Experience shows that it is more practical to install plastic doors on a balcony or loggia. Firstly, it’s cheap, and secondly, they retain heat well and prevent drafts or moisture from entering the room.
Initially, when installing plastic doors, the craftsmen adjust them, but after a while, difficulties may arise with closing or opening them. In this case, there are two options for resolving the problem - call a specialist, or adjust the balcony door yourself.
About defects and warranty period
All doors made of metal-plastic are durable, but a very large number of factors interfere with their fate. These include the carefulness of the owners, the quality of the mechanisms, correct installation, and temperature conditions. A plastic door that does not fit tightly is one of the possible warning signs. But how can you understand that the sash works flawlessly, that it does not yet need the intervention of the owners or “servicemen”? In normal condition, a door should close or open without much effort, without rubbing the frame in the door.
The connection, uniform along the entire perimeter, is proof of the ideal condition of the plastic structure. Checking for gaps is quite simple: you will need a sheet of paper. They squeeze him between the door and the frame, then try to pull him out. If it takes some effort, it's ok. When areas are discovered where “anomalies” are present, the sash needs adjustment, since the geometry is broken. A candle or a burning match in a draft can also convince of the existence of a problem.
The third version of the defect test requires the presence of a simple pencil. If there is any suspicion of unevenness of the canvas relative to the frame, then close the door tightly and draw it around the perimeter of the door. The scale of the problem is then assessed by opening the balcony and looking at the resulting line. In this case, the level will come to the rescue.
If the warranty period has not yet expired, then the responsibility for adjusting the plastic structure is the prerogative of the service department of the company that installed the window and balcony unit. If there is a desire to make the adjustment yourself, then it is better to nip it in the bud.
Do-it-yourself work after the warranty has expired, on the contrary, is encouraged, since this procedure is quite simple. However, you must have instructions, as well as a minimum of tools. This set includes hex keys (usually 6 mm), you may need screwdrivers - flat, Phillips, and pliers.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages include the following:
Plastic balcony doors are reliable protection from noise and cold for many years.
- beautiful appearance;
- high sound insulation;
- the possibility of micro-ventilation (if the door is made tilt-and-turn) - to provide fresh air in the room;
- they close tightly, so the room maintains a constant temperature;
- have anti-corrosion resistance;
- do not require additional finishing or painting;
- have a long service life - up to 30 years;
- easy to clean.
However, there are some disadvantages:
- open only inward, and only a bracket is mounted on the outside for closing;
- when installing them, a high threshold is made (if it is lower, cold air will penetrate into the room);
- their width should not exceed 1 meter, otherwise sagging cannot be avoided over time.
Despite the great popularity of plastic balcony doors in apartments and business centers, malfunctions may occasionally occur in their operation. You can fix many problems yourself. If this is problematic, call a professional to install plastic balcony doors.
First, let's look at what problems may arise during operation:
- The door has dropped and touches the threshold;
This is all due to the load of the canvas with glass on the hinges, which causes sagging.
- The door does not close or closes poorly in the middle of the leaf;
The canvas may move towards the free edge of the box due to temperature or increased constant humidity.
- The canvas does not close tightly, and cold air or a draft enters the room from the door;
It can occur during operation when the control mechanism becomes slightly loose.
- The handle is loose;
The handle begins to loosen due to frequent use and this is a common practice when using a plastic door.
The main causes of the problem
Have you encountered the problem that your balcony door closes poorly, loosely or too tightly? Any malfunction of a balcony or loggia door must be repaired immediately. Otherwise, a small defect can cause costly repairs.
The most common cause of difficulty closing a balcony door is sagging plastic sash. Under the weight of the heavy sash, the hinges weaken, the canvas lowers and begins to touch the threshold.
Sudden changes in temperature and humidity lead to the fact that the balcony door moves in the opening and does not press in the middle. At the same time, it begins to touch the door frame in the middle part.
Difficulties in using the balcony structure can also be associated with improper operation of the clamping fittings. Over time, the mechanism needs to be adjusted to ensure high-quality pressing of the leaf to the door frame.
You can often notice that the handle of the plastic structure turns too tightly or too loosely. This makes closing difficult and leads to rapid wear of the mechanism.
