Quick answer
If your sliding aluminium window drags or will not close, raise the sash with the adjusting screw at the bottom ends of the sash frame, clean the track and lubricate the rollers with silicone spray. If it is side-hung, tighten the hinges and brackets and adjust the catch. Replace the rollers if they are worn.
What you need
- Phillips and flat screwdrivers
- 4 mm Allen key
- Vacuum cleaner with a narrow nozzle
- Brush and cloth
- Flat plastic spatula
- Needle-nose pliers
- Silicone spray (WD-40 Specialist silicone or similar)
- Replacement rollers of the same diameter and axle (Leroy Merlin, Bricodepot, ferretería)
- Pile or rubber weatherstrip of the right section
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Replacement catch of the right series, if needed
Step by step
- 1
Identify the fault
Open and close the sash several times. Note whether it drags, tilts to one side, will not close fully or lets in air. This tells you where to start.
- 2
Clean the track
Vacuum the track from top to bottom and wipe the lower and upper guides with a cloth and alcohol. Clear the drain holes with a toothpick or a thick needle.
- 3
Find the adjusting screws
At the bottom ends of the sash, on the edge, there is a hole that gives access to the roller screw. Sometimes it is covered by a plastic plug, which you can lever out with a fingernail.
- 4
Raise the sash
Turn the screw clockwise to raise the sash, half a turn at a time, on both rollers equally. The sash should end up parallel with the frame, without rubbing the track.
- 5
Take the sash out if the rollers need changing
Lift the sash up until it clears the top track and tilt the bottom edge towards you. Get help: it weighs between 15 and 30 kg. Rest it on a blanket.
- 6
Replace the worn roller
Remove the housing screws or lever the roller out with a flat screwdriver. Fit the new one with the same axle and the same height. If both are worn, replace them together.
- 7
Lubricate with silicone
Spray silicone on the rollers and in the track and wipe with a cloth. Do not use oil: it attracts dust.
- 8
Adjust the catch
Close the window and check the hook engages in the keep. If it does not, loosen the keep, move it a few millimetres and tighten it again.
- 9
Replace the weatherstrips and test
Pull out the old weatherstrip, clean the channel and press in the new one with a plastic spatula. Close the window and test with a piece of paper: it should be gripped when the window is shut.
Which type of window you have and what usually goes wrong
An aluminium window is not fixed the same way if it is sliding, side-hung or a balcony door. Identify it before you open the toolbox, because the faults are different and so are the parts.
Sliding. The commonest type in flats and apartments on the coast. The sash runs on two rollers along a track. Over time, dust and salt air seize up the rollers, the track fills with dirt and the sash drags, makes a noise or drops on one side. It is the type that gives the most trouble.
Side-hung (casement). It opens inwards or outwards on hinges, with a handle fastening. It fails because the hinges work loose, the sash sags on one side and stops closing, or because the catch no longer lines up with the keep.
Balcony door. It is heavier and has more friction in the track, and the handle takes a beating. It fails in the same ways as the other two, but under more strain.
If your window has a handle with three positions (closed, open and tilt), it is a tilt-and-turn window, which has different hardware: see how to fix a tilt-and-turn window.
| Symptom | Probable cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Sliding window drags and squeaks | Worn rollers or dirty track | Clean, lubricate and adjust the rollers |
| Sliding window dropped on one side | Damaged roller or adjustment out | Adjust or replace the roller |
| Does not close fully | Catch out of line or sash too low | Adjust the catch and brackets |
| Draughts and noise | Flattened seals | Replace the weatherstrip or pile seal |
| Water drips inside | Blocked track drain holes | Clear the holes in the track |
The commonest causes on aluminium windows
The rollers on a sliding window are small nylon parts with a bearing that carry the whole weight. They last about ten years, and less if the window is on the seafront. When they wear, the sash rubs on the track and drags. They are sold in pairs, and you need to check the diameter, the width and the axle.
The track collects fine sand, building dust and fluff. Going over it with a vacuum cleaner with a narrow nozzle, a brush and a cloth with alcohol is enough to restore the glide. The drain holes in the track, on the outside, clog with dirt and rainwater ends up coming in.
