not allow to achieve the most tight pressure, and it continues to blow from the closed sash. This happens when the sash is moved vertically or horizontally. As a result, part of the trunnions may not fully extend beyond the counterpart.

To determine the place where an incomplete clamp is created, it is necessary to remember the location of the pins or make appropriate notes on the inside of the sash profile. After that, the window must be closed and in the marked places try to squeeze the sash from the frame with your hands. If it stays still, then the trunnion is working properly. If the sash is fed, and a gap appears at the place of application of the force, then the pin does not completely enter the counterpart. In such cases, additional adjustment of the plastic window sash is required horizontally and / or vertically.

Adjusting the plastic window horizontally

To eliminate a slight skew and displacement of the sash in the horizontal plane, you need to adjust the plastic window horizontally. This adjustment can be made on the top and bottom hinge, which have special hex sockets. Therefore, you can adjust the position of the sash with the same 4 mm hex key that was used to adjust the trunnions on plastic windows.

On the lower hinge, the hexagon socket is accessible from the outside and from inside. Thanks to this, the window can be adjusted both in the open and in the closed state. When the key is turned clockwise, the sash will move in the direction opposite to the hinge, while its lower corner on this side will rise. Turning the key counterclockwise leads to the displacement of the sash towards the hinge, and the lower corner with opposite side drops slightly.

Horizontal adjustment of the plastic window sash can also be performed on the upper hinge. In this case, the work is carried out only when open window. On the loop, you need to find a socket for the hexagon and turn it with a key in the same way as working with the bottom loop.

These manipulations will allow you to shift the top or lower part sash horizontally up to 2 mm. It is recommended to adjust the leaf with limited displacements - no more than 1 mm per turn of the key.

Adjusting the plastic window vertically

Self-adjustment of plastic windows vertically is performed on the bottom hinge. The desired hole for the hexagon is located at the top of the hinge, so to access it, you must remove the decorative plastic cap. For ease of adjustment, it is recommended to switch the window to the ventilation mode. Turning the key clockwise raises the sash, while turning it counterclockwise lowers it.

As with the horizontal adjustment, the window sash offset range is 2 mm.

Replacing the handle and adjusting the plastic window fittings


In addition to insufficient pressure and blowing, other problems may arise in the operation of a plastic window. Often during operation, there may be problems with turning the handle, which moves tightly when switching modes or even gets stuck in a certain position. Therefore, owners need to know how to properly adjust plastic windows in such cases.

One of the common causes of such problems is a malfunctioning handle. More often than not, it just loosens up and starts to stagger. With such a malfunction, it is enough to tighten the fastening screws. To access the screws, you need to pry off the decorative plastic trim on the handle body from above and below with your fingers and turn it horizontally.

The tight movement of the handle is caused by clogging of its mechanism. To remove dirt, the handle must be removed by unscrewing the fixing screws and cleaned with a brush or vacuum cleaner. It is recommended to lubricate the seat of the handle inside the door with WD-40 spray lubricant with a nozzle. Another reason for the tight turn of the handle may be a strong pressure on the sash. If you do not want to maintain maximum pressure, it is recommended to adjust the pins by reducing the force.

If the handle does not turn at all, this is most often due to improper operation of the blocker, which is designed to prevent it from turning when the sash is open. To unlock the handle, you need to find the lock and press it. Depending on the model of the fittings used, the blocker can be made in the form of a clip that goes onto the seal, or in the form of a figured plate screwed at an angle to the seal.

The solution to the problem in case of severe wear is to replace the handle. You can find a new part in almost any hardware store or order it from a window manufacturer. All handles have a standard design, so there will be no problems with the selection of a suitable element. After that, you just need to dismantle the old handle and put a new one in its place.

The plastic window closes tightly - how to adjust


If the plastic window does not close well, self-adjustment will also help fix the problem. The reason is usually the skew of the sash, as a result of which, when opening or closing, it touches the frame. To solve the problem, you need to eliminate the skew by adjusting the vertical or horizontal. First of all, you need to carefully inspect the window to establish the place where the sash is in contact with the frame. The contact between the surfaces usually occurs on the lower edge or on the side edge of the sash on the side opposite the hinges.

