Seems like some part of the window has broken and now it wont open all the way. I can only get it to come open about 3 inches and then it hits something. Any ideas?
Posts: 8 | Location: Valparaiso, IN | Registered: 29 July 2009
It SOUNDS like an old double-hung window, which has ropes and counterweights hidden in the wall. If that's the case, they are easily accessible by removing the sash, and then you'll probably find a screw in the jamb that will open up the cavity where the counterweights are. It may be that the rope has rotted and failed and the counterweight has fallen to the bottom. It's a torpedo-shaped cast iron thing with an eyelet on top that the rope is tied to. The rope goes from the weight up and over a pulley and down to the sahs, where the end is knotted and fits into a hole in the sash. The worst part of trying to fix this problem is that everything might be painted over a zillion times, so it may be hard to remove the parts to get at the counterweight.
If that is not the case, then please decsribe the type of window you have, and we'll take another stab at it.
Architect (NY) and Home Designer (PA)
Posts: 2858 | Location: Tobyhanna, PA | Registered: 24 October 2005
I don't think the window is that old, because it is vinyl/plastic. Do I need to remove the trim to be able to get to the counterweights. I can't seem to figure out how to get to the counter weight. Can you be a little more detailed? I'm not real familiar with windows.
Posts: 8 | Location: Valparaiso, IN | Registered: 29 July 2009
A vinyl window may have a torsion spring instead of counterweights, and I'm not sure excatly how to get at them and fix them, even though I've done it. We need a hands-on guy to come and explain it.
Architect (NY) and Home Designer (PA)
Posts: 2858 | Location: Tobyhanna, PA | Registered: 24 October 2005
The vinyl window has a spring balance system located within the sides of the window. Some you can see as a tape that enters on the top of the window and runs down the side of the sash to the window itself.
Some windows use a friction system to keep the window in place. Oftentimes this system fails as the window along with the home settles and goes out of square.
Even some other windows have faulty balances. I recently had an entire development of town houses which needed all of the windows changed because the manufacture who is now out of business put the wrong balances in the windows. And once they began to wear they would not stay up. They all had to be removed and replaced.
In your case, you need to figure out who put the windows in, or simply replace what you have there now.
If these are replacement windows in the home its real easy to take them out.
There should be a wood trim section along the sides of the windows. One on top and one on each side. This is not the face trim that surrounds the window its only about 1 inch wide and butts up against the window itself. These trim need to be removed. A stiff putty knife and razor to cut through the paint should do the trick. Take your time so you can use this wood again. Then on the inside track of the windows should be some screws. Usually one near the bottom and one near the top. The top screws are often hidden by a small piece of plastic that will slide down to expose the screws. Remove them and the window should pull into the house. Simply purchase a new window before you remove this one and replace it. Reverse the method of taking out and your done. You can measure the window once you have the wood trim removed. Most windows are a off the shelf size found in most home improvement centers. Its only about a two hour job for the first timer to complete.
Posts: 1435 | Location: New Jersey | Registered: 31 January 2006
