Channel Balance Replacement

Home Owner from San Jose, CA

Oct 18, 2014 2:11 pm

Need help identifying which channel balance replacement setup I need. I've attached a few pics of one I removed that has a broken hook. The hook appears to attach to the channel with a rivet, so I assume I need to replace the entire assembly, correct?

Length = 28"
Width = 1/2"
Sash Weight = 17.5 lbs.

Your site is awesome!!! Thanks!

User submitted photos of a window balance.

4 Replies

Tom from SWISCO

Oct 20, 2014 2:42 pm

Hey, thanks for posting. I'm glad you like our site! I've narrowed this down to two possible channel balance Series: either our Series 351 or our Series 390.

Now, as you can see, the only difference between these two Series is their bottom shoe. The Series 351 uses the 15-002 while the Series 390 uses the 15-001. I can't quite tell what you have based on your pictures, though. Please carefully compare their dimensions to your own hardware and see which is a better match.

Comparison of 15-001 & 15-002

Home Owner from San Jose, CA

Oct 21, 2014 11:26 pm

Ok, great - looks like I am going for a Series 351. A couple of more questions for you:

1) I had most of my other channel balances replaced by a 'professional' a few years ago, and ever since it sounds like the springs are scraping or rubbing against the hook when the windows is operated. Does this mean the channel balances might be the wrong size? They all work, but the noise is annoying.

2) Is there an advantage to using a bottom shoe that has the wings over the ones that don't? They seem to have the same dimensions otherwise. Are they interchangeable?

Thanks so much!

Paul from SWISCO

Oct 22, 2014 9:24 am

Glad we were able to help. I'll address your questions one at a time.

1) There could be a lot of reasons why a balance makes noise when the window opens and closes, but the most common source is a certain type of hook used by some manufacturers. This hook is designed in such a way that it causes the knot in the string to rub against the spring as it operates. Eventually, the knot will fray and the string will snap, and this could actually cause damage to your window. Fortunately, the balances we supply have a bent hook that relieves pressure on the knot and prevents the excess friction.

If you have other windows in the house with this kind of hook and you don't plan on replacing the balances, then there is a quick solution. You could drill a small relief hole in the jamb itself to "cradle" the knot.

2) Nylon balance attachments with wings are specifically meant to stabilize the balance in certain jamb tracks. Since your balances dodn't have wings, I see no problem just sticking with that.