If the sash rubs the frame from below, it must be pulled up and towards the corner adjacent to the upper hinge. To adjust the metal-plastic window with your own hands, you need to open the sash and turn the adjusting screw of the upper hinge clockwise a few turns. After that, you need to close the sash, remove the decorative cap from the bottom hinge, insert the hex key into the hole of the adjusting lift and turn it a few turns clockwise. After adjusting the PVC window, you need to check the course of the sash. If necessary, repeat the manipulations.

If the sash comes into contact with the frame when opening and closing, then do-it-yourself adjustment of the plastic window fittings involves moving it towards the hinges. When rubbing only from the bottom side of the side face, it will be enough to tighten the adjusting screw with a hex wrench, which is located at the bottom of the bottom loop on the side. If the sash rubs the frame along the entire height of the side surface, then it must be retracted additionally towards the upper hinge. To do this, you will have to tighten the adjusting screws on both hinges. After completion of work, you need to check the progress of the sash. If its friction against the frame is not completely eliminated, the adjustment manipulations must be repeated.

PVC window lubrication

A significant part of the violations that require adjustment of the mechanism of plastic windows occurs due to its poor lubrication. In new windows, the fittings are coated with a sufficient amount of lubricant to effective work. However, over time, these compounds degrade and lose their properties. These processes are especially intense in houses that are located near busy highways, industrial enterprises, other sources of air pollution. Dust settles on the moving elements of window fittings and penetrates into the lubricant, which significantly impairs its quality. This leads to jamming of mechanisms and their accelerated wear. Therefore, the adjustment of old plastic windows always provides for their lubrication.

To prevent accelerated wear of fittings and complex repairs, lubrication should be performed at least once a year. It is best to lubricate the windows twice a year - before the onset of the winter and summer seasons. In addition, lubrication is recommended after any maintenance work on any fittings, for example, after adjusting the scissors of a plastic window, hinges or trunnions.

What to lubricate?

As a lubricant, special formulations are used for servicing plastic windows, which are sold in specialized stores or can be ordered from window construction suppliers. They are supplied in bottles with convenient nozzles designed to work with certain fittings. If such special lubricants are not at hand, you can use technical petroleum jelly and any technical oils, for example, sewing machine oil. Silicone lubricant or aerosol lubricants such as WD-40 may also be used. It is not allowed to use food, cosmetic and other types of oils that are not intended for working with mechanisms.

For maximum benefit, the lubricant should be applied to clean and dry metal surfaces. Therefore, after adjusting the window fittings, it must be thoroughly cleaned of any dirt and wiped with a soft cloth. Contaminants from hard-to-reach places are removed with a brush or sponge. Before applying the lubricant, it is recommended that window fittings be additionally inspected to make sure they are clean.

What to lubricate?

Grease is applied to all moving parts. Lubricates include:

  • "Scissors" of a plastic window;
  • Adjusting mechanisms of loops;
  • Mounts;
  • Latches, etc.

A few drops of lubricant are applied to each of the moving parts. After that, I let the mechanism work in normal mode to evenly distribute the lubricant.

In addition to the mechanisms, it is necessary to lubricate the rubber seals. For this, apply special composition. The lubricant maintains the elasticity of the rubber and prevents it from drying out. Seals are best treated twice a year. They must be lubricated in the fall when adjusting the pressure of the plastic window with your own hands in the winter mode.

Regular lubrication of window fittings will extend its service life, save you from unnecessary repairs and adjustments. In some cases, it serves as an alternative to adjustment work. For example, before adjusting plastic windows that do not close well, it is recommended to lubricate the fittings. In many cases, this is enough to solve the problem.

Fittings for plastic windows allow you to adjust their tight closing and, if necessary, adjust them depending on the season. However, sometimes even high-quality expensive fittings require repair. In this article we will tell you how plastic windows are adjusted and how you can fix minor breakdowns of mechanisms yourself. To do this, it is enough to know the position and action of the main tuning nodes and have essential tool.

