By Todd, owner of Windows Plus
“Crank window” is one of those terms everybody understands and nobody’s quite sure is the official name. If you’ve got a window with a little handle at the bottom that you turn to open it, you’ve got a crank window. Here’s what they are, how they work, and what I look for when a homeowner tells me theirs has started acting up.
What is a crank window?
A crank window is any window that opens with a hand crank instead of sliding. The official names are casement (hinged on the side, swings out like a door) and awning (hinged at the top, swings out from the bottom). Both use the same basic mechanism, so in everyday conversation they both get called crank windows or crank-out windows.
How a crank window works
Under that handle is a small gearbox called an operator. When you turn the crank, the gears push an arm that swings the sash open. Turn it back and the arm pulls the sash closed. Then you flip the lock, which pulls the sash tight against the weatherstripping all the way around.
That last part is why crank windows seal so well. A sliding window has to leave a little room to move. A locked crank window is pressed shut.
Crank window vs. casement vs. awning
- Casement: Hinged on the left or right. Opens wide and catches a side breeze. Common in kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms. I compare casements to other styles in detail in types of casement windows.
- Awning: Hinged at the top. Because it opens like a little roof, you can leave it cracked in light rain. Common in bathrooms, basements and above or below bigger fixed windows.
- Crank window: The everyday name for either one.
Why people like crank windows
- Easy to open where you can’t reach. Over a kitchen sink or behind a counter, turning a crank is a lot easier than leaning over and pushing a sash up.
- Full ventilation. The whole sash opens, not half of it.
- Tight seal. Locking the sash compresses the weatherstripping, which helps with drafts and energy bills.
- Clean look. No meeting rail across the middle of the glass, so the view is uninterrupted.
The downsides I’m honest about
- The screen is on the inside, since the sash swings out.
- The crank operator is a moving part. It’s the first thing to wear out on an older window.
- A sash swinging out over a deck or walkway can get in the way.
- You can’t put a window air conditioner in one.
Common problems with older crank windows
These are the calls we get most about crank windows that are 20 or more years old:
- The crank spins but nothing happens. The gears in the operator are stripped.
- It won’t close all the way or won’t lock. The sash has sagged or the hinges have worn, so it doesn’t line up with the frame anymore.
- Fog between the glass. The seal on the insulated glass has failed. That glass isn’t insulating like it used to.
- Drafts even when it’s locked. The weatherstripping is flattened or torn.
- Soft or rotted wood at the bottom of the sash or frame. Water has been getting in for a while.
We’re a replacement company, so we don’t repair crank hardware. When one of these problems shows up on a window that’s already older, replacing the whole window is usually the better long-term fix. You get new hardware, new glass and a new, tight frame at the same time.
Replacing a crank window
We do full-frame replacement only. We take the old window out down to the rough opening, check for rot, then set, insulate and seal a new window in the same opening. You can replace a crank window with a new crank window, or switch styles. Plenty of people switch a hard-to-use double-hung over the sink to a casement for the easier crank.
If your crank windows are in a bedroom and serve as the emergency exit, we replace them with windows that open at least as wide as what you have.
How to keep crank windows working
- Turn the crank gently. Don’t force it if the sash is stuck or it’s windy.
- Close the sash before you lock it. Forcing the lock is what bends the hardware.
- Keep the track and hinges clear of dirt and leaves.
- Check the weatherstripping every fall for tears or gaps.
Are crank windows right for your home?
If you want easy operation, a tight seal and a clear view, they’re hard to beat. If the window opens onto a busy patio, or you need a window AC unit, a double-hung or slider may be the better choice. We’ll help you sort that out opening by opening. Take a look at our window types, check our current offers, or schedule a free in-home estimate. Our own crews do the install, not subcontractors.
