My Window Screen pops out, Fix from inside?

May 16, 2005 6:28 PM

My window screen pops out at the bottom corner. I'm on 2nd floor. Easy fix from inside?

It's not bad but I can't seem to pull the screen back in with the tab. I tried a pocket knife but i just can't get the angle right, I almost popped it completely out that way. the screen's frame isn't bent or anything. I suspect a previous tenant pushed on it by accident and it popped the corner out.

Any ideas?

I don't have access to a ladder and it would have to be a big ladder anyway. I can call my landlord but its such a small thing I'd rather see if I could fix it myself from inside.

posted by freudianslipper to home & garden (9 comments total)

Krazy Glue a handle to it, pull straight in, then clean the glue off with acetone.
posted by nicwolff at 6:55 PM on May 16, 2005

Now that we have a good answer, did anyone else get to "I tried a pocket knife" before realizing the questioner was taking about a real, live, physical window?

I was sitting here being like "what the hell is he talking about?"

Need to get outside more...
posted by trevyn at 7:17 PM on May 16, 2005

Fishing hook, maybe? thread it through the screen near the corner and spin it so that the the sharp end of the hook is pressing up against the frame.
posted by GeekAnimator at 7:20 PM on May 16, 2005

Can you weave a piece of wire through the screen enough to pull it in?
posted by blm at 7:22 PM on May 16, 2005

If you don't have a fishing hook, try a partially-unbent paperclip. Is the frame that holds the screen bent out of whack? If so, you may need to bend that back into shape before your screen will stay put. Some screens have little arc-shaped springs that press against the frame - you may need to coax a little more curve into those to get a snug fit in the frame.

I actually can't remember ever coming across a window screen that was not removable from inside. I think it's required by fire codes.
posted by Quietgal at 7:33 PM on May 16, 2005

The screen is on the outside of the frame, right? So there's a potential gap between the screen and the frame?

Do you have a pair of tin snips? (strong cast-metal kitchen scissors do fine). Take a pop can, cut the top & bottom off. Cut down the cylinder to get a sheet of aluminium. Flatten, fold in half. Fold a "P" shape without completing the bottom part of the upper part of the P.

You now have a handy tool to grip the bottom of your (removable?) screen.

For bonus marks, find some foam, cut it so that it fits in the groove holding your screen in place. Place that foam in the groove before you re-do the screen. If its too much, do the bottom first, then foam the top.
posted by PurplePorpoise at 9:06 PM on May 16, 2005

If you can get a handle on the screen by any of the above methods, some silicone spray might help it slip into the channel where it belongs.
posted by Cranberry at 10:14 PM on May 16, 2005

DAMNIT!!! I was so close with the paperclip idea but when it was almost in the frame bent in the middle so now I ahve both top and bottom right hand corners out of wack.

I first tried the tin can idea but it wasn't working, the aluminum would fold flat when I tried to use it. ANd there isn't really a good angle to superglue a handle.

damn damn damn!!!!

thanks guys for your help but I think i'm screwed.
posted by freudianslipper at 10:55 AM on May 17, 2005

AH HA!!!

Some screens have little arc-shaped springs that press against the frame - you may need to coax a little more curve into those to get a snug fit in the frame

That was it! I had to pop it almost out of frame and push against the arcs with my left hand as I pull it back in with the right. I had to bend the frame back a bit from my previous flops.

thanks so much everyone, it's back in now!
posted by freudianslipper at 11:04 AM on May 17, 2005