QUESTIONS & ANSWERS from "Ask-the-Wizard":

ANSWER:

fredgervasi:

There are actually quite a few styles of storm windows: interior, exterior, combination (which can be either double-track or triple-track), etc. From your description in your question, its a little difficult to tell exactly which style of storm window that you have. But with this said let me do the best I can to answer your question. 

It sounds like you have a "combination" style storm window. There are a couple of things that you will want to think about as you reassemble you storm windows. First, you will want to take this opportunity to clean and inspect your storm windows, and especially the tracks that the storm window and screens slide up and down in. You will want to check the screens for any holes or tears. You will want to clean the sash. You will also want to clean the tracks and lubricate them with a light oil like "WD-40". And you will also want to unclog the vents that let water run out at the bottom (you can unclog these vents with a toothpick, awl, or ice pick).

Secondly, the important thing in re-assembling the windows and screen, is that they are placed into the correct tracks. That is, if the tracks that they are put in are not the right sizes for the window or screen, then they will not slide up and down correctly.

Since you mentioned that you had two windows and one screen insert, then I am guessing that you have a "triple-track" storm window. For these, typically the access to the sashes is from inside of the house, through the open main window. The outside and middle tracks contain window panes which can be slid up and down. The innermost track contains the screen which can also be slid up and down. And this would be the order that you would want to re-install the windows and screens.

If doesn't help you, then please send us a follow-up question with some more information about what particular type of storm windows that you have. And this could help us to give you a better answer.

Home-Wizard.com
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QUESTION from Amy on 4/22/2008:

I have a screen and a storm window and the same track and there doesn't seem like there is any possible way to remove either. How do I get them off?

ANSWER FROM HOME-WIZARD.COM ON 4/22/2008:

Dear Amy:

I am assuming from your description of your storm windows and screen, that you have what is called a "two-track" storm window system. As it sounds, a two-track storm window has two tracks. The first track has a non-sliding glass panel in the top part of the window, and in the bottom part of the window (in this same track) is a non-sliding screen panel. The second track holds a glass panel which slides up and down. And all of these glass and screen panels are removable. Other hand, there are also what are called "three-track" storm window systems, and this is where the window has three tracks, and all three panels slide (2 glass, 1 screen), allowing ventilation from the top or bottom of the window. But from your description, since you said the screen and storm window are both in the same track, I'm assuming that you have a "two-track" storm window system.

To remove the screen and glass panels from their track, you should start with the screen panel on the bottom. There should be tabs on the bottom edges of the frame of the screen, and you should be able to slide these tabs inward, towards the center of the screen. If for some reason the screen got installed backwards, then these tabs will be on the outside of your house (hopefully not on the second floor). If this is the case you will need to slide these tabs from the outside of your house. While you are still holding the tabs inward, tilt the bottom of the frame of the screen towards the inside of your house and rotate the frame a little to free the top edge from the tracks. You should be able to then pull the screen out of the window. Be careful though that the top glass pane doesn't slide down while you are pulling out the lower screen, if it is not latched properly.

The next step is to slide the tabs inward on the upper glass panel to allow you to lower this panel (hopefully this panel was not installed backwards, or the tabs again will be on the outside of your house). And then as before, tilt the bottom of the frame of the glass panel towards the inside of your house and rotate the frame a little to free the top edge from the tracks. You should be able to then pull the glass panel out of the window.

Again, I've made a few assumptions based on your brief description. If the above info is not helpful for you, just provide me with some more details of your specific situation, and hopefully I can use that to get you some better information.

Hope this is helpful.
Home-Wizard.com
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QUESTION from Greg on 5/30/2008
I have some old double track storms (with nifty "roller" screens inside) over double hung windosw on a 50 year old addition to my home. I also have some awning windows with integrated storms in this addition. (I'm guessing that this is state of the art screens/storms for 50 years ago).

During a home energy audit, the windows with these storms were considered better than average for (older windows, but I'm interested in gaining a slight improvment by cutting infiltration in the storms.

The storms are still pretty tight, but there is some old gasket material in channels on the edges of the storms (where they ride in the vertical tracks for the double track, and where they seat in the storm window frame on the integrated awning window storms). The profile appears flat. This material feels like a hardened plastic and is breaking off in places.

Any suggestions for how I could go about replacing these gaskets? Obviously, finding an exact replacement material is probably impossible. 

Is it possible to remove the existing material and replace it with a silicone caulking, taking care to keep a similar profile of a slight projection? Of course, I'd allow adequate curing time before reinstalling. 

Any suggestions you have will be appreciated.

ANSWER FROM HOME-WIZARD.COM on 5/30/2008
Dear Greg:

If you still want the storm windows to ride in their tracks, then silicone caulking will likely not work for you, as it won't remain flexible enough to give you a tight seal after you move the windows in their tracks.

However, here's a link to a company that sells replacement weatherstripping made especially for storm windows:

http://www.mdteam.com/products.php?category=224

If this isn't what you are looking for, just let me know, and we'll try to come up with something else for you.

Hope this is helpful.
Home-Wizard.com
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QUESTION from brenda burdette on 9/11/2008
how do I remove moisture that has developed between the glass on my storm windows

ANSWER FROM HOME-WIZARD.COM on 9/11/2008
Dear Brenda:

Moisture appearing in between the glass panes in storm windows means that the seal on your storm windows has failed, which not only allows moisture to form, but also it means that the insulation properties of your storm windows has also been reduced.

So unfortunately, this means that the storm windows will need to be replaced.

However, there is a company we've heard about called Crystal Clear Windows, who claim to have developed a cost-effective process for repair storm windows whose seals have failed. We don't have any experience with them, so I can't tell you if their process works, and what kind of firm they are to deal with. But here is their website address: http://www.ccwwi.com/WhoWeAre.html

Also, some people claim to have had temporary success in removing moisture by using a hair dryer on their window. But most of the time the moisture just comes back when the temperature outside gets to a certain point.

Hope this is helpful.
Home-Wizard.com
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