Depending on the current problem and the hardware manufacturer, you will need to repair:

  • 4 mm hexagon (almost every cyclist has a set);
  • a screwdriver with nozzles marked T, TX (in the form of a star), as well as an ordinary Phillips No. 3-4;
  • pliers;
  • spray WD-40.

Adjustment points

Consider popular situations when PVC windows and fittings need to be adjusted for winter and summer, and we will also tell you how to fix minor malfunctions. Only the general technology will be described, some nuances may vary depending on the manufacturer. In any case, this can be found in the instructions.

Repair of window and balcony handles

Loose door handle

To fix the dangling door handle, you need to tighten its mount. This is the simplest adjustment of a plastic window; an overlay is provided on the bottom for access to the adjustment mechanism on each handle. It is pulled towards itself and the entire element is rotated perpendicularly. So you can see two bolts that are tightened with a regular Phillips screwdriver. If you cannot remove the decorative nozzle with your hands, be careful: it is made of soft plastic, it is easy to damage it with a sharp object.

Installing or replacing a handle with a lock

If you have children, it is important to protect them from the danger of falling out the window. It is for this that special handles with a lock were invented, which will not allow the child to open the window on their own.


To remove the old handle, first remove the decorative nozzle, as in the previous version. Unscrew the two bolts and pull out the handle with light wiggles. Then insert a new one in the same position and fix it on the bolts. Replacing the window handle will take literally one minute, the process is shown in the video.

The handle sticks or does not reach the desired position

This problem occurs for various reasons. Perhaps cleaning and lubricating all fittings and handles is useful here. If the handle closes with great effort, most likely, adjusting the pressure of the plastic window sash will help.

To lubricate the mechanism, the handle is pulled out, cleaned and vacuumed it and the mounting hole. Then it remains to lubricate the moving parts with a liquid consistency lubricant, for example, sewing machine oil. In the presence of corrosion, the surfaces are treated with a WD 40 spray.

Information on how plastic window fittings are adjusted to reduce sash pressure is presented in a separate section below.

If the handle is stuck

If it so happens that the handle is jammed, you cannot forcibly close it, breaking it out with giblets. Most likely, the blocking mechanism did not work correctly, which does not allow changing the position of the window during the open state. To solve this problem, manually remove the lock lever located on the end of the sash next to the handle. The blocker can have two designs:

  1. a plate, in the form of a tongue, fixed to the end, which, when the window is opened, changes its position and becomes at an angle relative to the seal;
  2. a clip that, when opened, goes onto the seal.

Window sash adjustment in winter and summer

Checking the frame pressure is very simple: we take a sheet of paper and press it with a sash. If the sheet is easy to pull out, then the clamp is bad, a mandatory adjustment is required. If the sheet is pulled out with difficulty, or even breaks, then the setting is correct.

Over time, the sealing gum becomes no longer as voluminous as before, and a gap may form in the window. However, more often this gap appears during seasonal fluctuations, when abrupt changes temperature. To correct this problem, it is often not necessary to change the seal. The sashes of plastic windows are adjusted by twisting specially provided mechanisms.

Setting up plastic windows for winter and summer is especially important if there are large temperature fluctuations in your area. This reduces the internal stress of the structure and fittings and increases the service life of the rubber seal.

    • At the end of the sash, in the slots of the metal plugs, there are oval cylinders called the trunnion (eccentric). There are grooves on the frame, into which the hooks enter when the handle is turned, in order to firmly press the sash. Their adjustment can be done by changing the position of the eccentrics or hooks.

