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Frequently Asked Questions
What do the three handle positions do?
They select between locked, turn and tilt.
Handle down locks the window at multiple points around the frame.
Handle horizontal lets the sash swing inward on side hinges.
Handle vertical selects tilt, pivoting the sash inward at the top.
The position carries meaning rather than simply being open or shut.
That is what makes this handle different from every other window handle.
Can I fit a casement handle instead?
No - the gearbox has to interpret three distinct positions.
A casement handle is a two-position device.
It cannot drive the different hardware each position requires.
The tilt and turn functions would be inaccessible.
Handle and gear are a matched system.
Replacements come from the same manufacturer's range as the existing hardware.
Why is the tilt position useful?
It ventilates securely and resists both weather and intrusion.
The opening is limited and awkward to reach through.
Wind cannot blow it open as it can a full casement.
Rain entry is much reduced compared with a fully open window.
On upper storeys it ventilates without an opening a child could pass through.
That combination is much of why the system is specified at all.
Why has my window jammed?
Frequently the mis-handling device having done its job.
Operating the handle while the sash is open can throw the hardware out of synchronisation.
So can forcing it between positions.
Most systems include a device to prevent that.
A jam is often that protection rather than a breakage.
Resetting it usually involves holding the device while returning the handle.
Does the order of operation matter?
Yes - the sash should be closed before changing between modes.
Switching modes with the window open stresses the gear.
It is what throws the hardware out of synchronisation.
Closing fully, then selecting the next position, avoids it.
Children and unfamiliar users are the common cause.
A brief explanation of the sequence prevents most service calls on these windows.
Are the parts interchangeable between brands?
Generally not - tilt-and-turn hardware is a matched system.
Handle, gearbox, hinges and keeps come from one range.
Dimensions and geometry differ between manufacturers.
Identifying the existing system before ordering is essential.
Markings on the gear or hinges usually identify it.
Where the system is discontinued, replacing the whole hardware set may be the only route.
Can they be locked?
Lockable versions are common and are frequently specified.
A key locks the handle in the closed position.
Some allow locking in tilt for secure ventilation.
That is a genuine advantage over a casement window.
Escape considerations apply as they do to any locked window.
Local requirements govern where the window serves as an escape route.