If you have recently installed a balcony block, then if problems arise, it is best to contact the company that installed the plastic glazing. During the warranty period, the company is obliged to send a technician to you to fix the problem free of charge.
But if the balcony glazing was installed a long time ago, then you can try to deal with the problem on your own. Adjusting a plastic balcony sash will not take much of your time and does not require professional skills.
conclusions
If even a slight mistake is made in the installation of the structure, the door may bend. Subsequently, the sash will bend and will not work well. In some cases, when adjusting the balcony door, the locking mechanism may be destroyed. In this case, you should install a new device.
The structure of metal-plastic sashes is quite complex, so when the first signs of a malfunction appear, you should find out the cause. This will help you understand whether you can repair the balcony door yourself.
Over time, the plastic door to the balcony may begin to close poorly, causing heat and sound insulation to deteriorate. However, the occurrence of such problems is not a reason to change the balcony block. Most often, the problem can be solved by adjusting the fittings.
If the plastic balcony door closes loosely or with difficulty, then you should not try to close it by force. You may damage the mechanism, after which you will have to repair the structure. It is necessary to determine the source of the defect as soon as possible and eliminate it.
Door hardware to help
Both products - the window and the window-balcony block - are absolutely identical. The only difference is their size. If the plastic door does not fit tightly, then before you start adjusting it, you need to understand the plastic structure itself and the principle of its operation. An important role in the proper functioning of windows and doors is played by double-glazed windows, a metal-plastic frame, and tilt-and-turn fittings. It is she who is often to blame if problems arise with closing or opening the sash.
Balcony fittings are a belt mechanism located around the perimeter of the door leaf structure. When you turn the handle, the cylindrical locks—trunnions—begin to move. Their fixation is guaranteed by counter strips. The canvas is secured to the frame with reliable hinges that are able to withstand considerable load - a double-glazed window with a metal-plastic frame.
The functions of the tilt-and-turn fittings are to ensure simple and quick adjustment of the plastic structure, which includes adjustment bolts for the mechanism. They enable:
- raise or lower the doors;
- adjust the horizontal position of the door;
- change - increase, decrease - canvas pressure.
With the help of convenient adjusting bolts and tools, you can quickly eliminate almost all problems that arise with your balcony door. The main thing is to know how to do this kind of work correctly.
Design Features
The balcony block is made either as a separate structure or combined with a window. An independent structure is installed in small rooms. Such models can be fully glazed with transparent double-glazed windows or half-glazed.
Combined structures are a single block of windows and doors. Refers to the most popular options in apartments. Such structures consist of one or more double-glazed windows. If the door is equipped with a horizontal impost, the transparent glazing is made flush with the window.
What you need to know about adjusting a plastic door
Today, metal-plastic balcony blocks are installed in almost every apartment. As you know, both windows and doors can wear out over time. Most often, it is plastic doors that require repairs, because in just one day they can be opened and slammed countless times.
At the same time, the door weighs more than the window frame, therefore it is easier to deform, and sometimes it “slips” when the structure is lowered. There is a need for urgent repair of the sash.
To adjust a faulty balcony door, generally the same principle is used as in adjusting a window mechanism. However, door repair has a number of characteristic properties. We will talk about problems that may arise during the operation of plastic doors and ways to solve them in this article.
First of all, when starting to adjust the door, you need to stock up on screwdrivers (regular flat-head and Phillips), as well as a 4 mm wrench for adjusting the screws on the door hinges, and pliers.
Sometimes it happens that the plastic door to the balcony does not close. This problem usually occurs due to sagging door hinges or broken hardware, in particular the lock. Often the sash itself becomes deformed. In this case, you need to find out the cause of the malfunction, and only then begin repairs.
If the door with its lower structural element, when trying to close it, clings to the threshold, and it must be lifted, holding on to the fittings, it means that the door has dropped under the weight of its own weight. Due to the impressive size of balcony doors, such misalignment often occurs. If the door touches the frame in the center, we can talk about a horizontal displacement of the sash or a change in its shape.
This sometimes happens when exposed to high temperatures. Sometimes the mechanism that presses the sash to the frame breaks. As a result, the door frame remains slightly closed and does not lock even when the handle is turned. This problem can be resolved by repairing the clamping mechanism.
