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RSIP Mechanical Issues

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Window and door mechanical issues, defined as material items on a window or door that are physically not functioning and would have been covered by the original manufacturer’s warranty and addressed by the manufacturer upon receipt of a valid warranty claim, have been reported by a small percentage of homeowner​s who have participated in the Residential Sound Insulation Program (RSIP or Program) and are not able to receive warranty service from the manufacturer. To date, the CDA has confirmed mechanical issues in over 700 homes. Of these homes, over 300 homes have had an odor confirmed and are eligible for window and door replacements (see the Odorous Windows​ webpage for more information). A small number of homes are still in need of repairs to in-warranty windows and doors. The City of Chicago is currently preparing to award a contract to resolve these issues, as well as any future issues in homes that are still within warranty. 
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If you are experiencing any issues with your RSIP windows or doors, the CDA encourages you to contact the Program Office via e-mail at customerservice@cmcpartners-rsip.com​ or call 773.838.5632 for homes near Midway or call 773.894.3636 for homes near O’Hare. If your windows and doors are still within warranty, the Program Office will coordinate with you to schedule an​ inspection. If the issues are confirmed, your home may be eligible to receive repairs from a CDA contractor.

See the RSIP COVID-19 Response webpage for information regarding our ability​ to schedule appointments in homes. 

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Mechanical Issues Overview and Timeline

​For 25 years, the RSIP has worked to mitigate airport noise on behalf of the communities near Chicago’s airports. The Program is designed to reduce the effects of aircraft noise inside the home, with the goal of achieving a quieter environment and better quality of life for residents located within the highest impacted areas affected by aircraft noise. To date, the City of Chicago ​has sound-insulated more than 21,000 homes near O’Hare and Midway. Only 3% of the homes insulated, in which the manufacturer of the windows and doors went out of business, have experienced window or door mechanical issues.

The windows at these homes were manufactured by Sound Solutions Windows & Doors, LLC (Sound Solutions). Sound Solutions closed its window manufacturing facility in June 2014. At that time, there were over 99,000 windows in warranty at over 6,300 homes near O’Hare and Midway. Sound Solutions failed to honor those warranties, so the CDA decided to address the warranty service for homeowners who contact the Program Office by issuing field orders to current construction contractors. These warranty service repairs began in June 2014 and continue to be performed on windows that have safety, security, or water infiltration issues.

The RSIP-installed vinyl windows come with a 10-year manufacturer’s warranty. April 2014 was the last month that the RSIP installed windows that were manufactured by Sound Solutions; therefore, the last of the original warranties for those windows expires in April 2024.

In response to complaints reported by some residents experiencing mechanical issues with windows and doors installed as part of the RSIP, the CDA introduced a program in early 2019 to proceed with repairs to windows at a limited number of homes that do not have a confirmed odor. This effort is complete and has resulted in repairs to approximately 200 homes. Since May 2019, the CDA has identified an additional 85 homes needing repairs to in-warranty doors or windows. Mechanical repairs, for RSIP-installed vinyl windows or storm doors, include the necessary mechanical repairs and servicing for valid warranty claims requested by the homeowner. To resolve these issues, and similar issues in homes yet to be identified, the City of Chicago is preparing to award a contract to make those repairs.

If you are experiencing any issues with your RSIP windows or doors, the CDA encourages you to contact the Program Office via e-mail at customerservice@cmcpartners-rsip.com​ or call 773.838.5632 for homes near Midway and call 773.894.3636 for homes near O’Hare. If your windows and doors are still within warranty, the Program Office will coordinate with you to schedule an inspection.

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​Additional Information 

If you are experiencing any issues with your RSIP windows or doors, the CDA encourages you to contact the Program Office via e-mail at customerservice@cmcpartners-rsip.com​ or call 773.838.5632 for homes near Midway and call 773.894.3636 for homes near O’Hare. If your windows and doors are still within warranty, the Program Office will coordinate with you to schedule an inspection.​

Common Questions related to Window and Door Mechanical Issues and Repairs 

NOTE: The phrase “Mechanical Issues and Repairs” refers to material items on a window or door that are physically not functioning and would have been covered by the original manufacturer’s warranty and addressed by the manufacturer upon receipt of a valid warranty claim. 

QM01:      ​​Are my windows and doors under warranty? 
AM01:      The warranty duration, of your RSIP-installed windows and doors, can be found in the warranty package you received after the completion of the original sound insulation work in your home. If you cannot locate your warranty package or need assistance interpreting the document, please call the Program Office at 773.838.5632 for Midway homes or 773.894.3636 for O’Hare homes.
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QM02:     The manufacturer for my windows/storm doors went out of business and I am having issues with my window/storm door. Could you please provide me with more information? 
AM02:     If the original warranty period for your windows or storm doors was in effect June 12, 2014 or later from a company that is no longer in business, an inspection can be performed in your home to verify your warranty claim. Please call the Program Office at 773.838.5632 for Midway homes or 773.894.3636 for O’Hare homes. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the RSIP, under the guidance of the CDA, has developed a RSIP Protocol for Conducting Appointments in Homes (COVID-19). The protocol includes a list of health-related questions that we will ask you before an appointment can occur. We can send you a copy of the protocol if you would like to review it before your appointment. 

QM03:     My windows are having mechanical issues. What can be done? 
AM03:     Please call the Program Office at 773.838.5632 for Midway homes or 773.894.3636 for O’Hare homes to see if the original warranty period for your windows is still in effect. The CDA is not addressing mechanical issues for homes with RSIP-installed products that are no longer under warranty. Any issues would be the responsibility of the homeowner if the warranty expired prior to June 12, 2014. If the original warranty period for your windows or storm doors​ was in effect June 12, 2014 or later from a company that is no longer in business, an inspection can be performed in your home to verify your warranty claim. ​Please call the Program Office to schedule an inspection to verify your warranty claim​. The ​City of Chicago is currently preparing to award a contract to address additional warranty repairs and any future warranty claims. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the RSIP, under the guidance of the CDA, has developed a RSIP Protocol for Conducting Appointments in Homes (COVID-19). The protocol includes a list of health-related questions that we will ask you before an appointment can occur. We can send you a copy of the protocol if you would like to review it before your appointment.

QM04:     When did Sound Solutions Windows & Doors, LLC go out of business? 
AM04:     Sound Solutions went out of business on June 12, 2014. If you have any additional questions, please contact the Program Office via e-mail at customerservice@cmcpartners-rsip.com​ or call 773.838.5632 for homes near Midway and call 773.894.3636 for homes near O’Hare. ​
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If you have any additional questions, please contact the ​Program Office via e-mail at customerservice@cmcpartners-rsip.com​ or call 773.838.5632 for homes near Midway and call 773.894.3636 for homes near O’Hare.​

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