Preventative maintenance can help preserve your Strassburger products for years to come.  Simple checks and routine cleaning will ensure continued smooth operation and maintain the beauty of your products. 

Please refer to the information below to assist you with maintenance and cleaning routines.  Typical cleaning routines should be on a yearly basis. 
In salt-air environments, maintenance and cleaning routines should be monthly.

Exterior of Window and Door Systems – inspect the caulking on the exterior perimeter at least once a year.  The caulking creates a watertight seal between the window and exterior finish (siding, brick, etc.).  Pay particular attention to the caulking at the lower corners of the products.  The caulking should not be cracked, broken or missing.

Casement & Awning Windows – clean the window track, operating hardware and locking hardware occasionally with a soft brush, to remove any dirt or debris from moving components.  Once a year, spray a light amount of clear silicone spray onto the cleaned track and hardware.  Do not use an oil based lubricant, as it will attract dust and grime over time.  Check weather-stripping around the windows; keep clean and lubricated to prevent deterioration.

Hung and Sliding Windows – keep the track and sides of the window frame clean and lubricated with a light coat of spray silicone.  Do not use an oil based lubricant, as it will attract dust and grime over time.  Make certain that the drainage or ‘weep’ holes are always clear of obstructions.  Check weather-stripping around the windows; keep clean to prevent deterioration.

Sliding Doors - keep the screen track free of debris that could affect the operation of the screen.  Adjust sliding door rollers for proper height clearances.  Most door rollers can be adjusted with a screwdriver through access holes in either end or side of the sliding panel, at the bottom.  Check weather-stripping around the door; keep clean and lubricated to prevent deterioration.

Sliding Screen Doors – keep the door track free of debris that could affect the operation of the screen.  Adjustments can be made for all four corners, using a screwdriver.

Entry Doors – Clean the drainage sill to maintain proper performance.  Do not allow dirt or debris to block drain holes.  Check caulking at the sill and jambs, against cracking.

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Most Strassburger operating windows are equipped with hardware to allow cleaning the exterior of the sashes from the interior.  Please refer to the information below to assist you with the operation of these systems, as well as what cleaning products can be safely used.

Accessing the Exterior of Your Windows:

Casement Windows

Wind the window sash to the full opening position.  This will bring the sash to a 90 degree angle from the frame. Remove the interior screen by releasing the tension springs.  You can now access the exterior of the sash, from the interior, by reaching out through the 3 ½” space between the frame and open sash. Note: for typical operation of the casement, for ventilation purposes, wind the window sash out to an approximate 45 degree angle to prevent excessive stress on the hardware.

Awning Windows

The awning window sash cannot be accessed from the exterior, due the hinging configuration.  Awning sashes can be cleaned from the exterior.

Double Hung Windows

Open the sashes enough to clear the frame.  Push the two tilt buttons towards the centre of the window to release the tilt latch.  Once the latches are released, the sash will come to the interior of the building.  Use this same procedure for the top sash.  Note: the top sash tilt latches / finger latches are located in the top of the top sash rail.  Make sure that you fully support the sashes by holding them at a 90 degree angle.  (Do not rest the sash on the jamb, as the pressure on the hardware, due to the weight of the sash, may create a strain on the tilt hardware). 

To remove the screen, gently push on the screen bar with your left hand while pulling on the screen tab with your right hand, pushing against the tension spring (on the opposite side of the screen as the pull tabs).  Once the screen has cleared the screen track, push the screen out from the track, bottom corner first, and then bring into the building.

Single Hung Windows

Open the bottom sash enough to clear the frame.  Push the two tilt buttons towards the centre of the window to release the tilt latch.  Once the latches are released, the sash will come to the interior of the building.  Make sure that you fully support the sash by holding it at a 90 degree angle.  (Do not rest the sash on the jamb, as the pressure on the hardware, due to the weight of the sash, may create a strain on the tilt hardware).  The top sash is fixed in place, and can be cleaned from the exterior of the building.  With the sash tilted in, the exterior screen can be removed by gently pulling on the screen tab towards the centre of the window, pushing against the tension spring that holds the screen in place.

Double Slider Windows (tilt-in)

Open the sashes enough to clear the frame.  Push the two tilt buttons towards the centre of the window to release the tilt latches.  Once the latches are released, the sash will come to the interior of the building, similar to the action of a set of shutters.  To remove the screen, gently push on the screen bar with your left hand while pulling on the screen tab with your right hand, pushing against the tension spring (on the opposite side of the screen as the pull tabs).  Once the screen has cleared the screen track, push the screen out from the track, bottom corner first, and then bring into the building.

Double Slider Windows (lift-out)

Open the sashes enough to clear the frame.  Pull the finger latches down towards the sill of the window (one on each side, at the top of the sash).  Once the latches are released, the sash can be lifted out of the frame to the interior of the building.  To remove the screen, gently push on the screen bar with your left hand while pulling on the screen tab with your right hand, pushing against the tension spring (on the opposite side of the screen as the pull tabs).  Once the screen has cleared the screen track, push the screen out from the track, bottom corner first, and then bring into the building.

Single Slider Windows

Open the operating sash enough to clear the frame.  Pull the finger latches down towards the sill of the window (one on each side, at the top of the sash).  Once the latches are released, the sash can be lifted out of the frame to the interior of the building.  With the sash out, the exterior screen can be removed by gently pulling on the screen tab towards the centre of the window, pushing against the tension spring that holds the screen in place.  Remove the screen from the track and reach around to the exterior of the window, accessing the fixed side of the single slider.

General Cleaning Information

Vinyl Components (frame sill and accessories): Vacuum dirt from the sill and track areas before washing Clean vinyl components with a mixture of mild non-abrasive soaps (e.g., dish soap) and water. Harsh, abrasive or caustic cleaners and solvents are not recommended. Rinse well with warm water and wipe dry with a clean towel

Glass:

As dirt and residue appear, interior and exterior glass surfaces should be thoroughly cleaned. Concrete or mortar slurry can be especially damaging and should be washed off as soon as possible.  Cleaning during construction activities should begin with soaking the glass surfaces with clean water and soap solution to loosen dirt or debris. Using a mild, non-abrasive window washing solution, uniformly apply the solution to the glass surfaces with a brush, strip washer or other non-abrasive applicator. Immediately following the application of the cleaning solution, a squeegee should be used to remove all of the cleaning solution from the glass surface. Care should be taken to ensure that no metal parts of cleaning equipment touch the glass surface and that no abrasive particles are trapped between the glass and the cleaning materials. All water and cleaning solution residue should be dried from window gaskets, sealants and frames to avoid the potential for deterioration of these materials as the result of the cleaning process. Avoid washing glass in direct sunlight.
See the list below of recommended routine glass cleaners:

Windex® Glass & Surface (clear liquid available from grocery stores), produced by SC Johnson & Son, Inc., Racine, WI Mixture of one part vinegar with one to ten parts clean water. Mixture of mild non-abrasive soap (e.g., dish soap) and water.

Note: Harsh, abrasive or caustic cleaners and solvents are not recommended.

Condensation