Tilt Window Balances

Question

My home is only 22 years old, but the window balances have steadily been failing over a number of years. I have attahced pictures of the window and the balances and this is what I can gather:

1. the windows tilt out for cleaning
2. the sash is heavy--I'm estimating 40 lbs. or more
3. the balance has a blue tip and there is an outer spring on it.
4. I cannot locate the manfucaturer's name on the window
5. the balance appears to be 3/8 in diameter and 28.5 inches in length from the top to the point where the blue cap is inserted

I have the tool for winding the balance and what I want to do is get two balances and attempt to fix one window. Then, if everything works well, I will order parts for the other windows as well.

I would greatly appreciate any help you could offer me at this time.

User submitted photos of a window balance.

Tom · Accepted Answer

Thanks for posting! Can you confirm the diameter of the outer metal tube? Based on the fact you have a blue tip, I think it might be more like 5/8" or 9/16". The outer tube is what you want to measure, not the inside spiral. Can you also tell me the exact weight of the sash? 40 pounds is extraordinarily heavy, and the spring strength indicated by a blue tip would have been insufficient from the start. If they ever held up the weight of your windows normally, then I would wager your sash is much lighter.