Safe-Home.com

Question about options to window guards.

Q: "We have a cottage. Our windows are single hung and sliders. We want to keep windows open for ventilation without the expense of window guards. What window stops do you suggest that don't require hiring a handyman? Thanks. Bethany."

Answer: Safe Home sells three different types of window stops. The Window Guardian Super Stopper, The Window Wedge and the Window Guardian Lock. The best choices still are window guards. The John Sterling Window Guards can be locked with a removable lock and swing open for cleaning windows. These are not expensive but would require a handy man type person if you cannot do the installation itself. The Guardian Angel window guards are much easier to install. They are not lockable but do remove completely from the window mounts.

Window Guardian Super Stopper The fastest and easiest to install is the Window Guardian or Super Stopper window stop. This home safety device combines a 2.75 inch flexible suction cup with a unique shaped wedge (1.25 inch x 2 inch). Clean the window. Open the window 4 inches or less. Suction cup on the stops on either side of the single hung window lock mechanism or along the sides of the sliders (as high as you can). These are also great to limit sliding door openings if you have children you want to keep inside the house.

Window Wedge: The next easiest to install is the Window Wedge®. The Window Wedge® uses two 8 inch velcro strips that are 3/4 inches wide. The wedge portion is removable so you can open the window opening wider for cleaning. The that fit on the window frame itself. Made in USA.

To Install Window Wedge Window Stoppers On a Double Hung or Single Hung Window:

    Close the window
    Clean the surface of the window trim prior to application. Do not attach to glass itself.
    Peel off the backing from the 8 inch loop strip and place in the center of the upper window frame for a double hung or single hung window.
    Attach the Window Wedge® to the loop strip.
    Attach the second window wedge on the other side at the same height.
    Open the window until it is stopped by the window wedge.
    Note: For maximum child safety, maximum window opening should not exceed 4 inches.

To Install Window Wedge Window Stoppers On a Slider Window:

    Close window. Clean window frame surface before application of loop strip.
    Peel off backing of 8 inch loop strip and place in center of upper horizontal window frame (not on the glass)
    Attach the Window Wedge® to the loop strip with the
    two tines facing the adjacent window section.
    Slide window open until contact is made with the Window Wedge®
    Attach the second Window Wedge® unit to the bottom part of the
    Adjust the position of the Window Wedge® so that the
    window opening is 4 inches or less.
    Note: For maximum child safety, maximum window opening should not exceed 4 inches.

Window Guardian Window Lock. The push-button key lock design is a patented feature. Remove the key to keep the window locked. Easy to use, this security lock provides peace of mind and installs easily in minutes. The Window Guardian has a tamper-resistant cover and fits most windows. Requires a screwdriver for installation. White.

Before installation, remove the pull-key and cover.

1. Push the button while pulling the pull-key until it comes free. To remove cover, push down and slide it along the base towards the pull-key end.

2. Place the base on the spacer and line up the screw holes. Using the three #6 at head wood screws attach the base to the window or sill so that the end of the base is close to the edge of the sill or window.

3. Place the pin body onto the base so that the location tab ts into one of the three position slots. Select the position slot that gives the closest t to the keeper without causing interference.

4. Slide the cover along the base from the pull key end until it snaps into place. If it seems to bind, turn the cover around to position the locking bump at the correct end.

5. Place the pull key into the back of the assembled body and rotate gently until it finds the correct alignment and push the button, locking it in place.

6. Locate the keeper and install with the two #6 pan head screws. Clip the cover over the keeper to hide the screws. (Fig 3) An alternate orientation of keeper for vertical mounting is supplied. Use the second keeper as a holder for the pull-key when not engaged in the lock.

7.For aluminum windows, fit the lock to the aluminum adapter with 3 #6 machine screws. Fit the aluminum adapter to the handle or the flange at the end of the window. Secure the adapter with 2 Allen screws with Allen key provided. Use the appropriate keeper or drill a hole in the sill when required.

How to Use the Window Guardian: To unlock, pull the Pull-key and rotate 90 degrees/ the key button does not have to be pressed. The Pull-key can be left in. To remove the Pull-key, press the Pull-key button and pull until the key pops out. A second keeper is supplied as a location to store the Pull-key when not engaged in the lock. To insert the Pull-key into the key hole, rotate the key gently until it slides into alignment with the key hole. Once aligned, press the key button and push the key further into the key hole until you hear a click. Additional holes or keepers can be used to create locking positions that allow for partially open windows. Made in China.