Step-by-step instructions for adjusting metal-plastic balcony doors
Some manufacturers recommend adjusting doors annually; if you hear such advice, then it is better to buy products from other companies. High-quality doors serve well for years and do not require any intervention, especially annual ones. Problems can only arise if the conditions of use are not met: excessive mechanical loads, shocks, incorrect position of the valves when actuating the locking or adjusting fittings.
How to determine if a door leaf is skewed
Professional adjustment consists of several stages, we will describe everything, but they should be used only according to indications, depending on the type of problem that has arisen. All adjustments are made with 6 mm hex keys, a screwdriver, pliers or special shaped tools. The specific set of tools depends on the manufacturer; they slightly change the features of the elements and install different fasteners. Such changes do not in any way affect the properties of the doors or the methods of their adjustment.
Sag adjustment
This is done only when the sash touches the threshold and is done by changing the position of the hinges.
Step 1. Close the door, the handle must be in the micro-ventilation position, there should be a slight gap between the seal and the frame. If this condition is not met, the seal may break while moving the sash. Another negative consequence is that the hinge attachment point is deformed and the plastic profile will crack. These are very negative phenomena; only an experienced technician with knowledge and a set of special tools can eliminate them.
The door must be closed during adjustment
Step 2: Remove the decorative hinge cover if it is blocking access to the top of the hinge. Different models have their own differences in the design of door hinges.
Decorative caps should be removed
Step 3. Insert the hex key into the hole on top of the hinge and slowly turn the bolt clockwise. The canvas should rise at this time.
Adjustment is carried out using a hex key
Step 4. Monitor the gap between the bottom of the door and the frame, set it within 1–2 mm.
There should be a gap of no more than 2 mm at the bottom of the frame
Step 5. Insert the same key into the hole in the upper hinge; the adjusting bolt should rotate freely. The fact is that the canvas is simultaneously lifted from two hinges; if on the lower one it is held by a bolt, then on the upper one it sags. Tighten the top bolt until it stops with the loop, work very carefully.
The top hinge should be adjusted in the same way.
If the canvas needs to be lowered, then you should tighten the bolts on each loop one by one. The fact is that only releasing two bolts allows the door to lower. Many users are not aware of this nuance; they try to lower the sash with only one hinge, but it does not respond. Nervous actions begin, great efforts are made, the mechanism is disabled with all the negative consequences. Remember that when raising the sash, the bolt is tightened with more force than when lowering it. If the force does not change, this indicates that the adjustment is not being performed correctly.
Adjust the hinges carefully, with moderate effort
Scheme for adjusting hinges when the sash sags
Moving the door to the right or left
Such adjustments must be made in cases where the sash is not located exactly in the center of the frame.
Step 1. Open the door 90°, lock the position. The door can be held with your free hand or propped up with any object. By the way, if it opens or closes spontaneously, then this indicates a violation of the adjustment; we will tell you how to correct such a problem a little lower.
For horizontal adjustment the door must be open
Step 2 . Carefully inspect the initial position of the sash; this can be done by following the marks from the seal on the frame; they should be at the same distance from the edges along the perimeter. If there are displacements, then the position of the sash needs to be changed.
You can determine the displacement of the sash by the marks left by the seal on the frame
Step 3. Insert the key into the bottom hole of the curtain, slowly turn the bolt clockwise or counterclockwise, it moves to the right or left.
Bottom Hinge Adjustment
If necessary, repeat the same operations with the top loop.
Adjusting the top hinge is done in exactly the same way.
As practice shows, such adjustments need to be made very rarely; the sash does not shift during operation along the vertical plane, and it is not affected in this direction by extraneous loads not intended by the manufacturer.
Pressure adjustment
These jobs are performed more frequently. The reason is that a low-quality seal shrinks and does not provide a tight fit. Gaps appear through which heat losses increase significantly. The quality of fit is checked with a sheet of paper. If she doesn’t move when the doors are closed, everything is normal. If the paper is not pressed, then it needs to be adjusted.
