How To Repair Double Hung Wood Windows Spring Balance

How to Fix a Double-Hung Window

Updated: Aug. 27, 2019

Consummate instructions for how to repair a broken double-hung window.

Family unit Handyman

Repair a broken double-hung window by repairing the jamb liner. This is a DIY repair that you tin can practise once y'all have the correct parts and these complete, footstep-by-step instructions with photos to guide y'all through the entire process.

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Time

A full day

Complexity

Intermediate

Price

$51–100

Fixing a cleaved window counterbalance on a double-hung window

Photo 1: Remove the sash

Remove the window sash from the vinyl rails. The sash has to exist low and level before yous elevator the first side out of the jamb liner.

Close-up of Photo ane

The little metal cam on the bottom corner of your sash will restriction the locking terminal that's under tension within the track

Photo 2: Release the pawl

Commencement by employing a safety footstep: Release the tension on the undamaged sash balance. Insert a screwdriver on the locking terminal and twist clockwise to release the pawl. Brace yourself—at that place will be immediate upward tension.

Photo iii: Raise the locking terminal

Slowly enhance the locking terminal and allow it rest at the bottom of the rest cartridge.

Photo 4: Remove the jamb liner

Remove this blazon of vinyl jamb liner past working a stiff putty knife between the window stop and the rails. Grab the vinyl edge with 1 hand, then pry the knife outward to release the jamb liner and avoid damaging the wood stop.

Photo 5: Slide out the bad cartridge

Study the jamb liner components and how they're put together. Decide which is the top stop of the jamb liner and which is the sill end (the angled cut). Remove the foam cap at the tiptop, release the S-clip and slide out the crippled remainder cartridge. Remember which balance cartridge came from which aqueduct of the vinyl jamb liner. The cartridge with the shorter S-clip is always installed on the exterior side of the window.

Photo half dozen: Supervene upon a broken locking terminal

CAUTION! Parts under tension. Wear safety glasses for this step. To install a new locking terminal (the place where the nylon cord is properly strung in the caster organisation), beginning by firmly clamping the balance cartridge to a workbench. Pull out 6 to 8 in. of cord, position a locking pliers at the bottom of the cartridge, clamp the string terminate—to resist spring tension—and so thread the cord through a new locking terminal. Necktie a knot on the end of the cord, grab the terminal, release the pliers and slowly retract the locking terminal to the bottom of the cartridge.

Photograph seven: Reassemble the balance

Position the locking concluding at the end of the cartridge so the pawl is facing up and toward what is the room side of the window opening. Slide the cartridge downward the centre of the channel in the vinyl jamb liner and hook the Southward-clip over the elevation of the rail. Replace the cream cap and reinstall the vinyl unit into the window opening.

Imagine this: Yous're taking one of your wood double-hung window sashes out of its frame when suddenly and violently, the spring-loaded balance releases and snaps upwards into the vinyl jamb liner. The first time this happens, you lot stand there in stupor. So y'all notice broken plastic parts on the floor and that at that place'due south no longer whatsoever tensioning strength to hold the sash open after you lot put the sash back into the window jamb liner (or runway). You must determine if you'd prefer to permit a pro handle this repair. If and then, search online or look in the Yellow Pages under "Windows, Repairs." Search for outfits specializing in a range of window repair work, and avoid the listed hardware stores that may only replace cleaved glass. If you ready this yourself, choose one of the following iii repair options (depending on the harm you identify and/or your skill level):

1. Replace the whole vinyl jamb liner unit (Photos 1 – four)—including both balance cartridges. This is the simplest only about costly approach. If yous're a starting time exercise-information technology- yourselfer, go this road.
2. Replace only the balance cartridge that was cleaved (Photos 1 – v and 7). This cheap repair is for intermediate skill workers.
3. Take apart the crippled balance cartridge, replace the broken locking terminal and (sometimes) restring the caster machinery (Photos 1 – 7 and Fig. A). Tackle this only if you're a highly experienced do-it-yourselfer.

First, go the repair parts. (Note: The parts and the repair techniques are different for forest windows and all-vinyl windows.) Double-hung forest window hardware may vary by brand. To make sure yous go the right parts, get-go refer to any production literature yous may have. Then order repair parts from the manufacturer through the dealer where y'all bought your window. If the original part sources are unknown, yous can purchase generic parts over the Cyberspace. If you're going to buy either the entire vinyl track unit of measurement or just the damaged balance cartridge, re-create the number stamped on the cartridge's face (inset, Fig. B). This number is the glass size code for your window; a parts retailer can't fill your order without it.

Whichever repair option you choose, if information technology'southward a forest double-hung window, you must commencement remove the vinyl jamb liner unit of measurement from the window frame.

Annotation:

• Our window was a factory-fabricated unit, not an older window retrofitted with vinyl tracks.
• Each type of window has a dissimilar method for jamb liner installation.
• Our jamb liner came out of the left mitt side of the window opening. For right-hand side jamb liners, reverse whatever instructions calling for turning a screwdriver clockwise or counterclockwise.

Carry out the steps relevant to your repair in Photos one – 7.

When the repair is complete, reinstall the vinyl track in the window frame. Reset the tension on the sash remainder past reversing the before steps. Release the locking last'due south pawl, lower the terminal downward to a signal about x in. from the windowsill and twist your screwdriver counterclockwise to lock the final in the vinyl jamb. Carefully install your window sash past positioning one cam, so the other, onto the summit of each locking terminal. Side by side, level the tipped sash, then enhance the sash top and snap it dorsum into the vinyl jamb liners.

Finally, lower the installed sash, and the braking pawls on each side of the sash volition exist released. Now that the window sash is nether bound tension, return information technology to a fully closed position.

Window Balance Repair Figure A: Anatomy of a Window Balance

Our window uses a "block-and-tackle" remainder. Each window has four balances, 2 per jamb liner. If the locking terminal is broken, the cord in i block-and tackle mechanism may have snarled. To restring the caster arrangement, utilize a pliers to grab the top of the tensioning jump and detach information technology from the belongings pin. Once the pulleys are restrung, run some cord out the bottom of the balance, clench it with a locking pliers and reconnect the pulley block to the leap. Insert the property pivot and install a new locking terminal (Photo 6).

Window Residual Repair Effigy B: Glass Size Code

Record the glass size code stamped on the balance cartridge. If yous supersede the whole cartridge, you lot'll need this code to order parts. Note the position of both the locking terminal and the braking pawl before the unit is installed in the jamb liner (Photograph vii).

Required Tools for this sash window repair project

Have the necessary tools for this DIY project lined upwardly earlier you start—y'all'll save time and frustration.

Originally Published: Baronial 27, 2019

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