Doors and Windows - spring control

I have a 1993 Caradco double hung LOW-E glass, argon filled window. The top sash seems to have lost its ability to hold the weight of the window up near the top. I checked the springs and they can both be seen stretching down as the top sash is lowered BUT it won't hold it up near the top , it drops down to about an 8" open position (from the top), in other words if I push it closed and let go, it drops 8".... How can I increase the spring tension to hold it closed? ??? Can it be done or does this require replacing the springs?

It may not be that the balance or spring is bad. Often in these situations the balance foot is stuck in the locked postion. move the sash down to the point were it falls and push the sash down further, sometimes this will engage the foot and the sash will move back up again without any problems. The foot is the part of the balance (often a black piece ) that the tilt pin of the sash sits on. When the sash is tilted in to the interior of the home the foot locks that balance and keeps the sash from moving upward. If moving the sash down does not work you may have to engage the foot manually with a screw driver. Apply pressure to the back side of the foot were the tilt pin of the sash sits on the foot. This will allow the foot to move up and down up to the point of the tilt pin.
If these do not work the balance may have to be replaced.

Good luck.

Take a look at this site. It may help you with your problem. http://www.jeld-wen.com/_pdf/resources/howto/SWD009.pdf

unfortunately, My hi tech window is alot more basic,... It has a jamb spring with an eye loop on the end that hooks to a small hook at the top of the jamb. It's funny though, I found The reference site is the maker of my window Caradco...

Yes, they are the distributor for Caradco and maybe they can help you. I seem to remember seeing the spring that you mention on a job at one time. It's an exposed spring that hooks on to something at the top of the sash track and somehow to the bottom of the sash. It's probably stretched out so that it can't hold the weight of the sash. I don't know of any sources that sell those springs.

I've contacted them and they are going to do something I think, We'll see!
;)