    • The photo shows an example of adjusting plastic windows, which are easy to do on your own without calling a wizard. As you can see, to increase the pressure, you need to rotate the pin by 90 °. Depending on the hardware manufacturer, it can be turned either manually or with a screwdriver/pliers. Please note that the trunnions (which are located in the photo on the right) do not rotate around their axis, but along a small radius.
    • If it is not possible to adjust the eccentrics, tighten the reciprocal hooks on the frame, usually this will require a hex wrench. You can also put a plate under the "answer" if the trunnions do not reach it.
    • When the frame pressure at the handle weakens or increases, you can proceed to setting the pressure from the side of the canopies. To do this, remove the plastic plug from the bottom canopy.
    • Inside you can find two hexagon bolts and one hidden, with which you can adjust the position of the frame flaps. The clamping force is regulated by a bolt, which is located perpendicular to the window. Adjustment is best done with the window closed. Turning it clockwise will increase the pressure on the sash, and counterclockwise will weaken it.
    • The upper part of the sash is attached differently, to a special mechanism called "scissors". To gain access to the upper part, the window is opened and the lock mechanism is pressed at the end of the sash (it is fixed at an angle to the rubber gasket and springs).
    • When the blocker is pressed, the handle is turned to the ventilation mode. The sash will be removed from the upper hinge and will hang only on the "scissors" on top and on the lower canopy. This gives access to the head, the adjustment of which will change the frame pressure.

If the edge of the sash touches the frame

When the window has been open for a long time or it has been opened/closed abruptly, the retaining mechanisms may become loose or deformed. If there are no serious defects, then tightening the loops should help.

    • To change the position of the sash with a hexagon, tighten the bolts on the lower canopy and on the “scissors” system from above. Remove the protective plastic cap from the bottom hinge, and in its upper part you can find a hex bolt. To lower the sash, it is twisted counterclockwise, and to raise it, it is twisted clockwise.
    • On massive plastic windows and doors sometimes there are additional closers that slightly raise the sash before closing. If there is such a mechanism, then it will need to be slightly adjusted.
    • If the sash touches the frame not from above or below, but from the sides, another mechanism is adjusted for this. At the bottom of the canopy, a bolt is found parallel to the window. For convenient access to it, there are two exits with key heads (from the side of the slope and the sash).

  • If the slope is too close and does not allow access to the bolt, the sash is opened and the second method is resorted to. If you twist it clockwise, the sash will move to the right, and counterclockwise - to the left.
  • The top setting is a little different. To do this, the sash is fully opened, a slightly recessed head of the adjusting bolt is found on the side of the mechanism. By changing its position, you can adjust the position of the flaps left and right in the upper part.

If the plastic windows are broken, the repair is quite easy to do on your own without calling the master. The main problems with the position and clamping of the valves, loosening of the mechanisms are solved in just a minute with the help of a simple adjustment of the fittings.

A qualitatively new level of comfort in our home is considered to be metal-plastic windows made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

When installing such structures, you will need the help of a professional, but how to adjust plastic devices on your own during everyday use is given below in the recommendations.

Having replaced traditional old wooden windows with modern ones, it is necessary to periodically inspect the operation of opening and closing mechanisms, the condition and functioning of fittings, which will increase their durability and functionality.

Tools and places for adjusting plastic window fittings

We recommend that adjustment of serious breakdowns and malfunctions be carried out by specialists of the company Windows Expert ()

The most common malfunctions that can be dealt with without the help of a specialist:

  • When closing the transom touches the frame from below or from the side.
  • Insufficiently tight fit to the transom frame.
  • The strikers are worn out.
  • When the sash is open in the “closed” mode, the window frame does not open due to the blocking of the handle.
  • The handle, loosened, does not fit snugly against the frame or turns very tightly.

You can troubleshoot using the tool:

  • pliers or pliers;
  • hex key (size 4 mm);
  • flat and curly (phillips) screwdrivers;
  • a set of "star keys" for adjusting the clamping force;
  • scissors for cutting the seal;
  • oiler for lubricating fittings.

Basic rules for customizing PVC windows with your own hands

In modern metal-plastic windows, in order to achieve optimal pressing of the seal around the entire perimeter of the sash, adjustment is carried out in three projections.

Individual elements, transom hardware settings and tools may differ, but the instructions below are taken as a basis.

Summer and winter adjustment mode

A distinctive feature of modern PVC window fittings is the possibility of its transfer to the "winter" or "summer" modes.

Window fittings are:

  • budgetary;
  • standard;
  • specialized.

Due to the low price, budget-type accessories have limited functionality. It is produced mainly by domestic manufacturers and is used in new buildings. In such metal fittings there is no function of translation into different seasons, it allows the transom only to close and open.