Note: None of these products are substitutes for adult supervision. Never leave a child unattended with an open window. Thanks for your question.

Sincerely, Barbara

Question about how you wash your window glass when you have Guardian Angel Window Guards installed

Q: "I need to install window guards because the single hung windows in my new house are only 18 inches above the floor. The windows vary in size but most are 36 inches wide. I also have sliding windows in several rooms. I like sparkling clean windows. How difficult is it to remove the window guards? Are the Guardian Angel guards easy to install? Thanks. Beth."

Answer: Guardian Angel window guards are easy to install and easy to remove, for an adult or older child that is. These window guards are now standardized in the side mount heights as well. That means if you move and choose to remove the window guards to use in your new home, you can drill out the screws and re-install them. Unlike the John Sterling window guards, the Guardian Angel remove completely from the mounting bars.

For your single hung windows, mount a window guard or two or three for taller windows by mounting the lowest mount bar two inches above the sill. Then stack additional mounting bars as needed by butting the ends of the mounting bars together. Then telescope the window bars to lock into the mounting bars.Some people prefer to mount the window guards to cover the entire window. In this case use the longer, taller bars and mount vertically.

If you mount in sliders, the best way is like prison bars. Once more you decide the width opening you want and mount units side by side to fill that space. Yes, prison bars may not be attractive but they don't give your child a ladder to climb!

Each window guard has four locks, two on each side of two of the window bars. For example, there is  one lock on one side of bar 1 in a 3 bar unit and another lock on the other side. Bar 3 has an additional pair. You push in two locks at one time to release the bar. Push to the other side and release the second side. To reinstall, do the reverse. Make sure the bars lock into the side or top and bottom mounts.

Guardian Angel window guards are strong, powder coated white steel. They come in sizes that expand from 14 to 17 inches to those that expand from 73 to 120 inches. There are 3, 4 and 5 bar units that you can mix or match to meet your window protection needs.

Use a pair of Window Wedge window stops or a pair of Window Guardian Super Window Stops to keep the windows from opening more than 4 inches beyond the bars.

Thank you for your questions. Go to any window guard web page for access to our window guard guide.

Sincerely,

Barbara

Question about the JS-1135-Q2, John Sterling Set of TWO WHITE 5 Bar Swing Open Window Guards

Q: "We are living in a starter home. The second story windows are very close to the floor. Each room has two double hung windows. We want to protect our children from falling through the screens since we live in California where we rarely use our air conditioning. Our windows are 38 inches wide and 42 inches high. Is this the correct size for our windows. We want safety but don't want to pay a huge price." Thanks Sara.

Answer: The John Sterling window guard you refer to is made of steel, white in color and tested to withstand a force of 150 pounds at maximum extension if properly installed. We sell this guard either in a single pack or a case of 2. Figure on no more than $140 for the pair including shipping (July 2009) unless you live in a very rural area.   More...

Question about John Sterling security window guards, Max Guards, Fixed Guards and Swing Open Guards .

Q:" Hi I am in need of some expertise here. I am interested in window guards to prevent theft through an open window. If I was to purchase this item ,how do they prevent theft on windows that are open?" A US Navy Chief Gunner Wife.

Answer: The security window guards that we sell are mounted on the inside of the home, apartment or other building. Guards can be mounted to protect only the window opening or the entire window. There are three styles: fixed, removable and swing open. The fixed are not for escape: in some places they are banned and in others they are required in non-sleeping rooms for safety. The Max guards remove completely from the mounting bars. The swing open units do just that.

The two kinds that open have a hole for either a clip or a lock so they cannot be opened from outside the building. The bar spacings vary from 3.5 to 4 inches so a hand could get between the bars but removing anything of any size would be difficult. And removing the clip or lock would be difficult to impossible from the outside. The bars are made of steel. The diameter/size varies from a round bar to the angle type bar of the MAX guards.

Please go to our website to figure out which size or sizes of guards would protect your windows. If you have questions, please send us your window measurements and types of windows and we'll guide you.

Thanks for your question.
Sincerely, Barbara

Question about the product Product Code: JS-1123-P WHITE 3 Bar Fixed Window Guards 23-42 Inches wide.

