July 12, 2017
My house has Care Free windows are 20 years old. Most of them work well and easily slide up and down in the tracks. On a few of them, the spiral balances stick initially when opening the window, but operate fine after that. Is there a lubricant (WD-40, oil, graphite, etc.) that can be applied to the top end of the spiral balance to help keep them from sticking initially?
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July 17, 2017
You can use a few drops of 3 in 1 oil down the tube of the balance, that should lubricate the spiral. You can also apply white grease on the spiral itself. For the tracks where the balance installs, we recommend a silicone spray.
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July 20, 2017
Paul, thank you for your response.
My balances are particularly stubborn or they have not read the owner's manual. I checked the top of the tubes to ensure they were open, then added 10-15 drops of oil to each one. I also put a few small dabs of white grease down the spirals. All to no avail.
When the window is closed for at least 5 minutes, as I open it there is initial resistance and the springs make a loud popping noise as if something in the mechanism is stuck but then breaks free. After that the window moves freely and quietly up or down - until it is closed, then the whole cycle happens again.
Is there any type of sealed mechanism inside the tube that the oil might not be able to penetrate? Any other ideas?
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July 24, 2017
I wouldn't worry about it. You did everything you can do. The balances are just too old. The inside mechanism has a worn spot that causes some initial resistance, before you work it out by opening the windows. It's part of the life cycle of a balance; eventually, the only solution is to replace them!
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July 24, 2017
Ah yes, age affects all of us in different ways.
I was afraid it would come down to balance-replacement surgery as the only viable option.
My wife says we will stay with the "pain-killing meds" regimen and live with the noise for a while before we ask the Window Doctor to make a house call.
Thank you.