The clamping force is determined using a piece of paper
Special rotary adjusting screws press the sash to the frame. They have an oval shape; when turned around the axis, a larger or smaller radius approaches the clamp, respectively, the door is more strongly attracted to the frame or moves away from it. The clamps are adjusted using a special key or ordinary pliers. You need to scroll carefully and check the results of your actions several times.
Pressure adjustment with a special key
Important. Do not press too hard; this will have a negative impact on the fittings. Check the clamping force along the entire height of the door and on all sides.
If the door handle has to be turned with great force, the load on all elements of the mechanism increases sharply. Their wear increases, and risks of deformation appear. In addition, the door cannot be set to the microventilation position, which creates inconvenience during operation. The pressure on the balcony doors must also be changed using the screws on the hinge side. All clamps are checked, the doors are long, manufacturers install at least three of them, each responsible for its own area and included in its own counterpart.
Adjusting the pressure on the hinge side
Adjusting the door handle
This element is considered reliable; adjustments are rarely required.
- Pull the plastic handle cover slightly towards you and turn it 90°.
- If the fixing screws become loose, tighten them until they stop.
If the handle is loosened, you need to tighten the screws
If the handle turns with a creak, then you need to completely remove it and lubricate all rubbing parts with machine oil.
Replacing the seal
The need arises in case of mechanical damage or loss of plasticity. Before starting work, you need to buy a new seal, and pay attention to its width and thickness. Manufacturers can change these parameters, sometimes it is necessary to visit several stores in order to find a suitable option.
It is important to choose the correct size seal
Prices for seals for plastic windows
Sealant for plastic windows
Step 1: Remove the old rubber. It can be pulled out with difficulty and tear into pieces. Take your time, work carefully.
The old seal needs to be pulled out of the frame
Step 2. Clean the groove from dirt and rubber residues. If the doors were made by a responsible manufacturer, then traces of glue will remain on the surface. They must be thoroughly cleaned.
The frame is thoroughly cleaned of rubber and glue residues
Step 3. Degrease the groove surfaces and apply special glue to them. Remember that not all compositions can be used for plastic; there are those that dissolve polymers. Read the instructions for use carefully.
Glue is applied to the cleaned surface
Step 4. Start inserting the new seal from the very top, pressing it with your fingers along its entire length. The quality of gluing depends not on the duration of pressing, but on the amount of force. You should press for a few seconds.
Installing the seal in the frame
Step 5. Close the balcony door all the way and do not open it for about a day. During this time, the glue will dry completely and the connection will gain maximum strength.
After replacing the seal, the door must be left closed for a day
Important. If glue gets on the front surface of the seal, it must be carefully removed.
Adjusting the balcony door fastening mechanism
If the structure sags, the upper door hinges are adjusted first.
It is necessary to fully open the door, set the product to the rotation position, then release the fastening element from the decorative cap (in general, on all metal-plastic doors, the hinges are covered with special caps, and it is under them that the screws are hidden).
After this, using a spanner, tighten the adjusting screw to the right several times. This will correct the crooked position of the structure and prevent it from sagging again. It happens that in order for the sash to rise, it is also necessary to tighten the hinges from below. They have top and side screws.
The door can be raised a few millimeters by adjusting the top end screw. If you turn the side screw with a key, the sash tightens or, on the contrary, moves away from the opening.
Thus, the sagging is eliminated by rotating the adjusting screws on the hinges in the lower and upper parts of the door leaf. They are designed to allow the sash to be slightly moved in one direction or another.
Pressure adjustment
Before you start adjusting the door, you need to evaluate how it closes - easily or with force. Carefully inspect the perimeter of the seal to assess the presence of a defect. When the cause of the breakdown has been found, then, armed with a standard set of tools, you can proceed directly to the work. But what are the maximum sizes of a double-glazed window, you can find out here.
The action plan is as follows:
- If the essence of the problem lies in the doorway, then you will need to tighten the screws that are concentrated in the hinges. As a rule, there are 3 of them in total. Open the door structure and unscrew the trim using a regular wrench. Then close the door and remove the trim. Replace the screw, which is located in a horizontal plane. It will also be interesting to see what butterfly hinges for interior doors look like.
- If during the inspection a weakening of the traction was discovered in the lower edge, which is distant from the hinges, then the problem can be solved by simply tightening the screws concentrated in the upper and middle hinges.