The catch on a sliding window is made up of a hook and a keep. If the sash has dropped, the hook stops engaging. You adjust it with the roller adjusting screws, and if the catch is broken you replace it with a new one of the same series. The weatherstrips, both pile and rubber, age, flatten and stop sealing. Replacing them improves insulation and cuts noise.
Common mistakes when fixing an aluminium window
- Putting oil or WD-40 in the track. It attracts dust and forms a paste. Use silicone spray, which does not hold on to dirt.
- Forcing the sash out. The frame bends and the seal is lost. Lift the sash and tilt it out carefully.
- Adjusting one roller without checking the other. If you adjust only one, the sash tilts. Adjust both together, half a turn at a time.
- Buying rollers from a photo. There are dozens of sizes. Take one out and bring it to the shop to compare.
- Silicone on the weatherstrip. It hardens it and it stops sealing. Replace it.
- Drilling the profile to fix a bracket. A hole in the profile weakens it and breaks the seal. Use screws with the same thread or call a professional.
When to call a professional, and prices
You can adjust rollers, clean tracks and replace seals yourself with basic tools. Call a professional when the sash is large or heavy, when the frame has warped, when the glass is broken or has condensation between the panes (the double glazing has lost its seal) or when the hardware has to be replaced and you do not know the profile series.
At Manitas Costa we charge on the handyman hourly rate: €35-45 for the first hour and €28-35 for the following ones, plus parts. There is no fixed rate specific to windows, which is why we give you a fixed price on WhatsApp after seeing photos of the window, the track and the roller. There is more information on handyman at home and on how much a handyman costs per hour. If a timber sash has to be planed or timber frames adjusted, see carpenter at home.
What we do not do. We do not make or replace complete windows, or change sealed double-glazed units: that is done by an aluminium joinery firm or a glazier. We will point you in the right direction if a repair is not worth it. And if the problem is the handle, there is the guide on a loose door handle.
Salt air, residents' associations and windows on the coast
Near the sea, aluminium that is not anodised or has only a thin lacquer corrodes in spots, and salt air sticks sand and salt in the track and on the rollers. Simple maintenance every six months (vacuum, clean with alcohol, silicone spray) extends the life of the window far more than any repair. In Torrevieja, Benidorm, Dénia or La Malvarrosa, do it before the summer.
In a building with a comunidad de vecinos (residents' association), facade windows are usually private on the inside, but the outside appearance may be governed by the building's statutes. Do not change the colour or the type without checking. In second homes that stay shut for months, open and close each window when you arrive, to spot a seized track before a storm. Damaged seals let water through in heavy rain, and on the Mediterranean it comes suddenly in autumn.
Frequently asked questions
How do you fix a sliding aluminium window that drags?
Clean the track with a vacuum and alcohol, apply silicone spray and adjust the height with the roller screw, half a turn at a time. If the sash still rubs, the rollers are worn and need replacing with ones of the same size.
Can you adjust a dropped aluminium window without taking it out?
Yes, if it is a sliding window. With the adjusting screw reachable on the bottom edge of the sash, you raise or lower each side. On a side-hung window, you tighten the hinges and brackets. You only need to take the sash off if rollers or hardware have to be changed.
How much does it cost to repair an aluminium window?
We charge by the hour: €35-45 for the first hour and €28-35 for the following ones, plus parts. Adjusting or replacing rollers usually takes one to two hours. We give you a fixed price over WhatsApp if you send photos of the window and the track.
Why does water come in through my aluminium window when it rains?
Almost always because the track drain holes are blocked with dirt or the seals are flattened. Clear the holes, clean the track and replace the weatherstrips. If water is getting in around the frame, the outside perimeter sealant needs checking.
Do you replace complete windows?
No. We repair, adjust and replace parts, but we do not make or replace complete windows or change sealed double-glazed units. If your window cannot be repaired, we point you to an aluminium joinery firm. We always tell you before we charge.