Q: "Can this style of window guard be installed on crank out jalousie windows?"

Answer: Yes, this fixed window guard can be installed on a jalousie window. What is important is that the guards are installed so that when the windows tilt they do not touch the bars. This may mean mounting the window bars on the window frame or beyond the frame into the wall studs after first screwing blocks of wood on the sides of the windows so as to make sure the window glass does not touch the window guard.

What you have chosen is a fixed or security window guard. These are recommended for non-sleeping rooms. If you are going to install this in a bedroom or are concerned about escape, please consider a window guard that can be opened by removing a lock pin. For example, the WHITE 5 Bar Lift Out MAX Long Window Guard 21x40-60 In. is a sturdy security window guard that also lifts out for window washing and escape. Also the WHITE 6 Bar Swing Open Window Guard (24-42 in. wide) swings open for window washing and escape.

As one website pointed out, the advantage of jalousie windows is the great ventilation and that they do not obstruct the view. The disadvantage is that the panes of glass are small,are a security risk as they are more easily and quietly broken out than a solid pane and are almost impossible to seal for energy efficiency.

Thanks again for your question.

Sincerely, Barbara

Question about the product Product Code: = GA3558-45 Guardian Angel Window Guard

Q: "Is this product suitable for mounting on the exterior of the house? If not, do you carry anything which can be externally mounted?-Rob

Answer: The window guards we sell are truly meant for mounting on the inside of a house or apartment, inside the interior window frame. Both the John Sterling brand and the Guardian Angel brands can be mounted on the exterior of a house. Be aware that corrosion will occur due to moisture. If you choose a fixed window guard, the corrosion will require periodic painting of the metal guards.

If you choose a removable guard like the Guardian Angel or the John Sterling 1170 series, removal may be impaired by the corrosion. The Guardian Angel units telescope apart, extending to snap into the mounting bars. The John Sterling 1170 extend. Although the bars are painted, extending them and compressing them can rub off paint.

The window guard most comparable to the GA3558-45 is the John Sterling model JS-1175 , which will mount vertically to protect casements or sliders that are 21 to 25 inches wide and 21-42 Inches tall. This is a unit that can be used both for security and safety.

Please measure your windows and we'll help you make the best choice to protect them.

Sincerely, Barbara

Question about Window Guards: "My company needs 200 white window guards. We will be installing these in an apartment complex. I was going to purchase these on-line and wanted to know the best shipping method. These are for windows where the bottom pane moves up and down. I was looking at the John Sterling Window Guards that are 20 inches high and fit a window that is 24 to 42 inches in width." -Erin

Answer: Erin, before we talk about best shipping methods, there are many questions that we need to have answered as Safe Home Products wants to make sure that your company purchases the correct guards and the correct brand of guards for your particular application.

Safe Home Products sells two brands of window guards, Guardian Angel guards are totally removable from the mounting bars and are ASTM approved for New Jersey installations. A different guard is the John Sterling ASTM approved for New Jersey applications. The John Sterling guards come in several types including fixed, swing open, and removable. Some John Sterling guards have an option for a locking pin or a lock for security purposes. Both brands of window guards can be installed in a wide variety of windows including sliders, horizontally opening windows and casements that wind or push out.

A. Code requirements: Many cities, counties, states have code requirements. Among the codes are these factors:

1. Amount of window opening that must be covered by the guards.

2.Bar spacing requirements: 3.5 inches or 4 inches or 4.5 inches.

3. Open space allowed between the bottom bar and the bottom of the window opening and the top bar and the top of the window opening. Can a permanent window stop be used to keep that top opening at a particular level (say 3.5 to 4 inches)?

4. Fixed (non removeable) Guards versus Removeable Guards: Some codes require that all guards be removable or swing open. Other codes say that fixed must be put in non-sleeping areas, etc.

5. Locking Requirement? Presence or absence of a hole in the window for purposes of using a locking pin or lock device.

6. Requirements for non-opening guards at or above a particular level in a building? (In some cities, the guards installed above the 6th floor must be fixed as fire ladder trucks can rarely reach beyond a 6th floor to rescue people through windows.)

7. Do you want to order bulk packed guards? There is one John Sterling window guard that can be purchased bulk, i.e. you purchase the window guard, the locking channel, the screws, etc. all separately. This guard also comes in white or dark brown.