- The verticality of the door structure may also be disrupted. Then you will have to adjust the hinge from below. To complete the task, you must use a 5.5 mm wrench.
- Tighten the strikers located at the bottom and top of the door using a 2.5 mm wrench and then a screwdriver with a flat tip. But you can adjust the locking plate using a Phillips screwdriver. You need to slightly raise the door structure and then adjust the lower hinges. For these purposes, install a wrench in the groove and rotate it clockwise.
- If it was possible to determine obvious defects in the lower seal, then the adjustment will be carried out using the upper hinges.
What to do if the canvas touches the frame when opening
In this case, the door with its upper border can touch the frame. This indicates that, when adjusting the sagging, the sash was shifted to a greater height than necessary. It is easy to fix this problem: just turn the end screw once in the lower hinge. Sometimes the door cannot be closed completely, and the resulting gap allows cold air to pass through.
To avoid drafts, the sealing material should be changed. To do this, we purchase a suitable sealant at the construction market or in a store.
Using a screwdriver, release the groove from the old profile, then clean it of dried glue and wash it with a damp sponge or cloth.
Then you need to let the groove dry, then apply a layer of glue and attach the new profile with the fastening side. In this case, the cord or insulation material must not be pulled. It must be carefully smoothed out with your hands or a special copper tube with a curved end. The ends of the profile must be firmly glued.
So that balcony owners do not have to frequently change the sealing cord in the future, it is recommended to treat it with a special silicone mixture. You can usually purchase silicone for lubrication from the supplier of the balcony block system.
The handle for the plastic balcony door deserves special attention.
Deformation of locks and fittings is a fairly common problem. Sometimes, the door handle does not make a full rotation and requires force to do so.
Such a malfunction can be eliminated by using horizontal door adjustment. In this case, you can specifically press the door leaf more tightly in the direction opposite to the hinges before the start of the cold season. This is fine.
However, in the spring it is better to reduce the force of the pressing sash mechanism, since this causes it to break faster and also wears out the sealing profile. In situations where the handle is severely damaged, it is better to replace the deformed structural element with a new one.
If the handle is loose and turns too easily, you need to rotate the bar at the base 90 degrees. There are screws underneath that need to be tightened. This simple procedure will quickly solve the problem.
In order to check whether the balcony door has been adjusted correctly, let’s try to close the sash. If this happens easily, with light pressure on the handle, then the adjustment has been completed correctly.
Sagging plastic door
In this case, it is necessary to adjust the upper hinge, and if the problem does not go away, then you should also tighten the lower one.
The adjustment occurs as follows:
- Open the canvas completely and remove the decorative trims from the hinges;
- On top of each loop there is an adjusting screw that must be turned clockwise 1-2 times;
- Close the door and check its operation;
- If the serviceability does not go away, then make a few more turns with the adjusting bolt.
If the plastic door to the balcony no longer closes tightly, and adjusting the hinges does not produce results, then the problem may lie in the double-glazed window, which must be moved towards the hinges. They resort to this method only if other troubleshooting methods have not given the desired result. It is more complex, but you can still try to cope on your own without the help of specialists, the main thing is to follow the following procedure:
- Remove the glazing beads;
- Using a special spatula, move the glass unit towards the hinges;
- Install special plastic gaskets into the resulting gap;
- Holding the double-glazed window, check whether the fault has been eliminated and only then can you install the glazing beads in their places.
Lock malfunction
The main task of the lock in the design is to hold the door in the closed position, and if the leaf has been in use for a long time, the lock may fail and the door will stop closing. In this case, it is necessary to dismantle the old lock by unscrewing the fasteners and screw the new one using screws to the end of the sash.
Gap between canvas and frame
If this problem occurs, the solution is to adjust the clamping mechanism. At the end of the door there are pins or eccentrics that rotate towards the sealing contour. The eccentric is turned with a hex wrench, and the trunnions are turned with pliers.
After each rotation made, it is necessary to check the clamping force. To do this, you can use an ordinary piece of paper or newspaper, which is inserted between the sash and the opening. The door closes, and if the sheet is pulled out easily, then you still need to turn it, but if it is pulled out very hard, then the pressure is good.
