spiral balance for upper sash

Question

Hi.  I need to replace a spiral balance for the upper sash of a double hung tilt window.  I watched your video "How to Replace a Tilt Window Spiral Balance."  With the upper sash removed, the pivot shoe is high in the jamb, right next to the end of the balance.  It seems that I would not need to pull any of the rod out of the balance to connect it to the pivot shoe, so I'm wondering...  do I still need to charge it before connecting it?  Thank you.

Paul · Accepted Answer

Hey there. Thanks for your question. Yes, you will need to charge the balance. By not charging, the spiral might not have enough tension to hold up the sash.