How To Fix Double Hung Window

How to Fix a Double-Hung Window

Updated: Aug. 27, 2019

Complete instructions for how to repair a cleaved double-hung window.

Family Handyman

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

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Time

A full twenty-four hours

Complexity

Intermediate

Toll

$51–100

Fixing a broken window counterbalance on a double-hung window

Photograph 1: Remove the sash

Remove the window sash from the vinyl rails. The sash has to be low and level before you lift the first side out of the jamb liner.

Close-upward of Photo 1

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

Photo ii: Release the pawl

Start by employing a safety step: Release the tension on the undamaged sash balance. Insert a screwdriver on the locking terminal and twist clockwise to release the pawl. Brace yourself—in that location will exist firsthand upward tension.

Photo 3: Raise the locking terminal

Slowly raise the locking terminal and permit it residuum at the lesser of the residual cartridge.

Photo 4: Remove the jamb liner

Remove this blazon of vinyl jamb liner by working a potent putty pocketknife betwixt the window terminate and the track. Grab the vinyl border with one manus, so pry the knife outward to release the jamb liner and avoid damaging the wood stop.

Photograph five: Slide out the bad cartridge

Study the jamb liner components and how they're put together. Determine which is the tiptop end of the jamb liner and which is the sill cease (the angled cut). Remove the foam cap at the top, release the S-clip and slide out the bedridden residue cartridge. Call back which balance cartridge came from which channel of the vinyl jamb liner. The cartridge with the shorter Due south-clip is e'er installed on the exterior side of the window.

Photo 6: Supervene upon a cleaved locking terminal

CAUTION! Parts under tension. Wear safe spectacles for this step. To install a new locking terminal (the place where the nylon cord is properly strung in the pulley arrangement), start by firmly clamping the balance cartridge to a workbench. Pull out 6 to viii in. of string, position a locking pliers at the bottom of the cartridge, clamp the cord end—to resist leap tension—and so thread the cord through a new locking concluding. Tie a knot on the terminate of the cord, grab the final, release the pliers and slowly retract the locking terminal to the bottom of the cartridge.

Photograph 7: Reassemble the rest

Position the locking terminal at the finish of the cartridge so the pawl is facing up and toward what is the room side of the window opening. Slide the cartridge down the center of the channel in the vinyl jamb liner and hook the Southward-clip over the acme of the runway. Supplant the foam cap and reinstall the vinyl unit into the window opening.

Imagine this: You'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 fourth dimension this happens, you stand at that place in shock. And then y'all notice broken plastic parts on the floor and that there's no longer whatsoever tensioning forcefulness to hold the sash open after y'all put the sash back into the window jamb liner (or rail). Y'all must make up one's mind if you lot'd prefer to let a pro handle this repair. If and then, search online or look in the Yellow Pages nether "Windows, Repairs." Search for outfits specializing in a range of window repair work, and avoid the listed hardware stores that may only supervene upon broken glass. If you lot fix this yourself, choose one of the following three repair options (depending on the damage y'all identify and/or your skill level):

1. Replace the whole vinyl jamb liner unit (Photos 1 – 4)—including both residue cartridges. This is the simplest merely nigh costly arroyo. If you're a get-go do-it- yourselfer, get this route.
2. Replace merely the balance cartridge that was broken (Photos 1 – 5 and 7). This inexpensive repair is for intermediate skill workers.
3. Take apart the bedridden balance cartridge, replace the broken locking terminal and (sometimes) restring the pulley mechanism (Photos 1 – 7 and Fig. A). Tackle this only if you're a highly experienced do-it-yourselfer.

Showtime, get the repair parts. (Note: The parts and the repair techniques are different for wood windows and all-vinyl windows.) Double-hung wood window hardware may vary past brand. To make sure you get the correct parts, outset refer to any product literature y'all may have. So order repair parts from the manufacturer through the dealer where y'all bought your window. If the original part sources are unknown, you can purchase generic parts over the Internet. If you're going to buy either the entire vinyl rail unit or just the damaged rest cartridge, copy the number stamped on the cartridge'due south face (inset, Fig. B). This number is the glass size lawmaking for your window; a parts retailer can't fill up your gild without information technology.

Whichever repair option you lot choose, if it's a wood double-hung window, yous must outset remove the vinyl jamb liner unit of measurement from the window frame.

Note:

• Our window was a factory-made unit of measurement, non an older window retrofitted with vinyl tracks.
• Each type of window has a different method for jamb liner installation.
• Our jamb liner came out of the left paw side of the window opening. For right-hand side jamb liners, contrary whatever instructions calling for turning a screwdriver clockwise or counterclockwise.

Carry out the steps relevant to your repair in Photos 1 – 7.

When the repair is complete, reinstall the vinyl rail in the window frame. Reset the tension on the sash balance past reversing the before steps. Release the locking terminal's pawl, lower the terminal down to a point about 10 in. from the windowsill and twist your screwdriver counterclockwise to lock the terminal in the vinyl jamb. Carefully install your window sash by positioning one cam, then the other, onto the peak of each locking terminal. Adjacent, level the tipped sash, then enhance the sash top and snap it back into the vinyl jamb liners.

Finally, lower the installed sash, and the braking pawls on each side of the sash will be released. Now that the window sash is nether leap tension, return it to a fully closed position.

Window Balance Repair Figure A: Anatomy of a Window Rest

Our window uses a "block-and-tackle" balance. Each window has four balances, two per jamb liner. If the locking terminal is cleaved, the string in one block-and tackle mechanism may have snarled. To restring the pulley organisation, apply a pliers to take hold of the tiptop of the tensioning spring and detach it from the property pin. Once the pulleys are restrung, run some cord out the bottom of the remainder, clamp information technology with a locking pliers and reconnect the pulley block to the spring. Insert the holding pin and install a new locking terminal (Photograph half dozen).

Window Balance Repair Figure B: Drinking glass Size Code

Record the glass size code stamped on the residual cartridge. If you supervene upon the whole cartridge, you'll need this code to gild parts. Note the position of both the locking concluding and the braking pawl earlier the unit is installed in the jamb liner (Photograph 7).

Required Tools for this sash window repair project

Take the necessary tools for this DIY project lined up before you start—yous'll save fourth dimension and frustration.

Originally Published: August 27, 2019

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