Honestly, I went with sliders when I moved in just because they seemed easier to deal with—no handles to snap off or lose. But you’re right, those tracks get nasty fast, especially with my dog shedding all over. I do miss how tight the crank windows sealed in my old apartment, though. Seems like it’s either drafty or dirty... kind of a lose-lose. If maintenance wasn’t a factor, I’d probably lean crank for the insulation alone.
those tracks get nasty fast, especially with my dog shedding all over
Yeah, I feel this one in my soul. I swear, my slider tracks look like a science experiment by springtime—dog hair, dust, mystery crumbs... you name it. Crank windows definitely seal better (at least until the crank handle falls off and vanishes forever). I miss how quiet they kept things, but I got tired of playing hide-and-seek with those little handles. At this point, I just keep a vacuum attachment handy and call it a day.
Man, the struggle is real. Every time I open my sliders, it’s like a tumbleweed of dog hair just rolls out. I used to have cranks in my old place and yeah, they sealed up tight, but those handles were always MIA or stuck halfway open. At least with sliders, you can muscle 'em open even if something’s jammed in there. Anyone actually found a way to keep those tracks from turning into a pet hair graveyard? I’ve tried the little brush thing but it never really gets everything...
I hear you on the pet hair—my golden retriever basically claims every inch of the house, including the window tracks. I tried those tiny vac attachments, but they just get clogged. What’s worked best for me is running a strip of painter’s tape along the track and peeling it up. It grabs more hair than any brush I’ve tried, though it’s not perfect. Sliders are definitely easier to muscle open, but man, they’re high maintenance if you’ve got pets. Cranks sealed better, but I was always hunting for that little handle...
I hear you on the lost crank handles—those things have a way of disappearing into a parallel universe. As someone who’s swapped out more window styles than I care to admit, I’ll say cranks do give you a better seal, which is great for drafts and noise. But yeah, the maintenance is a pain, especially if you’ve got pets or kids who like to “help.” Sliders are simpler to use and easier to clean, but you’re right, the tracks are basically fur magnets. Honestly, I’ve seen folks stick with sliders just because it’s easier to get replacement parts—crank mechanisms can be weirdly specific. If pet hair is the main headache, maybe sliders with deeper tracks and regular vacuuming (or that painter’s tape trick) is the lesser evil.
cranks do give you a better seal, which is great for drafts and noise
That’s the big one for me—energy efficiency. I swapped out a bunch of old aluminum sliders in my 70s ranch last winter and went with cranks (casements). The difference in drafts was immediate. Here’s how I tackled it:
1. Checked the seals on the new cranks—made sure they were tight all the way around.
2. Added weatherstripping where the frame met the wall, just in case.
3. Did a quick smoke test (just a stick of incense) to see if any air was sneaking through.
Maintenance is a pain, though. My dog’s fur gets everywhere, and the crank gears need a little lube every year or so. Still, the lower heating bill made it worth it for me.
Has anyone tried those slider models with built-in brush seals? Curious if they actually help with drafts or if it’s just marketing.
I get the love for cranks—no question, they seal up tight. But I’ll be honest, I stuck with sliders in my place mostly because I got tired of cranking open every window just to air things out. The brush seals on my newer vinyl sliders aren’t perfect, but they actually helped a lot compared to the old metal-on-metal ones. Plus, I can pop them open with an elbow when my hands are full (usually with laundry or a sandwich). Still have to vacuum up the dog hair, though... no escaping that.