Andersen Window Sash Balance

Question

SWISCO Experts:

I have a triple double hung window (see attached picture) at the front of my house. Due to allergies, these windows are seldom opened. However, I opened one the other day and noticed the balance was not retracting all the way. With some great pointers from your video, I pulled out the bad balance.

Here is where it seems to get tricky to me. Based on measurements of visible glass in a sash (23 15/16" X 28 7/16"), I thought I would need an 837. However, when I looked at the extracted sash balance, does that not say 727 in the stamp (see attached picture), or am I mistaken?

What is your thoughts?

Thank you,

Dave

Tom · Accepted Answer

Thanks for posting, Dave. The sash size is, in my opinion, an unreliable way to determine the proper replacement balance for these Andersen windows. There's definitely formulas that are meant to guide you but it always seems to be a coin flip.

Meanwhile, the number printed on the balance itself is clear-cut and no-nonsense. At this stage you have to ask yourself if the window has been working well all these years. If it has, then trust the stamp: "727" indicates that you can use our 24-737 as a replacement.