Absolutely Useless Electric Velux Window

[whatxd]

I always have problems with these damn things, I was a fool to use them on my own build. I should've accepted that I wasn't opening the veluxs in the vauleted section of the roof.

Basically the chain will not come down more than an inch. It has never been used before, the house is still being built.

I've tried the "reset" where the chain goes up and down 5 times and then the remote will lower the chain, but only an inch. This is with the window not even engaged, it's not as if that is restricting it.

I've managed to slam the window into it, engage the chain, and get it to close so it's water tight. It won't open though, the chain will only lower an inch regardless of whether or not the window is engaged with the chain.

Anyone have a fix for this or should I just accept it? In a few weeks, the spindles and handrails are going in and once that happens, you're never getting back to this velux without setting a scaffolding up on top of the handrails.

[bigmowley]

I’ve got quite a few of these in our house and they have been faultless so far. I assume they are the solar powered ones? I’ve also fitted quite a few in various developments again all perfect as far as i am aware.
Are you sure that they are properly fitted? Any out of square or out of level in the opening will have a very detrimental effect on their function. I would get a decent chippy up there before it’s too late to check everything out. Generally they are a robust quality product, as they bloody well should be given the cost

[whatxd]

They are hard wired. The chain simply won't drop more than an inch on of them. The window will swing open with ease when it's not engaged with the chain.

[PlywoodPascal]

Are electric windows like electric fences and chairs or are they something else

[Sheepshanks]

Ours are manual (reached with an extending pole). I looked at the solar conversion and have in my head it was an issue that they don't open very far? If that's true, maybe the mains ones are the same.

[NiceCupOfTea]

I have a couple of the solar conversion kits on older Velux roof mounted windows - they don't come down very far, a few inches only. I have had problems with them just dying though; I think it's been the battery and I have been sent a couple of spare kits but the same thing tends to happen. Could be a faulty solar panel I guess so they're not charging...

[AndrewCrown]

Years of faultless use here too... Have you tried calling Velux, they can be very helpful, just make sure you have the serial number

[curvature]

I have four of these and one plays up intermittently but as above call VELUX, they are very helpful.

[whatxd]

I'll give them a ring in a few days when I'm back there. Their youtube videos are garbage so hopefully the customer service is better

[Aluminati]

AndrewCrown said:

Years of faultless use here too... Have you tried calling Velux, they can be very helpful, just make sure you have the serial number

This, and their response team are also excellent.

[whatxd]

I have an update. There is something that's useless, and it's me. I owe Velux an apology. I rang the help desk and as others have said, they were very helpful. The cause of the problem? I didn't take the film off the rain sensor, that's why it wouldn't open. Lesson learned.

Velux, I'm sorry.

[AndrewCrown]

That cheered me up no end... very amusing and well done on your self-admonishment!!

[GasEngineer]

whatxd said:

I have an update. There is something that's useless, and it's me. I owe Velux an apology. I rang the help desk and as others have said, they were very helpful. The cause of the problem? I didn't take the film off the rain sensor, that's why it wouldn't open. Lesson learned.

Velux, I'm sorry.

So it thought it was raining and so wouldn't open ?

[bigmowley]

LOL Top man for fessing up.
They can be a bit trigger happy to close at the slightest hint of moisture in the air. I suppose better that way than the other way. It would be nice if they had a sensitivity adjustment or alternatively they opened again when it stopped raining. We have a lot of south facing glass and a very high ceiling, the electric Velux windows are a godsend and we use them a lot to control the temperature in that part of the house. Open them first then close the blackout blinds second if it’s still too hot. They are very effective.

[Little Lofty]

Velux customer service has slipped a bit over the years, but still a lot better than most. Tech and orders would answer the phone in seconds, now its a few minutes, orders were dispatched same day now its 2 or 3, like most things it got worse during Covid and never fully recovered, still great by todays standards though.

[Sheepshanks]

whatxd said:

I have an update. There is something that's useless, and it's me. I owe Velux an apology. I rang the help desk and as others have said, they were very helpful. The cause of the problem? I didn't take the film off the rain sensor, that's why it wouldn't open. Lesson learned.

Velux, I'm sorry.

I guess it’s common so they knew?

They should have a tag on - I rang the makers of our heating controller as it looked dull. It did have film on it but I couldn’t see it. I read of someone tearing a layer of an OLED TV that they thought was a film!