How To Repair Double Hung Wood Windows

How to Fix a Double-Hung Window

Updated: Aug. 27, 2022

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

FH00DJA_YCFIDW_03-2 Family unit Handyman

Repair a broken double-hung window by repairing the jamb liner. This is a DIY repair that you tin can do once you take the right parts and these complete, step-by-step instructions with photos to guide you through the unabridged procedure.

Fixing a broken window counterbalance on a double-hung window

Photo 1: Remove the sash

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

Close-up of Photograph i

The little metal cam on the bottom corner of your sash will restriction the locking terminal that's nether tension inside the rail

Photo 2: Release the pawl

Start by employing a safety step: Release the tension on the undamaged sash remainder. Insert a screwdriver on the locking terminal and twist clockwise to release the pawl. Brace yourself—there volition be firsthand upward tension.

Photo 3: Raise the locking last

Slowly raise the locking terminal and let it rest at the bottom of the balance cartridge.

Photo 4: Remove the jamb liner

Remove this type of vinyl jamb liner by working a strong putty pocketknife betwixt the window end and the rail. Grab the vinyl edge with 1 hand, then pry the knife outward to release the jamb liner and avoid dissentious the forest stop.

Photo 5: Slide out the bad cartridge

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

Photo vi: Replace a broken locking terminal

Caution! Parts under tension. Wear safety glasses for this step. To install a new locking last (the place where the nylon string is properly strung in the caster organization), start past firmly clamping the balance cartridge to a workbench. Pull out 6 to eight in. of cord, position a locking pliers at the bottom of the cartridge, clamp the cord finish—to resist jump tension—then thread the string through a new locking concluding. Tie a knot on the stop of the cord, grab the terminal, release the pliers and slowly retract the locking terminal to the bottom of the cartridge.

Photograph 7: Reassemble the balance

Position the locking terminal 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 down the center of the channel in the vinyl jamb liner and claw the S-clip over the summit of the rails. Replace the foam cap and reinstall the vinyl unit into the window opening.

Imagine this: Y'all're taking ane of your woods double-hung window sashes out of its frame when suddenly and violently, the jump-loaded balance releases and snaps up into the vinyl jamb liner. The first time this happens, you stand there in shock. So you lot discover broken plastic parts on the floor and that there's no longer any tensioning forcefulness to hold the sash open after y'all put the sash back into the window jamb liner (or track). You must decide if you lot'd prefer to let a pro handle this repair. If so, search online or look in the Yellow Pages under "Windows, Repairs." Search for outfits specializing in a range of window repair piece of work, and avoid the listed hardware stores that may only supervene upon cleaved drinking glass. If y'all prepare this yourself, choose i of the following three repair options (depending on the harm yous identify and/or your skill level):

Supplant the whole vinyl jamb liner unit (Photos 1 – 4)—including both remainder cartridges. This is the simplest but most costly arroyo. If y'all're a beginning do-it- yourselfer, go this route.
Supervene upon only the balance cartridge that was broken (Photos 1 – 5 and seven). This inexpensive repair is for intermediate skill workers.
Take autonomously the crippled balance cartridge, replace the cleaved locking terminal and (sometimes) restring the caster machinery (Photos 1 – 7 and Fig. A). Tackle this but if you lot're a highly experienced exercise-it-yourselfer.

First, 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 by make. To brand sure y'all become the right parts, first refer to any product literature you may take. Then order repair parts from the manufacturer through the dealer where you bought your window. If the original part sources are unknown, you can buy generic parts over the Net. If you're going to purchase either the entire vinyl track unit or simply the damaged balance cartridge, copy the number stamped on the cartridge's confront (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 yous cull, if it's a wood double-hung window, you must outset remove the vinyl jamb liner unit from the window frame.

Note:

Our window was a factory-fabricated unit, not 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, opposite any instructions calling for turning a screwdriver clockwise or counterclockwise.

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

When the repair is complete, reinstall the vinyl rail in the window frame. Reset the tension on the sash residual by reversing the before steps. Release the locking terminal's pawl, lower the concluding 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, and so the other, onto the acme of each locking final. Next, level the tipped sash, so raise the sash elevation 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 exist released. Now that the window sash is under leap tension, return information technology to a fully airtight position.

Window Residual Repair Effigy A: Beefcake of a Window Residual

Our window uses a "block-and-tackle" residue. Each window has four balances, two per jamb liner. If the locking terminal is broken, the cord in one block-and tackle machinery may have snarled. To restring the pulley system, use a pliers to grab the peak of the tensioning leap and disassemble it from the property pin. Once the pulleys are restrung, run some cord out the bottom of the residue, clamp it with a locking pliers and reconnect the caster block to the leap. Insert the holding pin and install a new locking terminal (Photo vi).

Window Balance Repair Figure B: Drinking glass Size Code

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

Required Tools for this sash window repair project

Accept the necessary tools for this DIY project lined up before you offset—y'all'll relieve time and frustration.

Originally Published: August 27, 2022