sash pivot bar

Hello, Nick. This is the old Certainteed brand pivot bar, yes. It's not made anymore but believe it or not you can use our 26-175 as a substitute. I know it looks very different but Certainteed designed this specifically to replace the original. The video below will show you how it works.

There could be a lot of reasons for why a window is hard to open and close. Your first step should be to remove both the sash and balances and then thoroughly clean the track. Make sure to get out any dirt or debris that may be clogging the works. You'd be surprised how much can get in there from outside; basically, any time you have inclement weather or even a strong wind, you can bet that some gunk will get in your window tracks.

While you have the balances out, examine them for any damage, like if the pivot shoe is cracked or if the springs have unraveled. I can't say exactly what it'll look like, but trust me when I say you'll know it when you see it. It should be obvious. The only damage that won't be visible is if the springs are worn out, but I'll cover that in a second.

After you clean the tracks you should lubricate them with silicone spray. I like silicone spray over WD-40 because oil tends to just attract more dirt. Once they're lubricated, reinstall the sash and balances and try them again to see how things operate.

If you find that the windows are still difficult to open and close then it's to replace your coil springs. They're probably at the end of their lifespan and are starting to hang up. Figure that coil springs are only designed to last around 10 to 15 years depending on how often the window is used.