Window Tips
Parker-Holsman Co.    1461 E. 57th Street    Chicago, IL 60637    773-493-2525 Your Neighborhood Realtor since 1931

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Parker-Holsman Co. was a charter member of the Institute for Real Estate Management in the 1930's. We continue to believe that it's our responsibility to educate our clients. We hope that you will find this information useful.

Index to articles:

• Enjoy summer beauty/skies through gleaming windows
• Double-hung windows

Enjoy summer beauty through gleaming windows (From The Primer, Summer 1998)
Few chores have more satisfactory outcomes than window washing. With just a few strokes of the squeegee, sparkling glass reveals a whole new world out there. (No, it will not get rid of your view of the dumpster.) Here are some tips from the pros:

• Add two or three tablespoons of vinegar or ammonia to a gallon of water plus one teaspoon of powdered cleanser.
• Keep the water clean.
• Apply the solution to the windows and wipe with a squeegee.
• Clean your squeegee with a piece of newspaper and polish with same for extra shine.
• Avoid washing windows when the sun is shining on them or they'll dry too fast, leaving streaks.
• Too much work? Call Parker-Holsman for the names of some REAL pros.

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Double-hung windows
If you live in an older building, it may have double-hung windows. Double-hung windows are windows in which both of the sashes move. The sashes are held in the "up" position by couterweights that are mounted over pulleys at the top of the window frame. If your window will not stay open, it may be because the counterweight has become separated from the sashcord or chain. Repairing this problem is a professional job that requires:

• removal of the window stop, lower sash, and parting strip to expose the weight pocket door in the bottom part of the jamb
• opening the weight pocket door and reattaching the sashcord or chain to the weight (this may entail rethreading the sashcord or chain over the pulley)
• closing the weight pocket door and reinstalling the window frame parts

Of course, if the weight pocket door is not hidden, there is no need to remove the frame parts.

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