Doors and Windows - Tightening tension on window

This I hope is a simple question. I live in a condo and the windows are the vinyl type top over bottom. The top window always slides down when I unlock them and the bottom never stays up.

I can unlatch them and open the windows towards me and I notice a spiral piece of metal that goes up into a cylinder. Someone told that I can adjust the tension, but I cannot see anything to tighten externally.

Anyone here have any idea what I am talking about and maybe can guide me on how to tighten these stupid things?

Thanks a mil

You need to have a special spiral balance crank to make the adjustment. To adjust the balances, you will need to tip the sash down and remove it. Some windows will lift right out when they are tipped in horizontally. Others must be tipped side to side when they are horizontal. To do this you would grasp the window firmly with one hand on each side of the window, as you are holding it in the horizontal, tipped down position. You would then raise one hand while pushing down on the other hand. You may need to beat the frame a little with your fist to get one end to go down farther than the other is. At a certain point, the pivot bar will come out of the pivot shoe. Once it is removed, you can make the adjustment with your spiral balance crank tool.

Be aware that they are under tension. All you will need to do is tighten the spiral balance a couple turns. If the balance is broken, it will have no tension on it at all. It might be possible to rewind it, or it might be shot. Those things are pretty worthless and don't seem to last very long. You can order both the balances and the tool from Home Depot's web site. They don't seem to be available here at doityourself.com.

Your sashes have to sit in a slot on your spiral balances. Take the bottom sash out then the top sash out you'll find that the top sash is not sitting in the grove of the spiral ballance.


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