Stuck 1981 Pella inserts

2 years ago

Hi all

We moved to our house two years ago and actually like our 1981 Pellla double hung windows and do not find them drafty even during our cold winters HOWEVER, we can‘t remove the inserts (see photos) in order to clean between the two panes, nether could the previous owner who lived here 5 years! I don’t know whether the surrounding wood warped or whether the windows were painted not allowed to dry properly. I’ve tried running a piece of film around them and a metal putty knife No luck on any of the 18 windows. We don’t want to replace them because they are functioning fine aside from the cleaning issue. Please advise.

Sherry

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Comments (6)

jrb451
2 years ago
None of your 18 windows will loosen after opening the latch pins? How many are on each window, eight? More than that?
Sherry
Original Author
2 years ago
Correct. We can’t remove the inserts on any of the windows The smaller bedroom windows have 8 latch pins, the larger downstairs windows have 10.
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Sherry
Original Author
2 years ago
I thought maybe the wood expanded with humidity, but we can’t remove the inserts even in the winter. btw, all of the latch pins open fine, we just can’t pry the inserts out.
PRO
toddinmn
2 years ago
They could have been put in when the paint was or they could have caulked in place.
jrb451
2 years ago
It would seem that you'd be able to remove at least one of the 18 panes. Sorry, I'm stumped. We have Pella casement windows and I've not experienced your problem. Pella will fix it for you but be prepared for sticker shock.
Sherry
Original Author
2 years ago
I can’t see any caulking in there. I do know that they were removed sometime before 2016. One previous owner said they were always a little tight. Someone suggested I try a heat gun. I have not tried that yet.