Window Won't Stay Up? Worn Window Balances

You lift the window, let go, and it slides back down. Or it creeps down an inch at a time, or it only stays open if you prop it with a book. On most single hung and double hung windows, that means the balances are worn out. Balances are the parts that hold the sash up, and replacing them is one of the most common window repairs there is.

What a window balance does

A sash with glass in it is heavy. Balances work against that weight so the window lifts easily and stays where you put it. There is one on each side of the sash, hidden in the side of the frame, called the jamb.

Older wood windows often used cords or chains with weights hidden in the wall. Most newer tilt-in windows use spiral balances: a metal tube with a twisted rod inside that winds up as the window moves. Others use block and tackle balances or other spring styles. All of them wear out in the end.

Single hung windows have balances only for the bottom sash, which is the only one that moves. Double hung windows have them for both sashes, so a top sash that slides down on its own has the same problem.

Signs your balances are worn

• The window will not stay open, or slowly drifts down
• The window shoots up or is hard to pull down
• One side of the sash sits lower than the other
• You hear a snap, grinding or rattle inside the jamb when you move the window
• The sash binds or tips sideways as it moves

A window that falls on its own is more than an annoyance. It can catch fingers, and it will not stay open for air. If one is dropping hard, keep it closed until it is fixed.

Worn balances can also make a window harder to lock, because a sash that sits crooked does not line up with the lock on the other sash.

How spiral balances are matched

Spiral balances are not one size fits all. Three things have to match:

1. The tube diameter. The common sizes are sold as 3/8 inch and 5/8 inch. Our 3/8 inch tube balances and 5/8 inch tube balances are both in the shop.
2. The length of the metal tube. Measure the tube itself, not the rod sticking out of it.
3. The strength, which is marked with a color tip at the end of the old tube. If there is no color tip, the sash can be weighed and matched to the chart on the product page.

Balances are sold one at a time, but it is a good idea to replace both sides together. A new balance paired with an old, weak one wears out faster and can make the sash sit crooked. Match the color tip of the old balances when you can. You can see every size in our spiral balances section.

Can I replace balances myself?

Some homeowners do. On many tilt-in windows, the sash tilts in and lifts out, the old balances unhook, and the new ones are installed and charged with a tension tool. It takes care: a spiral balance holds tension, and letting it unwind suddenly can hurt your hand or damage the window.

It is a good job to hand off when:

• You are not sure what type of balance you have
• The sash will not tilt in, or the tilt latches are broken
• The window is upstairs or hard to reach
• The jamb liner or the sash itself is damaged
• It is an older wood window with cords and weights

Broken tilt latches often show up at the same time. Those are in the tilt latches section of our shop.

Repair beats replacement here

A window that will not stay up rarely needs to be replaced. Balances are a part, and they are made to be changed. Fixing window mechanics, meaning balances, locks and cranks, is part of our window repair service, and it is a much smaller job than a new window.

The price depends on the type of balance, how many windows need them, and whether anything else needs attention, such as tilt latches or a damaged sash. A free quote gets you a real number.

Get it fixed

Whether you want to order the part or have us do the work, we can help. If you are not sure which balance you need, call us at (248) 250-8000 before ordering. We repair windows for homeowners across Metro Detroit (Macomb, Oakland and Wayne Counties).