Most residents of apartments and houses have plastic windows. This design is practical, provides a snug fit and is ideal for a variety of weather conditions. To ventilate the room during rain, you can simply open the sash vertically at a slight angle. As a result, fresh air will flow into the apartment, and raindrops will successfully slide down the glass. However, in the summer season this ventilation is not enough, and in winter you can freeze with the sash wide open.
In addition, the open window poses a danger to children and animals, especially if the apartment is in a multi-storey building. During the game, children may accidentally fall out, so you need to be prudent and install limiters on plastic windows. The design will ensure safety and allow swinging open the sash for ventilation at the optimum distance.
What is a window stop
Stoppers for plastic windows and doors are a quality and safe system that prevents accidental or deliberate swinging. The principle of operation of the device is very simple:
- the limiter, or it is also called a comb, has several grooves;
- the rod is placed in the recesses to the required distance;
- as a result, the sash of the window or door is fixed in the necessary, in each specific situation, position.
When the comb is in a certain position, then young children and pets do not have the opportunity to look out the window too far and accidentally fall out.
Why the limiter is called a comb
Limiters on plastic windows from children, photos of which are presented in this article, are often called a comb. This is due to the fact that the appearance of the structure is very similar to the comb used for combing hair. There are grooves in which the rod is installed to fix the window in a certain position.
The benefits of combing
Installing stops on plastic windows has very useful advantages:
- Guaranteed complete safety for small children and pets.
- Protect the sash with glass from sharp blows in strong winds. As a result, it is not necessary to put heavy objects so that the window does not dangle from side to side.
- When airing provide the necessary level of ventilation. This prevents condensation.
- In any weather, you can set the optimal gap of the open window for fresh air.
- Even in the absence of tenants, you can leave the window open. The design guarantees safety from home appliances, because it is durable and reliable.
In order for the design to fulfill all the declared functions, it is necessary to choose a reliable manufacturer and correctly install.
Limiters Disadvantages
Of course, the comb also has its drawbacks. To ensure strength and safety, it is necessary to choose a metal option. In addition, when installing the device will have to drill additional holes. According to reviews, such actions lead to a certain decrease in the strength of the profile. Sometimes frame distortion is also possible. If installation work is not performed correctly, there is a high risk of window leakage.
Some reviews show that after installing the limiter, there is a deterioration in noise and heat insulation properties. Therefore, this approach will not be optimal for every consumer. If there is a need to install a stop on plastic windows, you need to carefully consider everything. You may have to put up with a slight increase in incoming noise and slight drafts in the winter.
Varieties of combs
On sale you can find various types of limiters installed on windows and doors. Judging by the reviews of specialists and residents of apartments, special locks designed for each groove of the ridge are recognized as the most effective. They reliably fix the rod in the required position, making it resistant to any movement. Limiters are distinguished by the number of grooves. Most of them have four cells, but in individual cases five can be ordered.
Outdoor comb
Limiters on plastic windows can be made of various materials. Metal combs, unlike plastic ones, have a greater margin of safety and are designed to completely protect children from falling out. External stoppers are required for windows that fold back to lock the sash in position during ventilation.
Built-in limiter
This design does not affect the aesthetic component and the general appearance of the window. If the inner comb is perfectly visible to the naked eye, then the inner one is completely hidden. However, it has the same advantages and properties. Performs its functions in the same way as the outdoor.
Plastic Window Opener: Installation
Of course, the master can set the limiter, but the cost of their services is often high, so those who wish to save money can do it themselves. The procedure is simple and takes only 5-10 minutes. To do this, prepare the following tools:
- Limiter. Are included in the package: comb, clamp and bracket.
- Self-tapping screws. Often they come in the kit, but you need to prepare your own. It is important not to use self-tapping screws exceeding a length of 12 cm. They can damage the reinforcing profile
- Screwdriver. You can also use a screwdriver to save time.
- A kitchen or hunting knife for picking up a stub.
