It may not have occurred to you, but the windows in your house that open from the bottom and the top are named sash windows. They have been around for more than two hundred years. Many of the original ones appear in homes that were built in revolutionary times. They are now becoming very popular across the nation and in other parts of the globe.
The best thing about these windows is the ability to decide which way you want the breeze to come in. By lowering the top section or raising the lower section it controls how the air flows. With older windows there may sometimes be an issue with how the sections slide. Most of these issues can be repaired. If it can not be repaired then a window can be replaced. Modern versions can have double panes of glass and can tilt.
The two parts in the window are the sashes. They do not have to be of the same size. It is by design that some might be different. It does not effect how a window operates.
Sometimes you might not be able to close a section. This may be because of an object in the the track. If an object is lodged, then try to remove it. Do not try forcing the section closed. This can cause irreparable damage.
When a house settles it may also warp the window frame. If that is the case, then you may need to have a general contractor or window specialist take a look. There is not much you can do on your own and it may result in the permanent disabling of the function of a window. This type of window can be fragile because of two moving parts. Being delicate with the windows can keep them functioning for many years.
The climate will change the way that the window operates. If the weather has been warm then it may loosen the the window on the track. This will result in a window sliding too quickly. Just keep a good grip on it until it is secured by a latch.
The winter months can make sash windows a little more difficult to open. Applying a slow pressure will usually dislodge the sash. Wiggling can cause damage to the window. There may be a little room for it to wiggle if there is just be careful while doing it. Too much and you might have to find a replacement window.
Rather than discard your aged double hung windows, call in a sash window restoration London firm. A sash window company can refinish, repair and renovate aged windows so they look as attractive as new.