Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how to open this window?

41 replies

solania · 20/12/2021 10:29

We want to ventilate our small office but nobody knows how to open the window!

Can anyone help us please??

To ask how to open this window?
To ask how to open this window?
OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
celiamary · 20/12/2021 11:25

Is the cap bolt that takes the Allen key a safety lock? It needs to be removed first.
[says man with his own Allen Keys, he is offering to come round and look]

RustyBear · 20/12/2021 11:25

Just seen your post saying the key is removable - ours is a very thin Allen key, and I have managed to unlock one of our windows with a tiny Allen key from a set when its own key didn't work. Over the 30 years we've been in this house, we've lost some of the keys, and I got some more off Amazon, but they don't all work in all our windows.
You may have to turn the key several times to unlock - you're actually unscrewing a hollow screw which keeps the window latch from moving. A bit of WD40 might help to get it going if it's stuck.

Original poster
solania · 20/12/2021 11:27

@DropYourSword

Why am I so invested in someone opening a window!
GrinGrinGrin
OP posts:
celiamary · 20/12/2021 11:27

It looks as if the stem of the bolt is stopping the other part rotating.
The bolt might have a star fitting in the head.

RustyBear · 20/12/2021 11:28

Also, try pushing it into the hole quite hard before you screw.

(Do not say that to the office joker, or you'll never hear the last of it!)

Original poster
solania · 20/12/2021 11:30

(Do not say that to the office joker, or you'll never hear the last of it!)

That would be me Grin

OP posts:
DropYourSword · 20/12/2021 11:30

I just had a new car key cut and the guy who did it told me I should use silicone spray in my locks - he shuddered at the idea of WD40 and clearly had a lot of feelings about how much residue it leaves behind.
So, now you might also have to buy silicone spray!

Original poster
solania · 20/12/2021 11:33

Ok I found an allen key and had a good go screwing with it. I managed to get it in quite a long way but it is yet to release. I don’t seem to have the magic touch! HaloWink

I’ve attached more photos of the screw and will do another post with more of the mechanism!

To ask how to open this window?
To ask how to open this window?
OP posts:
RustyBear · 20/12/2021 11:41

Looking more closely at your key, not sure if it's an Allen key or threaded? It does look very worn, though, which may be your problem. I do find our windows very annoying, and often take ages to lock/unlock. I just tried the one in the bedroom & it took 6 complete turns of the key to fully unlock. I tend to leave the windows unlocked most of the time now!

Original poster
solania · 20/12/2021 11:42

So I’ve tried screwing the screw in and then out again with the allen key, but the window still doesn’t unlock. The handle stopped moving when the screw was right in though, and then wiggled when I took it out again. I think it might be stuck good and proper!

To ask how to open this window?
To ask how to open this window?
To ask how to open this window?
OP posts:
Original poster
solania · 20/12/2021 11:43

@RustyBear

Looking more closely at your key, not sure if it's an Allen key or threaded? It does look very worn, though, which may be your problem. I do find our windows very annoying, and often take ages to lock/unlock. I just tried the one in the bedroom & it took 6 complete turns of the key to fully unlock. I tend to leave the windows unlocked most of the time now!
It’s threaded but with an allen key head? Socket? A bit where an allen key fits into it in the head!
OP posts:
TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 20/12/2021 11:47

Did you happen to bring a three foot length of scaffolding pole with you to work today? Smile

If so you could put that over the handle and something will give (might be the handle though Sad)

RustyBear · 20/12/2021 11:53

It sounds as if it’s a bit different from mine - in mine, the screw part is inside the handle and you have to move it far enough out to free the handle. In yours, it looks like the rod itself is the locking bolt, so if the handle doesn’t move when it’s out, then it seems to be the handle part that’s stuck - possibly the bit it rotates on is corroded - WD40 or silicon spray may be your only option, if a lot of wiggling doesn’t work

Wafflesnsniffles · 20/12/2021 12:03

Spray into the frame, the workings of the handle etc with WD40 - maybe its just stuck through not being used. WD40 has worked wonders on multiple sticky windows in our house.

helpfulperson · 20/12/2021 12:18

I agree with a good dose of wd40, it solves most thinks. Or who would you contact for repairs like light bulb changing - call them out.

AlfonsoTheUnrepentant · 20/12/2021 12:50

I wonder if the problem is in the frame. The double-glazed window in my dining room has a sliding mechanism in the frame that stops it from being opened wider than a few centimetres. I need to push the mechanism up to open the window more widely.

Is it possible to see anything in the frame, OP?

New posts on this thread. Refresh page