If everything was done as expected, but there is still blowing from under the door, then the problem lies in a worn seal.
List of possible problems
If your plastic balcony door begins to close poorly or does not open, you need to figure out what could have caused this.
There may be several of them:
- breakdown of fittings;
- skew;
- damaged glass unit;
- worn seal;
- sagging of hinges under the weight of the sash;
- change in the shape of the valve (can occur under the influence of temperature).
Let us highlight the main symptoms of malfunctions:
- It touches the frame in the middle part. This means that the sash is displaced horizontally or is deformed. The reason for this phenomenon may be sagging loops or temperature deformation.
- Damage to the handle and lock: in this case, it is necessary to replace the broken parts.
- The clamping mechanism is malfunctioning. It manifests itself as follows: the balcony door does not close completely even when the handle is turned, and a gap forms between the sash and the frame. In this case, the clamp needs to be made tighter and the door tightened.
- A sign that the sash has sagged under its own weight can appear in this way. To close tightly, you need to lift the door by the handle with great effort, since the bottom of the balcony door begins to touch the threshold.
The seal is worn out
This problem may arise after 5 years of regular use of the door, but if preventive maintenance is not carried out, this time can be significantly reduced. The first signal indicating a loose door fit is drafts around the perimeter of the structure. Since the seal cannot be repaired, you need to remove the old one and go to a specialized store to purchase the same one.
You shouldn’t skimp on the seal, but buy a high-quality one from a German or Russian manufacturer, but under no circumstances a Chinese one.
The handle is loose
If the balcony door does not close because the handle does not turn or closes tightly, then the problem may be due to a clogged mechanism. The first thing that needs to be done is to clean the hardware and lubricate it.
Another reason for poor turning of the handle may be the incorrect position of the strikers. In this case, it is worth calling a professional, because it will be quite difficult to cope with the problem.
If it is noticeable that the handle is too loose, then it can be tightened with the mounting screws using a Phillips screwdriver. If this does not help solve the problem, then you should think about replacing the fittings.
Adjusting and strengthening the handle
If the handle jams or does not turn completely, the cause is usually a breakdown of the internal movement mechanism of the long rods located in the lining of the double-glazed window. Vertical adjustment of the frame does not bring success either. It is unrealistic to repair such a breakdown on your own; you need to call a specialist and completely replace the mechanism.
It’s not difficult to fix a loose handle yourself. To do this, you need to turn the decorative trim covering the fastenings under the handle. Exposed mounting screws or screws must be tightened tightly with a Phillips or flat-head screwdriver.
Door offset
The main symptom of this problem is that it is impossible to close the sash tightly, as it touches the plastic frame profile. You can fix the problem by adjusting the fittings so that the door is pulled up to the hinges. This is done using an adjusting key of a suitable size; it must be inserted into the side of the loop. The fasteners are tightened until the sash begins to function normally. If necessary, all hinges are adjusted.
Door displacement can also be caused by another factor - profile deformation. High-quality plastic window and door units usually withstand temperature changes and external factors.
Most often, the problem of sash profile bending is caused by technological design features and improper installation. If the door is under warranty, you should contact the organization responsible for installing the door unit.
Sticking in the middle
When the sash sags, we resort to vertical adjustment, and when it jams in the middle due to climatic conditions, we resort to horizontal adjustment.
- Open the sash wide.
- There is a hole at the end, near the inside of the hinges.
- If the mechanism elements are closed with plugs, remove them.
- Insert a hexagon into the hole near the bottom hinge.
- Start clockwise rotation similar to vertical adjustment.
- This will pull the door towards the hinge.
- Check after each rotation.
- If the problem persists and the sash still jams, do the same with the top hinge.
- Once successful, return the plugs to their place.
The window sash does not close
The sash is held on the bottom hinge. This situation occurs when the window opens in two positions at once. That is, you quickly turn the handle to the “open” position and pull the sash, but the mechanism does not have time to fully operate. You can deal with this problem yourself.
Solution: Turn the window handle to the tilt position, that is, “12 o’clock”. Press the window sash as tightly as possible and try to close the window.