B. Accurate measurements of the windows: We quote window guards based upon the information provided to us by our customers. Many guards differ in size by only 1 inch. For example, if the window opening is 23 inches wide, the guards we discussed cannot be used. Similarly if the window opening is 42.5 inches, you would need a different sized guard.

D. How will the guards be mounted? Interior or Exterior within a room to be protected? Most guards are mounted inside the interior window frame. There are options for mounting John Sterling window guards side by side to fill larger width or banks of windows. For example when 3 larger double hung windows are in a single window frame, there are supports that can be used for side by side installation. Also some people prefer to mount the guards by securing into the window studs that are around the window.

D. Color: Guardian Angel come only in white. The John Sterling Max Series 1700 come only in white. The John Sterling 1100, 1200 and 1300 series are availabe in off-white or dark brown (special order for larger quantities)

C. Delivery options. Delivery by truck (common carrier) is the most economical for larger orders of guards. The goods would be put on wooden or plastic pallets.

1. Availability of a loading dock? If not, there would be additional shipping charges for a truck with a lift gate.

2. Someone to unload the truck. The freight company's responsibility ends with arrival on site unless special, costly arrangements are made in advance. A fork lift, pallet jack (if a loading dock is available) or manpower would be needed to remove the guards from the truck. Most trucking companies deliver by appointment. So we would need a phone number for the delivery location/person.

3. Is this a commercial address? In general, freight companies will deliver only to commercial business addresses.

4. To get an accurate freight quote, we would need to have a street, city and zip code. With the current fluctuation in fuel prices, this quotation would probably have to be amended prior to shipment of the goods as it would be "good" only for 3 to 4 days.

D. Estimated Time to Deliver On-Site: Orders of 100 or more window guards generally take 14 days to 21 days to manufacture. Occasionally, goods can ship faster than that. Time in transit once shipped averages 4 to 6 days.

Once we get the information above, we can then quote the costs more accurately. For example, if the bar spacing of 4 inches is acceptable, we can quote a comparable guard that is 22 inches high and can be configured both as a fixed and a removable guard. If the 3.5 inch spacing is part of the code, we have only one option to quote and it is a 20 inch high guard.

I hope this information is helpful to you and others who are purchasing window guards to protect children from window falls.

If you have more questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,
Barbara

Question about window guards for a wide, tall sliding window.

Q: "We have large, sliding windows. One side of each window slides horizontally. The inside measurement (ie, the actual "screen" itself - this measurement does not include any window framing, etc) of the screens are: 61" high, 30" wide. I want to be sure to purchase the correct window guard. Do we have to cover the entire opening of the screen? That seems excessive to me. I was thinking that the guard would need to come up as high as a standard safety gate would - but maybe I am wrong. Please let me know if you have what we need. Sincerely, Kimberly"

Answer:
Dear Kimberly,

To childproof a slider window or a casement (wind out) window, the only safe way is to cover the entire window opening with one or more vertically mounted guards spaced side by side with a 4 inch or less space between them. Yes, this means the guard looks like prison bars. Otherwise a child could use a horizontally installed guard as a ladder and climb over the guard and fall out. In order to slide both sides of your window, you will need to stack guards side by side to cover the entire window. To determine the size that you need, please go to our window guard sizing and selection page.

There was a sad situation in New Jersey a few months back. A child fell OVER a horizontally mounted window guard through the screen. It was a slider window. I was contacted by a man who was going to testify about this tragedy. Horizontal window guards are made for single hung or double hung windows: a window stop can be used to stop that window from opening above the guard so the child cannot climb over. Sometimes, parents will protect the entire window if it is next to a bed or sofa where a child might fall against the window and break the glass.

Since this was originally published in 2003, Safe Home has added a second window guard line, the John Sterling line. These are expanding window guards, not telescoping ones. The window guard sizes range include sizes from an 11 inch window guard that expands to 24-42 inches to a 6 bar guard that expands from 58 inches to 76 inches. Some units are fixed ones that can be modified to swing open egress or escape window guards with accessories such as a locking channel for a six bar basic window and a safety release pin to pull out so the window can swing open.

Feel free to contact us if you have additional questions or want to childproof a number of windows in your home.

Sincerely, Barbara