What Keeps Top Window of a Vinyl Double-Hung Window From Falling to the Sill?

Window Construction

• Double-hung sashes got their name in the days when the top and bottom sashes of wooden windows were hung on ropes. Heavy weights acted as counterbalances that kept the sashes from falling when in the up position. Vinyl windows are counterbalanced differently with the use of springs that keep the windows elevated through tension.

Single-Hung Windows

• Not all sash windows -- vinyl or wood -- are double-hung. Sometimes the top sash is stationary and doesn't lower. This is because single-hung sash windows are less expensive than their double-hung counterparts. Because the top sash doesn't lower, it also won't tilt down for cleaning, making cleaning the outside of the upper sash difficult.

Repairs

• Sometimes the spring or one of the parts holding it to the sash breaks and needs to be replaced. Replacement parts usually have to be ordered from the window manufacturer. Such repairs are usually within the capability of the average do-it-yourselfer. Sometimes a generic window compression spring can be used inside the window channel when exact replacement parts are not available.

Tips

• When tilting the windows for cleaning, make sure both sides of the sash are even. If a sash is opened or closed unevenly, it can become disengaged from a spring, sending one or both of the springs violently upward. Keep the vinyl channels that house the sashes clean. Dirt and grit can cause the windows to stick, putting strain on the springs when you use extra force to raise and lower the window.