Modern window fittings are usually equipped with an erroneous opening blocker. In this case, if the sash is sagging on the lower hinge, you must first unlock the handle.
At the end of the window sash, you need to find a spring element, press and hold it. In this case, it is necessary to move the window handle to the folding position. Press the sash firmly and close the window.
As a rule, these actions help to cope with the problem. If after these manipulations the window does not close, then you should not be zealous so as not to aggravate the problem. It is better to seek help from specialists.
The window sash sagged. The problem is typical for massive doors and doors that open often, or, conversely, open very rarely. In this case, the solution to the problem will be standard adjustment of window fittings.
Solution: Sequence of actions - remove the decorative trims from the window hinges; - find the adjustment holes. As a rule, they fit with a hex key; - adjust each of them; Adjustments must be made until the window sash begins to work without problems.
The sash is blocked by any object. Quite often it happens that this “blocking” item is a protective drainage strip. It is located outside the window sash in its lower part.
Solution: If it is displaced, then it is necessary to move it to its original position.
4. The handle is locked in the folding position. The situation is not simple, but solvable. In this case, the so-called “scissors” flew out of the grooves.
SOLUTION: First of all, you need to remove the window sash. Remove the decorative trims from the hinges and press on the pins, using wire cutters to remove them. At the top of the window sash, find the “scissors” that are attached to the hinge.
Press the spring element and turn the window sash until you see a groove where you need to insert the “scissors”. If the window handle turns to any position, then you've done it. You just need to hang the window sash in place.
How to tighten a plastic balcony door
If the plastic balcony door is sagging, then you must immediately fix the existing problems and tighten the hinges. You can recognize sagging doors by such signs as a loose fit of the seal to the door jamb, draft, creaking, clinging of the lower edge of the door leaf to the threshold.
If the door is skewed, then eliminating the sagging must begin with the bottom hinge, which must be tightened tightly. The same thing needs to be done with the top loop. If after adjustment the door clings a little to the frame, then you need to adjust its position by loosening or strengthening the bolts located in the middle part.
For the winter
When cold weather approaches, it is necessary to prepare for it as best as possible. Previously, when there was a door on the balconies, people used foam and taped all the joints with it so that the cold did not seep into the room. But with a plastic door this number will not work.
In order for an atmosphere of warmth and comfort to reign in the house during winter frosts, you just need to adjust them correctly in order to restore the damaged tightness of the structure. In this case, two problems may arise - displacement of the upper and lower corners of the door structure. In order for the door to press well, you need to choose the right latch for the pvc balcony door.
The displacement of the upper corner of the door can be corrected if you follow the following action plan:
- Remove the plug from the top hinge, thanks to which the entire door installation is held in place.
- Using an L-shaped hex key, tighten the screw.
- Carefully perform rotational movements with the sash to the left and then to the right relative to the bottom hinge.
- When the sash is in the correct position, lower the top hinge screw.
- Install the decorative plug and evaluate the quality of the work done.
It may also be useful for you to know what types of blinds exist for aluminum sliding windows on the balcony.
If the lower corner has shifted, the defect must be corrected as follows:
- Remove the plug from the bottom hinge.
- Use a hex wrench to tighten the screw.
- To adjust the pressure of the door structure, it is necessary to rotate it in the horizontal plane in one direction and then in the other direction relative to the top hinge.
- Secure the normally functioning sash by lowering the screw.
- Reinstall the plug in its original place.
It may also be useful for you to learn how to adjust a double-glazed balcony door.
Eliminating a draft from the bottom of the door
In cases where the door does not fit tightly to the frame profile, the rubber seal may need to be replaced. Another reason is that the sash is not pressed firmly against the frame. This problem can also be resolved by adjustment.
But in this situation, the impact is on the trunnions (protruding elements in the end part of the sash profile). By turning them in different directions, you can strengthen or, conversely, weaken the pressure of the door to the frame.
If none of the above methods solved the problem of draft from under the door, you should change the seal. The old cord is pryed off with a screwdriver, the groove is cleaned and degreased.
How to adjust door pins
Before installing the new seal, glue is applied to the corner areas and a rubber cord is inserted. It should not be stretched or compressed too much, just as the seal should not be installed in sections; it should be continuous.
