It’s an Andersen skylight put in in ’93. We just replaced the roof with EPDM and also made a new flashing – so it won’t look “Andersen” but here’s the problem. Customer says he has put 2 new “arm opening gearbox” replacement parts in it. We looked into it and one of the gears had now come off the axle, we got it back on. It goes up, starts down, stops midway and needs manual cranking help.
I’m wanting to steal into some experience I haven’t had here – it’s my opinion looking at the thing that even when it’s working it’s barely working. The design doesn’t look that mechanically brilliant, not that I could do better. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. We told him get another gear assembly.
Replies
You won't want to hear it but I'd replace the whole thing with Velux.
Jeff
Jeff, I don't think customer will go for any major $ but I'll keep that brand in mind.
Call an Andersen rep and let them figure it out. Let them tell you what to do. If you keep trying to mess with it and break it any more, HO will want you to replkace the whole thing.
Framer,Tx, I think you're right. At first I was hoping it was something simple.
Measure visable glass call Andersen and order new part. They have straight arem and split arm operators, you may w3ant to call while you are looking at it. Make sure tension is set correctly on the springs. If not, it blows out the gear boxes.
You can call Andersen direct, they will send out a rep.... but have your CC handy it's very spensive.
I wondered about the adjustment on those springs. I was wishing we had a Andersen handle to manually run it up and down and maybe check that. We stopped when we saw the slop in the gears so we didn't mess with the springs.
Handle or not when that gear pops out it's toast.
Andersen's are a bit of a PITA because they have roof windows and ventilating skylights.... getting the right parts can be a test of patiences because they have changed parts from the original design and some need a retrofit and cutting of covers to fit.
They will send a tech to solve the problem.... might even be me... but it won't be cheap, because I'd have to figure it out too. ;-)
yup 2 calls for velux. They have a nice package. OR good luck rebuilding it. might be cheaper if you can find a replacement kit!
Velux is the way to go , i have 7 in my 1873 home with a metal roof & after a number of years none are leaking
I have installed other brands here & elsewhere & all leaked or sweated like hell
The velux passed the smoke test using a blower door also
I phoned the velux customer service when i contimplated using their product & talked to a former roofer they had there for advice which sure helped
By the time i had 7 units installed complete i went through $22,000 cdn.
Gimme a V gimmie a E gimmie L gimmie u gimme a X, what does that spell relief, no thats another commercial. But it will spell the end of your involved headaches and with the Tech pricing perhaps cheaper to boot
I've serviced both and it's really not that big of a deal. All the parts for the Andersen product are online, and you can call them @ 1-888-888-7020 for help.The year roof window you have has a split arm operator that has now been replaced with a straight arm operator. They're easy to replace and have not had any callbacks. The older split arm types had a tendency to break at the center of the gears.Adjust the springs to the pitch of the roof. If they were not adjusted when the unit was originally installed that could be the reason why the mechanism broke.I think Andersen makes a great roof window. I have four of them in my home../View Image