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Window Jacks

atla-051308-windowjack01.jpgNow that the weather’s getting warmer, we like to throw open the windows to let the fresh air in. Living in an older apartment complex, our building’s shifted due to earthquakes and not everything works the way it’s supposed to. Take our windows for example. Our double hung window in our bathroom won’t stay up no matter how many times our handyman tweaks it. We’ve used a block or a nail to hold it up and then we found this solution…

 
 

This wooden window jack from The Vermont Country Store, a favorite old time source, does the trick with a little more panache and less of a chance of being startled awake in the middle of the night by the sudden slam of the window when the makeshift prop you've used fails. Three notches offer three options for keeping your windows open. Made of pine, they can be painted or stained to match your decor.


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window coverings, bathroom window, broken window, keeping the windows open

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Comments (8)

We use multiple pairs (for redundancy) of disposible chopsticks -- has been working great so far -- but they require a lip at the bottom of the window pane and window frame that hold them in place.

posted by ami on May 14th 2008 at 11:26am
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The windows probably don't work due to rotted sash cords - not earthquakes.

Install new sashcords tied to the weights inside the walls and your problem will be solved.

posted by bepsf on May 14th 2008 at 11:36am
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my windows are super old and quite heavy... would these still work with them?

posted by phu on May 14th 2008 at 11:36am
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hmmm....i have a cast iron skillet holding open my kitchen windown, a hacksaw holding open my bedroom window (don't ask.), and a dictionary holding open my office window -- all RIGHT now....maybe i should invest in a few of these...

posted by moni-ka in ky on May 14th 2008 at 11:52am
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I use a dowel rod about 1" in diameter and 18" long in one of my bedroom windows that doesn't stay open. I tuck it to the side so it can't be seen, and it works great. This gadget is super-cool, though since there are 3 different "settings."

posted by burpchick on May 14th 2008 at 12:12pm
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I've used a cut piece of 1x2. The nice thing was, when the window was closed, I could put the piece above the window to keep someone from opening it from the outside.

posted by twosavoie on May 14th 2008 at 1:08pm
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like burpchick, we've always used dowel rods. IMO, they look better because they stay out of the way! and nobody's going to knock it over. (and they can also be used to keep the window closed when it's down!)

posted by MoxyThunder on May 14th 2008 at 1:27pm
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Because I'm in charge of writing about all of The Vermont Country Store's products, I spend a lot of time checking them out. To answer phu's question, yup, they should work fine. If for some reason they don't, you can always send them back, for we have a 100% guarantee. I love these window jacks—made right here in Vermont, and a true example of Yankee ingenuity!

posted by Andrea Diehl on May 21st 2008 at 7:12am
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