Casement Window Crank & Lock Repair in Ottawa
Casement windows are everywhere in Ottawa housing built from the eighties on, and the hardware fails long before the window does. A crank that spins without moving anything, a sash that will not pull in tight, a lock that no longer reaches — all three are replaceable parts, and all three are worth fixing before winter rather than during it.
$170–$310 per window including standard operator hardware
Common problems we fix
What actually turns up on these calls in Ottawa homes, and what each one really means.
The crank turns but the window does not move
The operator gearbox has stripped. It is a bolt-in replacement part matched to the make — the window stays, the mechanism gets swapped.
The window will not pull in tight against the seal
Either the operator has worn or the sash has dropped in the frame. A window that closes but does not compress its weatherstrip is a draft you can feel from across the room.
The lock handle no longer reaches the keeper
Sash sag again. The keeper can be moved, but if the sag is significant the hinges get corrected first so the fix lasts.
Condensation or frost forms on the inside
If it is on the glass surface it is usually a humidity and seal issue. If it is between the panes, the sealed unit has failed and that is glass replacement, not hardware — we will tell you which one you have.
The crank handle is loose or has snapped off
Handles are cheap and available. The more useful question is why it broke, which is usually because the operator underneath was already binding.
How the work is done
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1
Identify the hardware
Operators are make-specific. Photos of the mechanism and the sash channel decide the part.
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2
Check the sash
Square and hinge condition assessed before new hardware goes in.
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3
Swap the operator
Old gearbox out, new one aligned to the arm channel.
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4
Seal and test
Weatherstrip inspected, window cranked through full travel and locked.
What it costs
Most single windows are $170–$310 with a standard operator. Uncommon or older proprietary hardware may need ordering, which adds a few days but not usually much cost. Doing several windows in one visit is substantially cheaper per window.
See the full Ottawa rate card →Frequently asked — Casement Window Repair Ottawa
Can a casement window crank be repaired or does it need replacing?
The gearbox is a sealed unit — it gets replaced rather than rebuilt. But that is a part, not a window, and the cost difference is enormous.
Do you replace the window itself?
No. Full window replacement is a specialist install with its own warranty implications. Hardware, sash adjustment and weatherstripping we handle.
My window is drafty — is that hardware or the window?
Test it by closing the window on a strip of paper. If the paper pulls out easily, the sash is not compressing the seal and that is usually fixable hardware. If it holds tight and you still feel a draft, the seal or the frame is the issue.
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Part of Carpentry & Trim · Serving Kanata, Stittsville, Nepean, Barrhaven, Orléans, Gloucester and all of Ottawa.
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