- Pencil to mark a place for future holes.
Next, do the following.
Installation start
It doesn’t matter which plastic window opening stop is used. Installation will always be the same. Using a drill and a thin nozzle, drill holes in the window profile. This is necessary for faster and easier screwing in of screws. If you do not drill holes, then when tightening the screws you can easily damage the window. Do not be afraid for plastic during drilling. If you do it right and quickly, then there are no problems.
The next step
Installing limiters on plastic windows does not require complex actions. Next, turn the plug 90 degrees. For convenience, you need to pick it up with a penknife. For convenience, it is necessary to insert the blade into the micro-slots that are on the plug. After it is rotated to the desired position, you can see two bolts. They are screwed to the bottom and top and should be unscrewed.
Handle dismantle
When the bolts are removed, the handle must be removed. In this case, it is recommended to remember in which position she was. This is necessary in order to quickly put it back. To avoid confusion, professionals advise fixing the handle in the open position, while the handle is perpendicular to the axis of the window.
Comb operation
Then proceed to install the limiters on the plastic windows (standard). To do this, the metal bracket is placed so that the comb is under the window handle. It is known that they are always installed the same in standard designs, so the mount is suitable for any type. It is necessary that the holes for the screws are clearly visible through the holes of the bracket.
After that, the handle is placed in the required position directly on the bracket in the same way as it lay before dismantling. The metal device is fixed under it and firmly held in place. Carefully monitor the distance between the stop and the window frame. It is important that it does not exceed 3 mm. This is necessary so that there are no difficulties during fixation.
Installing the latch on the frame
When the grooves are connected to the rod, you must use a pencil and put two points on the frame for reference. The comb is used as a stencil. This is necessary so that the distance between the points matches perfectly. After that it is necessary to drill two holes and install the screws. Too deep holes do not need to be drilled. It is quite enough 2 cm. Next, the limiter is applied in place and secured with screws.
Installation completed
If you perform all the steps correctly, then the limiter for plastic windows is completely ready for work. Design features are that now you can not worry about the safety of small children and animals. At the same time, the optimum level of ventilation is always guaranteed.
If the above instructions seemed too complicated or there is no desire and ability to independently install a comb, you must call the wizard.
Degree of protection and reviews
Limiters on plastic windows and doors from children can be plastic and metal. After analyzing the reviews of experts and ordinary users, we can draw the following conclusions.
Affordable plastic devices, suitable for any profiles made of PVC. In addition, available in a variety of colors, have a standard number of positions, including three or four positions.
However, they are unreliable and have a very low strength indicator. Plastic stops are not able to protect the child from accidentally falling out of the window due to its fragility. In addition, it is undesirable to mount them on the casement of windows experiencing heavy loads due to heavy rain, squally wind or pressure of the child.
As practice shows, it is best to choose metal stops for the window. They are more durable and durable. Experts say that brass combs coated with an anti-corrosion layer of zinc have the best technical characteristics.
Of course, the color palette of such clips cannot boast of variety. On sale you can find only silver, gold and copper shades. In addition, they have an initially high cost.
However, their degree of protection is very high, and if there are young children in the house, only metal stops must be used. As the reviews of ordinary consumers show, combs reliably close the window from opening with baby handles.
Limiter Care
Limiters on plastic windows from children are a necessary device, especially if the apartment is on the upper floors of the house. At the same time, the comb does not need special care. But for the limiter to serve properly for a long time and perform its functions, it is recommended:
- periodically tighten fasteners;
- Check the integrity and reliability of the entire structure.
If the need arose, it is possible to replace only one window latch.
Of course, airing is recommended in any weather. But metal and plastic combs are not recommended for use in a squally wind, in severe frost and heavy rain. In order not to disturb the action of the blocker, it is necessary to close the windows in a timely manner. Such prudence will relieve excessive pressure of adverse factors on the latch itself and on the sash. It is especially worthwhile to handle the plastic option. Metal in this regard are more reliable.