How do I replace a window handle?

uPVC window handles fail predictably: the spindle wears, the mechanism seizes, or the plastic breaks. Replacement is straightforward, and the only thing that goes wrong is buying a handle whose spindle is the wrong length or whose screw centres do not match.

What you'll need

• Screwdriver
• Tape measure
• Replacement handle
• Silicone spray (optional)

Step by step

1. Open the window and find the screw covers on the handle base.Usually two small plastic caps that flip up or prise off with a small flat screwdriver.
2. Undo the two screws and pull the handle straight off.It should come away with the spindle. If it resists, check for a hidden third fixing.
3. Measure the spindle length from the base of the handle to the tip.Common lengths vary considerably. This is the measurement most often got wrong.
4. Measure the distance between the two screw centres.43mm is very common but not universal. Measure rather than assuming.
5. Note whether it is left or right handed, and whether it locks.Locking handles need a key and are worth keeping if the window is accessible from outside.
6. Fit the new handle, engaging the spindle into the gearbox before screwing it down.It should locate with the handle in the same position the old one was in — usually open.
7. Test the full range of movement before refitting the screw covers.If it is stiff, the gearbox may need lubricating rather than the handle replacing.
8. Spray the mechanism with a silicone lubricant once a year.Most handle failures are actually a dry, stiff gearbox that has been forced.

Tips

• If several handles are stiff, the problem is lack of lubrication rather than the handles. Silicone spray on the gearbox and hinges annually prevents most failures.
• Espagnolette gearboxes — the multi-point locking strip inside the frame — can also fail. If the handle turns freely but nothing moves, that is the gearbox.
• Keep a spare key for locking handles somewhere sensible; they are also a fire-escape consideration.

Common mistakes

• Buying a handle without measuring the spindle — Too short and it will not engage the gearbox; too long and it will not seat.
• Forcing a stiff handle — It breaks the handle or the gearbox. A stiff mechanism needs lubrication, not force.
• Ignoring handedness — Many handles are specific to left or right opening windows.

Questions people ask