Window Sash Spring Balancer - CertainTeed Double Hung Window

Home Owner from Ocean City, New Jersey

Apr 9, 2020 2:08 pm

I am trying to replace the spring balancer on my CertainTeed windows. The spring measures 3/4 of an inch. I can't see a part number on the actual spring. I've provided a picture of the window description and three separate pictures of the spring. We had a handyman who thought it may be a "407" spring.

4 user uploaded images

9 Replies

Tom from SWISCO

Apr 13, 2020 9:06 am

Hello! The shoe looks like our Certainteed brand 15-192, which means the spring is our Series 170. Unfortunately, without a stamp, I can't be sure what option you need. Can you tell me the exact weight of the sash? Please be as precise as possible, down to the ounce. Can you also confirm that your window only has one coil spring on each side?

Home Owner from Ocean City, New Jersey

Apr 13, 2020 10:35 am

Thanks for your follow up. It may take some time for me to get back to you. The window is at our summer home in Ocean City and we live in Pennsylvania. Given the current "stay at home" orders in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, it may be some time before I can get back to the property and weigh the sash.

You say "without a stamp", can you elaborate on what you mean? Where would there be a "stamp". I need to check but believe that there is a coil spring on each side for each sash. What other configurations are there?

Home Owner from Ocean City, New Jersey

Apr 13, 2020 10:53 am

Ok. I went back and viewed one of the videos attached. I now understand where to find a "stamp". I had looked previously for a number on the coil without luck. I will look again when I am back at the property. I now understand the question about "one coil spring on each side". The answer to that question is "yes".There is only one coil spring attached to the shoe.

Tom from SWISCO

Apr 13, 2020 12:05 pm

Great! That makes things a lot easier. Typically, what we do is get the sash weight and then divide it by how many springs are on each side of the sash. In your case, 2. So for example, if your sash weighs 12 pounds, then you'd want an S170-406 on each side of the window. These carry 6 pounds each.

The first two digits of the "406" portion of that product code represent how many inches of travel the spring has: 40". You'll note that the Series 170 has several springs that have the same weight capacity but different travel lengths, like 33" or 40". To clear that up now, 40" is standard in the industry these days. We opt to go for that in each instance.

Home Owner from Ocean City, New Jersey

May 5, 2020 11:55 am

I've now had a chance to visit to property. The spring that I asked about is for a sash that weighs 16.3 pounds. I also noticed a broken spring on a larger window. This window has 2 springs on each side. The springs are 3/4 inches in width and the sash weighs 24.5 pounds. Please see the photos for the second window/springs described above.
In either case, I couldn't find the number stamped on the spring.
Thank you.

4 user uploaded images

Tom from SWISCO

May 6, 2020 7:33 am

If your sash is 16.3 pounds, then you can go with one S170-408 spring on each side. These carry 8 pounds each, which should be perfect.

The photos you're showing here look identical to the other balance system, so you would just go over everything we've talked about already to determine the best replacement.

Home Owner from Ocean City, New Jersey

May 6, 2020 9:05 am

Thanks Tom for the follow up. A follow up question on the spring for the second window. So since the window sash weighs 24.5 pounds and there are 4 springs used to support the sash [i.e. - two springs on each side], then I should use a S170-406 as a replacement? Does this make sense to you?
Thanks.

Tom from SWISCO

May 6, 2020 9:06 am

Yes! That makes perfect sense. That's pretty much all there is to it, though I'm happy to answer any questions you may have about that process.