How to reset your VELUX Integra Roof Window
Summertime and the livin’ is easy, fish are jumpin’… or it would be if you could get this VELUX integra window to open! The VELUX window has been stuck shut all winter and you can’t benefit from ventilating your property and getting some fresh air. And to top it off, you can’t open them because they seem to be disconnected from the remote!
This can often be a highly frustrating and time-consuming issue to resolve if you don’t know what you’re doing. Recently I went to see a homeowner who was in this position, they had their window shut for five months after it wouldn’t open following a power cut. It was in the bathroom with no ventilation during the whole of the winter. The window was looking tired, needed a good clean and to be back in an operational position.
The homeowner was frustrated when I arrived because he just couldn’t figure out how to fix the VELUX window. They watched a few YouTube videos and had other people round to diagnose but they had no success of fixing the window.
This is why I’ve decided to put together a blog on how to deal with this issue. Within minutes the window was operational, and the fresh air was finally circulating the room ready for the summer. The customer couldn’t have been happier and left us a great review on Google. So, with no further ado, this is how you deal with the problem:
The most common issue to why windows won’t open is because the bar at the top of the window has been stuck in vent mode.
*insert photo of window in vent mode*
This often occurs after the VELUX integra window has been automatically closed by the rain sensor when it has detected rain. The window can look as if it is shut and locked, but if you look closely the vent bar may be slightly ajar which means the window is open.
The chain of the motor, which is used to mechanically open and close the window latches onto a clip on the vent bar. As the chain pushes out of the motor housing and attaches to the clip fixed onto the vent bar, this means its impossible to open the window because it’s secured in place.
The only way to open the windows is to remove the chain from the latch clip, which is not an easy process. As VELUX windows are in the roof, they tend to be at least three or four metres in the air, and you won’t be able to see where the latch is from ground level. The latch is located roughly to the left of the centre of most windows. With the larger windows they have two latches that will be either side of the window. You will be looking for the righthand side latch in this case.
*photo of window with chain retracted*
If you follow the official VELUX guidance you can use a paper clip to unlatch the clip but, in my experience, this has never been possible with a paperclip. I remember the first time I attempted this, it took me three hours of standing on the ladder, getting sweaty from the lack of ventilation and frustration trying to figure it out.
Once you have located the clip, you will then need to release the chain; by doing this, the chain should then become free from the chain housing. You then need to find the grey reset button which is located within the motor housing and press and hold it for 15 seconds. The chain should start to retract. Once the chain is retracted for 15 more seconds, it will start to move and it is then in reset mode which means you can then reset the remote. If the motor does not respond and the chain does not retract, it is likely the motor will need replacing.
*photo pairing the remote*
The most challenging and difficult part of this process is being able to access the window without the need for access equipment. By nature, integra windows are usually at high level. The highest VELUX integra window that I have ever had to deal with was 15 metres from the ground, in a vaulted ceiling over a stairwell. As you can imagine, that was quite a challenge!
Make the other reasons a drop down? To shorten.
Other reasons why your VELUX window may not be working:
- If the window is a solar unit and has been in place for several years it is likely that the battery has failed, and the full kitset will need to be replaced. The average life expectancy is around 5- 7 years and VELUX usually offer a 3-year warranty on mechanical parts from new. So, if your window is less than 3 years old, the parts should be covered under warranty if proven to be faulty. Providing a cost for supply and fit of parts is something that we can offer you.
- With electric windows we’ve also noticed that the motor/transformer in can fail within a similar time frame to solar operated windows. Alike the solar kitsets, these components may need to be replaced also.
Another common reason for electric VELUX windows failing to open is that the fuse spur has been turned off at the wall switch. Believe it or not, it’s quite common that people are unsure of what a switch does when they have just moved into a new property if it doesn’t turn on a light fitting etc. It is likely to be your fuse spur to isolate the power to the windows. Often people are quite embarrassed when we switch the switch on, and the VELUX windows start working again.
Please note: Some electricians that commission these windows may not follow the standard fitting instructions so you may not have one of these for your window. You may require an electrician to pop over to check the electrics if we are unable to find the cause of the window failing to open.
- Lastly your manual pine windows may be difficult to open or shut due to the window being left in an opened or closed position for too long. You will find the pine frame can expand causing stiffness. This tends to happen on the older style windows, and you may want to consider a replacement if the condition has got too bad. Servicing your windows regularly once they have been replaced is essential to keep the windows functioning correctly.
I hope this blog gives you enough information to give it a go and see if you can fix the windows yourself. If not, me and my team are always on hand to assist you further.