Old Window Still Opens Easily, but Very Tough to Close it

[slackmax]

Hi,

I have windows from 1986 in my house that are metal and glass. They open up and down, the usual style.

The last few years one of them is very hard to get closed, and I am even afraid I might break it since I have to push so hard to move it down. It is only the downward direction that is stiff. The upward direction does not resist me.

Is there anything I can spray into or onto it that would help?

Is the wood frame warping around the window?

Don't want to get a new window, due to expense. I would just leave it down all the time and open another window, lol.


Thanks in advance !

[lthenderson]

The biggest reason I find that causes windows to be difficult to open or closed is years of paint build up. I will take the windows out, scrape the sashes back to bare wood and then prime and paint and put back up and generally that fixed them. You could also wax the channel and the sash where they slide against while you have it apart and that will help too.

I'm guessing the reason why it opens easily but shuts hard is leverage. When you are lifting it up, you are pulling causing it to imperceptibly tilt back but when you press down to shut it you are causing it to tilt forwards and thus the difference in the amount of force required to shut versus open.

Another outlier cause is that something has shifted recently making things out of square. I usually only see this on newish homes. Older homes generally have these sorts of things worked out after 36 years of use and wouldn't just suddenly crop up.

[sonofsven]

It probably has some sort of spring that is getting stuck. Post a pic?
Windows from that era don't typically have weights.

[slackmax]

OK, I will post a pic soon.  No weights. No wood. The window is only metal, glass, and plastic. The friction is from plastic against metal.  Will post a pic. Thanks.

[sonofsven]

I've messed with windows of that era a little and they can be a PITA
I remember internal springs in the frame that you would hook the sash to in some way. It was easier to see with the sash out, obviously.
Possible that some part of that is coming apart and restricting the movement of the sash?
As for spraying something, silicone spray would reduce friction, if that is the issue

[slackmax]

Something I forgot to mention.  The window is not square in the frame. When it is about to close, you can see that one side is about a half inch higher! I can only get one of the two snaps to snap closed on it.  So something has bent, apparently.

At this point, I think I will just keep it closed. It closes enough to keep the rain out.
I have another window in the same room that still works normally, and I'll open that one if I need air.

Thanks again.