How do vertical sliding windows work

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Unlike casement or awning windows that crank out or sash windows that move up and down, sliding windows are built into a track system and operate horizontally instead of vertically. They are common in manufactured homes and in houses with walls that are too low to accommodate standard sash windows.

The screens included in most sliding window installations also move horizontally, while others are permanently attached and are not movable.

Common Uses

Sliding windows, or gliding windows, offer more clear glass viewing area than other types of movable windows. They also provide an alternative when casement, or roll-out, windows would create an obstruction on walkways, porches, decks or patios. While older sliding windows were a chore to take apart for cleaning, today's windows can be easily lifted from the tracks for cleaning or maintenance. Other types swing out of their tracks to simplify cleaning and maintenance.

Specifications

Sliding glass windows are constructed of vinyl or aluminum frames wrapped around a pane of standard glass or a polycarbonate, or polymer plastic, material that is lighter, easier to handle and is less likely to shatter than glass. Both glass and polycarbonate come in different thicknesses. Polycarbonate that is roughly 3/10 of an inch, or three miliimeters, is comparable to a single pane of standard glass. A polycarbonate pane measuring 9/10 of an inch corresponds to a pane of standard insulated glass, while a 2-inch-thick pane of polycarbonate is comparable to triple-pane standard glass.

Styles

Sliding windows are available in standard sizes or can be custom-built to suit all types of housing construction. Window styles vary from two to multiple sliding sections, also called lites, depending upon the building's design. In some cases, both sections of the window are movable, while in others, just one side is operable. Movable or stationary screens can be installed inside or outside the window unit.

Considerations

Sliding windows present more of a challenge when it's time to seal windows and doors against colder weather. To be effective, weatherstripping materials should be installed inside the window track, which can interfere with its performance, an important factor to consider particularly in areas where winter temperatures fluctuate widely. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, sliding windows are considerably less energy efficient, allowing for a greater escape of heat than casement or other types of hinged windows that shut tightly against the frame.

This style of window is designed to slide vertically (up and down). Some styles (double hung) are made in such a way that both panels (sashes) operate. Others (single hung) have only one operating sash (the other is fixed into the frame and cannot be opened). All of our hung windows have a tilt-in feature which allows one or both sashes to be tilted into the room, allowing for easy cleaning of the exterior panes of glass from inside the home.

To open the window, stand in front of it, facing it. Then,

  1. Unlock the camlock (or camlocks) by sliding the latch to the open position.
  2. Grab the pull rail on the bottom of the inside sash. Slide it up toward the top of the window.
  3. If your window is a double hung, the other (outside) panel or sash can also be opened in the same manner, but it will slide in the opposite direction, from top to bottom.
  4. All of our hung style windows have a tilt-in feature. This feature allows you to tilt one (if you have a single hung) or both (if you have a double hung) sashes into the room in such a way that the pane of glass that is normally on the outside of the window can be cleaned from inside the home.
  5. You can use the tilt-in feature to clean the outside pane of glass from inside your home. To do so, place fingers from each hand into the tilt latches on top of the bottom sash panel. Press the latches toward each other and SLOWLY tilt the sash inward toward you.
  6. Be sure to keep one hand on each side of the sash, supporting its weight with both hands. You must support the weight of the sash with both hands at all times. Do not let go. As well, **YOU MUST BE SURE TO KEEP THE SASH LEVEL- DON’T LET ONE SIDE RISE HIGHER THAN THE OTHER IN THE WINDOW FRAME***.
  7. Do not attempt to clean the glass by yourself, as one person must hold the weight of the sash at all times. When the sash is in a tilt-in position, someone else must clean the glass while the other person firmly holds the sash in place, preventing it from moving in the window frame.
  8. To clean the top sash (again, this is possible only with double hung windows), one person must firmly hold the bottom sash in such a way that it stays level in the window frame. The top sash can then be tilted in toward the inside of the home. See note 6.In this situation, the person doing the cleaning must be sure to tilt the top sash into the room until it is at a 90 degree angle with the frame. The sash should then be engaged in a locked position for cleaning. Be sure that the sash panel is firmly locked into the frame before letting go with one hand. If it is not, continue to tilt the sash (beyond 90 degrees) into the room until you feel that the sash is firmly locked into the frame. If you feel that the sash is not firmly locked into the window frame, tilt the sash back into a closed position, slide it shut and call Clera customer service for assistance.Once the top sash is locked in place in the tilt-in position, the person doing the cleaning may let go with one hand, but should still support the weight of the top sash with the other. Using the free hand, the outside pane of glass may be quickly sprayed and cleaned. Again, ALWAYS ENSURE THAT ANY SASH THAT IS IN A TILT-IN POSITION IS SUPPORTED AND MAINTAINED LEVEL IN THE WINDOW FRAME SO THAT THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY OF THE SASH COMING OUT OF THE WINDOW FRAME.All of our tilt-in style windows come with locking shoes that prevent the sash from falling out of the frame when it is tilted into the room. These shoes are engaged, thereby locking the sash into the frame, when the sash is tilted in beyond a 25 degree angle. However, as an added security measure, we recommend that all sashes always be fully supported and held when in a tilt-in position, as described above. As well, it is imperative that the sash that is tilted in be held level and horizontal in the frame, so that one side of the sash isn’t higher than the other.

Screens

To remove the screens in your windows, simply pull up on the black tabs, pushing the screens into the side of the window frame. This will give clearance between the side of the screen and the side of the window frame, allowing the screen to be removed from the frame. To re-install the screen, make sure that the spring-loaded white tabs on the side of the screen are inserted into the window frame, push the screen up into the frame, and let the opposite side of the screen slide into the window. Make sure that the screen is fitting snugly all around the window.

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How does the sliding window work?

Sliding windows operate with a simple design that incorporates two or more sashes within a single frame. The window opens horizontally on those sashes. Most sliding windows only have one moving pane while the other is fixed in the frame.

Can you use a sliding window vertically?

Vertical Sliding Window Also known as the double hung window, it is likewise a common choice among homeowners looking for replacement windows. It can still provide increased ventilation for your home; the only difference is that both operable sashes are slid up and down.