Opening Stuck Windows at Home?

Question

Our windows all worked fine until we had the house painted. Now, most won't open (the windows themselves were not painted). I think it is because the painter we hired pressure washed the outside of the house prior to painting, forcing grit into the track the window slides open/closed in. These are glass windows in metal frames that should move horizontally in a metal track.

We tried using a lot of pressure, moving back and forth, and hit the tracks with WD 40, but the windows are still stuck. All other suggestions welcome!

Thanks.

Answer 1

its either grit in the track or when he pressure washed he got water in the wood trim on the frame and it absorbed water. you might have to wait a while to see if the wood dries out. or you might have to pay money and have someone who installs windows come out and take a look.

Answer 2

take a razor to the outside painted areas on the slides then use a block of wood and a lever of some sort , maybe two blocks one as long as or close to the lenght of the window seal gentle pressure then use lithium grease

Answer 3

I would use a small tool from your hardware store...looks like a little spatuala, but sturdy. It has a beveled edge to slip into the cracks where the paint has dried and sealed the panes shut. Good Luck!

I would also call it to the attention of the painter.

Answer 4

Try lifting the windows up out of the tracks so you can clean the tracks with a flat head screwdriver,vacuum out the dirt,grease ,replace.

Answer 5

Try use Muriatic acid on the sliding tracks, in diluted form.
Gradually increase strength, careful not to burn the metal
track. You can also try Paint striper.

Answer 6

take a razor and slice along the edges of the window... anywhere the paint may have gone over the edge.

BTW, use lithium grease on the tracks, not WD40

Answer 7

Put some cooking oil in between and try moving it...

Answer 8

use a little motor oil one a sprung it works