Preventive maintenance of balcony structures
In order for a plastic balcony door to serve for a long time and properly, it is necessary to properly care for it. First of all, it is necessary to adjust the clamping mechanism twice a year - in spring and autumn. With the onset of summer it is weakened, and with the onset of cold weather it is strengthened so that the sash fits tightly to the frame.
In order not to adjust the structure too often, it is recommended to install a microlift, which will prevent the doors from sagging. This is especially true if the door is equipped with a heavy double-glazed window.
In most cases, if the plastic door to the balcony does not close, you can fix the problem yourself, but if the problem is serious, then you need to entrust the matter to professionals who will quickly and efficiently fix the problem.
The door keeps opening
It often happens that the plastic door to the balcony does not close from the outside or from the inside. This can happen for two reasons. In the first option, the lock hardware will be the culprit - it has worn out or was simply broken. The second option involves incorrect door adjustment. Both cases will now be considered.
In the case of accessories, everything is simple. This problem can be attributed to the one presented above. The solution is simply to replace the component, but in order to adjust the door so that it does not open on its own, you need to do some manipulations.
In general, all actions are painfully simple. You will need one of two tools: a mounting wrench with a hole for the door cam, which can only be found in a specialized store, or ordinary pliers. Having chosen the tool, you need to open the sash. There will be eccentrics located at the end. By setting them vertically, you adjust the pressure so that it is minimal, horizontally – maximum. By twisting the eccentric, you need to align it so that the fit is optimal, and the lock fittings interlock better with each other, thereby ensuring a tight closure of the door.
Now, if the plastic door to the balcony does not close, you know what to do. As you can see, repairing it is much easier than it might seem. And it is important to learn how to do this yourself, because the manipulations are simple, and they need to be repeated periodically, and not call a specialist because of such trifles.
The entrance to many modern balconies is equipped with plastic double-glazed windows. Over time, various elements of such structures wear out. They have to be replaced. Most often, plastic doors need to be repaired. This is due to their high intensity of use.
In addition, the door has a large mass, which can lead to various deformations of the structure. Sometimes the door begins to slide - when the glass unit is lowered. Urgent repairs to the sash may be required. When adjusting a broken balcony door, the same principle applies as in the case of adjusting the window mechanism. However, such work is carried out taking into account some features. If the balcony door does not close, it is worth understanding the causes of the malfunction.
Tips for use
Small defects (small cracks, damage) that appear on a metal-plastic profile during long-term use can be eliminated if you use special means: Cosmetic phone, liquid plastic, wax pencil for laminated surfaces. Larger cracks in the PVC profile, damaged double-glazed windows - such deformations are corrected by specialists.
You can avoid serious problems in the operation of the door if you regularly perform maintenance: clean and lubricate the seal, adjust the fittings, monitor sagging and movement of the sash. Any movement of the door will eventually lead to difficulties when closing, which means that periodic adjustment will save you from serious problems in the future.
Elimination of microdefects, scratches and chips
Over time, small cracks and damage may appear on the surface of the balcony door. To get rid of them, use a special mixture called “Cosmofen” or any other component similar in composition. It should be applied to visible areas with defects and wait until the surface dries.
After this, a special substance – plastic in liquid form – is also applied to the chips. For doors with lamination, a wax pencil or a so-called furniture touch is suitable. Sometimes repairing a balcony opening can only be done by contacting a specialist.
This applies to such defects as the appearance of cracks and chips in the glass unit, holes in the plastic, and destruction of welds. This may cause the door hinge mechanism to break. In some cases, it is even necessary to order the production of a new door or call a repairman.
Occasionally, when adjusting the overlap, it becomes necessary to move the glass unit. Using the adjusting screws you can move the door a few millimeters. If you need a larger offset angle, you need to combine both types of adjustment - screws and moving the glass unit.
The glass unit is secured with rods. They should be removed, and then squeezing blades should be placed under the glass unit, which will act as a lever, and with their help, move the glass unit in the desired direction. In this case, the spring effect begins to act and the plastic door moves along with the double-glazed window.
After adjustment, you need to secure the glass unit again with rods. These fasteners are different sizes for different parts of the structure, so you need to be careful not to mix them.
